The Unexpected

I wonder how it actually feels to go out, walk and have fun. Since I was little, I was always in my bed watching the seasons change - summer, it's really hot it seems, the sun is shining and the birds sing; autumn, the leaves are turning colours and people are still playing with the coats on, is it getting colder?; winter, the trees have no leaves on now, the grass is covered in snow it seems, I wonder if it's cold, people seem to wear coats and hats, hit each other with the snowballs, isn't this a bit rude? Oh, they're laughing... well, what do I know? They seem to be making some kind of weird men out of snow; spring - the colours are coming back again, everything begins to bloom again. Yet, I am still stuck in this bed, observing the scenary from the window frame.

There's a sudden knock  on my door, "Who is it?" I reply with a soft voice.

My best friend, John has came, "Hi Maria, it's spring, how are you doing?" He said with usual smile on his face. It seems like he's hiding something since he was coming towards me with his hands on his back.

"What do you have there?" I said with a chuckle, looking at him?

He has given me flowers, "They just bloomed in my garden so I have thought I'll give it to you since you might like it." he replied, his face getting a bit pink. The smell of the flowers have stayed in the room for a whole spring and the seasons to come since they reminded me of you.

Couple of seasons passed - able to walk from time to time, it's summer now and there's a knock on my door.

"Yes?" I reply. My parents came into my room, they were carrying a small kitten with ginger fur and eyes as blue as the ocean.

"We have found her abandoned, would you like to keep her as a pet?" My father said, placing the kitten on my lap.

"Yes," I replied "from now on you'll be Sunny since you remind me of sun shining outside and because of you I am able to feel it too." 

Another seasons pass and I am older yet again, 19 now. Still weak body but I am able to go out from time to time. It's autumn and John is sitting next to me.

He suddenly took my hands, "John?" I said, a bit confused.

He looked straight into my eyes, "Maria, I've been waiting to tell you this for a long time - I love you, I don't care if you have illness, you're the woman that I love, I don't want anyone else, I want to marry you and I promise that I will do anything just to help you to get stronger." his cheeks were flushed when he was saying that, I could do nothing else than nod, tears coming down my eyes as we kissed when the leaves were turning red even though all I could focus on was him.

Seasons changing yet again, but I'm not bothered by occasional winter air. John and Sunny are with me so I don't have to worry.

"WAKE UP" a mysterious voice have called.

I am awake, why should I wake up?

"Maria, wake up!" is John calling me?

"Wake up!" Suddenly I was brought back to reality, the same wooden walls, wooden floor, Sunny on my lap and John in front of me.

"Sorry, have I been sleeping for long?" I asked.

"No, how are you feeling?" he asked, a bit happier than usual I think.

"I'm doing okay," I said while petting Sunny, indicating for her that I'm awake. Sunny always stays by my side until I'm awake maybe it's because of me having to be in the bed most of the time? "You seem happier than usual, did something good happen by any chance?"

He brightened up and pulled out some weird red liquid out of his pocket, "Maria, I have found a medicine that will be able to help you."

"Doesn't this look a bit strange? And who did you get it from?" I asked while holding the liquid in my hands.

"Oh, it doesn't matter! Plus we won't know unless we try."

It seems like the medicine was able to work, I have gained more strenght to walk pretty much everyday. I met the people that I was friends with when I occasionally felt better, walked to shops, I lived my life to the fullest, finally able to do what other people experianced when I couldn't, I felt so happy! Yet, my happiness have to have consequences don't they? I wish I didn't take this medicine because of what hapened next.

I was sitting on the bed, petting Sunny and waiting for John to come back. He has started to act really weird after couple of weeks after giving me the medicine. I have heard the door opening so I stood up to come to greet John. 

"John, welcome back! You're a bit later than usual, I have prepared the dinner, maybe after dinner would you like to..." I said a bit embarassed and hopeful that he will accept my offer since I have missed the John that I loved.

"No thanks, not today, here's your medicine," he said while putting it on the table, "I'm off to sleep so good night."

"Good night..." I replied, sadly. He truly changed, I just wish to know what actually happened.

Couple of days passed, he still acted like this, at this point I still was a little sad about that but I just tried to accept it and think that it will pass soon. I woke up to find Sunny not being next to me and John not either even though he is in the morning for a bit.

I stood up and tried to look around yet I didn't find anyone, not John, not Sunny. I have went out and saw some of my friends - Mary and Beatrice so I decided to come up to them and ask them if they saw John since Sunny might've as well went out somewhere, even though it's pretty weird for her to leave me in the morning.

"Oh, Maria hi! How are you doing?" said Beatrice.

"I'm doing pretty okay, thank you, by any chance did you see John anywhere, he wasn't home when I woke up and he usually is for a bit." I replied, looking around.

"Ohh? Maybe he's with another woman? OUCH!" said Mary, Beatrice hitting her softly after doing so.

"I think I saw him going to the forest." replied Beatrice.

"Thank you, see you guys later." I replied and started walking to the forest. Now I wish that I didn't, I wish that I just stayed home and waited for John and Sunny to come back patiently.

While walking through the forest and calling out John's name, I found some kind of small house. A small house in the middle of the forest? That's a bit weird I thought, yet I still decided to come closer to it, something inside me felt that it was a bad idea but I decided to still go there anyway.

I found myself in front of the door in no time, I opened the door slowly and the horrible scenary have been revealed. Different kinds of animals have been in cages, some of them had body parts missing, hanging from the ceiling, blood everywhere. I was so shocked, I couldn't even move or scream, I just stood there, eyes widened and holding my mouth shut. 

"Oh, Maria, you should've not been here, you should've never seen any of this and stayed patiently in home and wait for me to come back." I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around, I saw John.. no this was not John anymore, he was covered in blood, smiling, holding axe in one hand and Sunny in other. I couldn't say anything, I just started moving back but that was a bad idea. He pushed me on the floor and closed the door behind me.

"No, no, no, NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! YOU'RE NOT JOHN THAT I KNOW!" I started screaming, "SOMEONE, ANYONE PLEASE HELP!" yet my screams were not heard by anyone.

I saw John picking some kind of a knife and throwing Sunny's now dead body to the side.

"No.. get away! Plea-" He put a hand on my mouth to prevent me from screaming.

"Oh Maria... you really should've stayed at home." He started lifting my dress up, cutting my body, doing everything that he desired until I just felt nothing anymore..

Why did nobody hear my screaming? Why did John turn out like this? Why..?

"Maria, you truly look beautiful now." said John with the last final smile that I could see before everything became a blur, no voice could be heard, "I love you, Maria, I did everything so that you had the strenght to walk."

If you were me, and knew what would happen, would you take this medicine to be able to get out of bed and lead a live of a 'normal' person, or would you stay in the bed, being an extra problem for everyone and watch how others have more opportunities than you?

I would but my time has come to end.