BOUNDARIES

Chapter 18

4 HOURS- 52 MINUTES – 33 SECONDS LATER..............................

Jaylan wasted no time and hastily got up from his chair in the café down the street as soon as his alarm buzzed. He had ordered a warm butternut croissant and a chai laté. He was now engrossed in this new app that he had downloaded a week earlier "TWENTY", and for a while it had distracted him from his problem at hand, that is until his alarm went off signaling that it was now 5:00. He rose from where he was sitting and shoved his phone in his pocket, picked up his keys and made his way up the way up the street. In two minutes he was back in the building coated in whites and blues. He went full speed ahead, straight to the receptionist and inquired if a package was left for Hale.

She nodded and stretched her hand across the desk and retrieved the white envelope from its resting position. He signed the form and took his package in hand. It was rather lighter than he expected. I mean, for a package that could alter the very structure and direction of his now frazzled and cataclysmically crumbling world, it sure wasn't as weighted as he had expected. He turned hot on his heels ready to leave and then realized he had forgotten something, He returned to the desk and left a note for Martha.

"Thanks dearest, really appreciate it!- Jay"

He walked slowly down the street and with each step he tried to ignore the burning temptation to rip open the envelope and have a peek but this was something he needed support doing as he feared he already knew the answer. He got in his car and took the 30-minute drive home with the envelope riding shotgun and every now and then he'd give a little peek to ensure that it was still there. Unless by some divine miracle, warped out of the car.

He pulled up in the driveway and stayed there for a while. His dad must have heard the engine because he soon emerged from behind the closed mahogany door to find his son still sitting behind the steering wheel.

His eyes fixed on something unknown, non- existent rather, or was it just space. He was now plagued with the task of opening this package, finding out the truth, his truth, hoping that it would trump all his fears, doubts and assumptions and class them as foolish misconceptions.

"Now young man, we need to talk, Get out of the car" his father yelled as he flung the car door open.

Jaylan saw his lips moving but just couldn't comprehend the words that flowed out.

He grabbed the envelope and decided that he couldn't take the suspense anymore. He flew through the door and into the family room where he sat on the edge of the leather sofa with the package in his hand, still unsure of how to proceed. His dad barged in after him yelling and trying to get Jaylan to show some semblance of respect but his thoughts were otherwise occupied by more important and life altering matter.

His mom heard the noise and came rushing downstairs

"What's the matter here" she inquired now genuinely concerned at the look portrayed on her husbands face and the nonchalant one splattered across Jaylan's

"Ask your son" he replied as his anger flared and he took a step back

By this time Jaylan had proceeded to opening the envelope and he slowly pulled the paper out ...

He stared blankly at the paper unsure of how to react as all that was in his view was emptiness, a void space, white. He soon realized that it wasn't his mind's incomprehensiveness but it was the lack of the information printed on it. He looked closer as his eyes saw the slight marking made from the print on the other side. He hurriedly flipped it over to reveal the letters that formed syllables, that formed words, which would soon determine his fate.