Hauntingly Beautiful Girls

"An Invitation"

I find her shoes and put them on. I find her purse, but just cannot think about carrying another woman's purse. I do get the door keys.

I draw a blank on finding the phone. There is an ear piece. In rubbing my ear, I think they have the phone entirely built in. I am not keen to fumble with the unknown technology.

As I walk to the door with the keys, I berate myself. She would not walk with shoes on in this part of the hallway.

Slipping the keys in a jacket pocket, I open the front door.

A spirit fox sticks its face inside. Much like a large soft weather balloon, the face bows inward.

There is a clear measured voice in my head.

"You shall come to my temple. We will discuss how to resolve only two human bodies among three human souls."

As the words slowly reach me, I see the far wall across the street through this spirit. Small solid parts float in measured order. The head retracts up and away. Moving like a slinky spring.

I stumble outside and just close the door without locking it.

I am greeted by two older women that ask about my test results.

"Uhm.. Venernable... Uhm Nice Grannies. Uhm. Is there a temple near here?"

One takes a hold of my arm and says "It was bad news. Wasn't it?"

I nod.

The other slides in between and says "Follow this road up to the square, take the diagonal road on the opposite side to the parking lot. The temple stairs are there."

I take off with devotion. The grannies find a bench, they sit and talk.

The square is lovely. These roads are cobble and would only support one small delivery truck at a time. The square has larger roads.

The shop staff look with interest at me as a pedestrian passing their stores.

All the roads have been up hill.

I am breathless when I get to the parking lot.

Those stairs. There must a thousand steps.

I know it is an optical illusion. The large wooden arches down here and at the top are impressive.

I lift a foot for the first step.