The Crack in the Side Wall

Chapter 5

12th August 2012,

"I think so you should tell her your feelings." Coe declared, swinging to and fro in a simple harmonic motion, much like the bob of an antediluvian grandfather clock.

For the millionth time, I cursed myself for asking him to come to a bar for some talks and advice sessions.

Bars had never been the soberest place for him —not that it is for anybody— but its a whole another level for him. Soon as he reaches the bar stool, he downs nine shots like he has been thirsty for eight long years. Fast forward five minutes, and you will find him drunk as a lord, spilling all his guts and giving you (surprisingly) useful advice.

"You are drunk", I said, rotating a toothpick I was sucking, bored at his tasteless manner of delivering advice when intoxicated.

"But I am right", he said whipping his index finger over his head and pointing towards me, a cheeky smile plastered on his face. He then lunged towards my beer glass and emptied its content down his throat in a swift motion.

I backed away at his sudden lunging and stared at him with narrow eyes for the ungentlemanly behavior.

" What ?" He said upon noticing my stare.

I didn't say anything but shook my head, paid for my beer and mumbling a sarcastic thanks to my friend, went out.
I took a deep breath and started walking, my apartment being in close proximity.

As I walked down the street, I pondered over Coe's blatant advice. Deep within my heart, I knew he was right but the same heart was also too scared to accept it.

'What if she says no?' I kept on pondering, wondering if her rejection would mean an end to our now-pretty-strong bond of neighborly friendship.

'Should I? Should I not?'  My mind revolved between the two questions, wondering what I should do. I took a deep sigh and increased my speed, my hands in my pocket, with my hooded head tilted down.

Suddenly the sky opened up with rain and I started running to my apartment, hoping I could avoid most of the heavy downpour.

As the thunder reeled in the sky, and lightning sparked among the dark black clouds, I opened the door to my apartment and pulled down my hood, drying my hair with my hand. I quickly stripped out of my wet clothes and threw them on the tiled floor of my bathroom. I then took a towel and dried my whole shivering body.

Changing into a dry change of clothes, I slipped into the sheets and put my confused mind to rest, hoping a new day would help me make the right choice.

The sweet smell of petrichor and the melodious tone of the pattering of raindrops slowly lulled me into a deep sleep.

13th August 2012,

I love work so the term Monday Blues was pretty alien to me, but today I felt the first onset of Tuesday Blues as I went back home. I sighed and looked out of the cab window at the pitter-patter of the rain as they gently fell down the glass, making everything look hazy and a bit foggy. Hearing my heavy sighs, the cab driver checked up on me through the mirror and as our eyes met, he looked away and continued with his driving.

Work was becoming a burden with my newfound feelings towards my neighbor. The increasing tension in our friendship from my side, thanks to the shitty lovey-dovey feelings, was getting me pimples which just added to my list of problems. Once again my mind drifted to Coe's advice of saying my feelings out loud to her. Once again I began wondering about the consequences and possible results of saying her the three simple words.

Suddenly I saw a flower shop through the corner of my eye and something took over me as I yelled, "Stop the cab!"

The cab driver almost had a heart attack as he swerved and finally skidded the car to a halt. He then turned about to glare at me but I was already out by then, running towards the old man who was closing the shop.

"A bouquet of red roses, please! " I shouted over the loud rain, waving a fifty dollar note in the air. My expensive trench coat was getting wet by the heavy rain, but I didn't care as I scrambled to the shop, shouting like a Banshee.

The old man looked at me through his thick-rimmed glasses and smiled a knowing smile. He nodded at my hurriedly emerging figure and went into the shop, coming out with a red rose bouquet within two minutes.

"With this bouquet, the lucky lady will definitely say yes." He chuckled.

I resisted the urge to ask him if I could get a cashback if she declines, and instead gave him the note I was waving and ran back towards the waiting cab.
"Keep the change!" I shouted, but the heavy downpour drowned my voice into the drains of the street.

I protected the bouquet from the wrath of the torrent by hiding it under my coat as I ran.
"Sorry for the delay," I said to the cab driver who was nice enough to wait for me. He smirked and nodded his head as he sputtered the engine to life.

When I reached my apartment, I quickly yet quietly changed into a set of dry ironed clothes. I then looked through the hole to check if Ella was home.

The room was drenched in darkness. A small beam of moonlight was slowly creeping into the black, making sure that one need not fear that he has gone blind due to the sheer gloominess of the room. My eyeballs moved from left to right, scanning all the nooks of the room that was accessible through the generosity of the crack in the side wall.

I could make out the familiar border of the foot of the bed, the cupboard facing it, the accent chair nearby.

The places that were still void of the sweet, serene touch of the moon, lingered with dark shadows and reeked of the presence of unknown creatures. The room in blue looked like a picture of something beautiful yet dangerous.

Just then, I heard a jingle of keys and the locks turning. The light from the bulb in the corridor —which was now fixed— cut through the moonlight and reached a part of the room. Then came the sound of flicking on the switches, and the calmness of the surrounding shattered by the bright lights of the house.

The bedroom was still dark but the light of the living room was giving out enough light for me to notice a man standing beside the closet door. As my mind reached to the grittier and gruesome thoughts, a pump of adrenaline rushed through my body. Just when I was about to give a shout and caution the love of my life, I saw to my horror, Ella entering the room. The shadow quickly leaped towards her and lifted her in his arms.

I closed my eyes and turned away, not wanting to witness the horrifying act. I expected her to scream and then a sound of the swish of a knife, as her shout slowly turned to whimpers and then into the silence of new death, but nothing went as I expected.

Ella did almost scream, but then it turned into a series of squeals of excitement. I slowly opened my eyes and turned towards the hole.

Ella was in the man's arms, her legs crossed behind his back, as she looked down, her hair fell on his face. I stared in agony as she passionately kissed him.

"You finally came, didn't you?" she said in the sweetest, most gentle voice ever. He said nothing and simply nodded. I flinched as she kissed him again, laughing. I couldn't see any more of that scene, for it crushed my heart.
I ran out of the house, slamming it shut, not caring if it was locked or not.

As the door slammed, a petal of the red rose bouquet I had bought got detached and slowly floated down to the ground, fresh but broken, a droplet resting on its red surface.