Parallel

It all started with an Alleyway

Each step soaked the cuff of my pants, even more, emboldening the beige fabric with heavy, cold, wet splatters. That was just what I needed, uncomfortably wet pants to accompany me on my walk home. It was already bad enough with the company of the downpour and resentment. Resentment of self, resentment of work, resentment of everything and everybody I saw. For the hell of it, I kicked a puddle in front of me splashing myself with mucky sidewalk water, I was already drenched from cars and well, the rain which hadn't stopped since I set out for home.  My day felt as if it had been drafted in hell, first my boss's sullen mood had only aggravated dramatically since yesterday and I was the main focus of his wrath. Not to mention the unwanted comments from my stupid coworkers, and enraged calls from picky customers. True it was all like a typical day- just everything seemed exasperated. Every little thing had felt as if it went wrong and for me, those days drove me nuts. I had been ten minutes late for work because I had the idiotic idea to walk, I lost my wallet, was tasked with a tremendous amount of busy work, and now I was greeted and When I left for work earlier this morning it had been overcast and I thought it would be a good idea to walk today, as I got an abundance of rain dumped on me from a storefront overhang, I was reminded of how bad that idea was. It wouldn't surprise me if my apartment My apartment was only blocks away when the first lightning bolt licked across the sky like a lizard tongue. I cursed under my breath, as even more rain poured. All I wanted was to be in dry clothes with and an idealistically large glass of wine sitting before me- perhaps even to pull off my unusually tight bra. Grumbling a cocktail of jibberish and swears I pulled out my phone to at least check the time when it tumbled out of my hands, smack down onto the pavement. Mumbling a silent prayer I knelt down to pick it up, only to be disappointed once again with the spiderweb of cracks running down the screen. Without even checking the time I shoved it into my purse sourly. Another lightning bolt danced across the sky, momentarily followed by the angry rumble of thunder.

"I'm with you" I muttered.
"What was that?" I looked up to see a stranger staring at me as if I were nuts.
"The hell you staring at?" I sneered I was way to fine for any more judgmental stares. The woman retorted something derogatory before marching past me.

I was nearing home now, fantasizing about plopping down in the couch when a noise caught my attention, it came from an alleyway beside me, Upon glancing over I didn't see anything that was out of the normal display inside of an alley, but I swore I heard something call my name, my curiosity took the best of me, besides I was too exhausted to think clearly so I turned toward the alley. Suddenly the biggest lightning bolt I've seen touched down only a few feet in front of me. The force of it knocked me off my feet, I shielded my eyes from the brightness of the flash I heard a noise from the bolt that sounded like power coursing through the indicated source before me. And just like that, it was gone, and I was fully awake now. The rain kept pouring as if nothing happened. My clothes were only getting heavy and the storm was only getting angrier as I laid there, I sat up and examined the pitch black scorch marks left from the storm, it was the size of a basketball with a ring of fading grey surrounding it. My sense came back to me and I decided to get onto my feet when I heard it again- somebody calling my name, but the voice sounded so familiar. Suddenly the ground shook and again I was swept off my feet, lightning exploded in front of me then all at once as if instructed by a conductor- the storm stopped.

Footsteps approached me and I felt a hand reach out, I took it great full for finally, a nice person today! When I looked up to see the kind person who helped me, a scream escaped my mouth, the person looked just like me! She had long dirty blonde hair and green eyes- twining me, she had the same build as me and looked to be my exact same height. Her lip stuck out just where mine had, right down to my dimples she looked so much like me! I must've been seeing things wrong I rubbed my eyes and blinked a few times before opening my eyes just to see me staring back. She mimicked my actions like a mirror image- is that what this is? some prank? I reached out to feel her to make sure that she was real, she did the exact same thing with me.

"What?" I stammered.

"What?" She was the voice! The voice that was calling me!

"What's going on?!?" This time I was louder, my voice was more steady I wanted nothing more than an answer.

"What's going on?!?" She mimicked annoyingly. On a good day, I'd find humor in this but today was nothing but atrocious and I was in not feeling like joking around.

"Will you stop that and answer me?!"

"Will you stop that and answer me?!?"

"I need wine" She looked as if she agreed with me but not breaking character she continued her irritating mimicking act.

"I need wi-" I cut her off with the sharp turn of my heel, I must be hallucinating, as I began to walk away I felt her grab my arm and pull me back.

"Okay, Okay I'll stop!" She groaned, her tone wasn't too different from mine. Who was this person though? Did I have a twin I didn't know about? Was she an impersonator? Was she going to kidnap me and steal my identity? Although I guess the joke would be on her because I hadn't much to lose besides a crappy job and the haunting overshadow of college debt. Okay, Bitch, I thought, Kidnap me!

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded. I heard a loud sigh exit her lungs and she tugged on her hair nervously, the expression changed completely. Egar for an answer, tired of today's bullshit and filled with dozens of unfavorable emotions I tapped my foot impatiently. She just stared at me tapping her fingers together- a nervous habit that I myself did when I was nervous.

"How should I put this?" She seemed to be talking to herself like I do on some days- and then the answer came to me as she said it.

"I am you".