Quarantined to Blow Your Mind

2.) Passing the Open Window

Squinting my eyes against the bright light of my phone, yes, it's 2AM and I'm still awake. It's not like I have to wake up for classes tomorrow morning. They actually let us still have our weekends off.

Truth is, against Layla's advice, I've been plunged into the YouTube underground of Queen songs and interviews and these compilations of cute moments and— OOOH! I so blame her for this!

"I threw my whistle away and I thought- ooop- I should ask for it back"

He's just A. DOLL! Look at him getting his hair brushed while sitting in a green robe. Man, that robe looks comfy. Man, his hair looks soft and fluffy!

I don't know if it's because the camera close up in his piano playing, but I can't stop admiring his hands. They look so delicate, but strong with the veins that protrude on the back of his hands and around his long, fingers.

In the span of like 3 hours I've crammed as much information into my brain as possible. The leader singer, the one with the large voice and even larger personality is named Freddie Mercury. He grows a mustache and cuts his hair as the years go by and he just gets more manly and scrumptious altogether.

Then, there's my second husband, uh, I mean Roger Taylor. He's a blonde cutie with sparkling blue eyes as large as the Pacific Ocean! He seems like a rotten child: playful, funny, and energetic. He reminds me of Animal from The Muppets. Maybe that's where that character came from, especially the fact that Freddie inspired Kermit. Or did Kermit inspire Freddie? I don't know! Don't listen to me, I'm only still learning!

The two others in the band are amazing, too! Brian May does seem a bit uptight, but I think he's the glue that holds the band together. He made his own guitar and it's like probably worth more than my life every will be! He's a doctor, too— Or Peta supporter, or both. Something like that. So, that's cool considering I'm a vegetarian.

The bass players name is John Richard Deacon and he was born— oh, crap no tried to remember that whole adorable line he spoke, oh well. He's such a puppy! I want to hug and squeeze him!

I keep scrolling and watching videos, trying to find the most popular through other reaction accounts, but I don't want to cheat myself. Or, actually I just don't want to get too far ahead, just Incase Layla and I have to do another reaction, cus then it wouldn't be sincere.

So, I've just been collecting titles on a little notepad I keep inside of my desk drawer. The only song and reaction videos I've played are all of Bohemian Rhapsody. I've even tried other singers cover versions, like this guy, everyone in the comment section swears he sounds like Freddie so I gave it a listen. I think his name is Marc and yeah whatever he can sing, but nobody can belt it out like my Freddie.

I- uh- I mean, oh whatever! Judge me if you want, but he's mine at 2AM and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Wow! Listen to me. I sound like Layla or something. I should probably get some sleep.

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

I walk the hallways of my high school, except no one else is here.

Hello?

I try to call out, but my voice feels strained and funny. It doesn't bother me much, maybe I'm late, I think to myself as I stack 5 pounds of books in my arms.

The school bell trills just as I step inside my home room class. As the bell quiets down and I turn around to shut the door, the inside of the classroom looks odd.

I can't feel the floor beneath my feet as I walk inside the deserted room, my teacher sits at his desk, with his back turned towards me.

He doesn't seem to hear me enter, so I cautiously walk on, passing the open windows that send a shivering gust of cold wind through the room. Something fluttering in the breeze forces me to stop and pay attention.

In this moment I'm scared. Downright terrified as I feel the prickle of every hair on my body stand up and tingle my limbs. I turn my head slowly to the insistent noise buzzing my ear drums.

Oh, hello...

A single butterfly attaches itsself upside down on the windowsill. It's wings have stopped their fluttering, instead displaying the vibrant colors of orange and black monarch wings.

I feel silly now...

I take a deep breathe, turning to the window, frightening the butterfly with my movements. It flies around my head, spinning circles as if trying to warn me.

Don't birds warn of trouble like this? Or rain? Yeah, it's rain or storms. Oh, never mind I don't know what I- oh?

As soon as the tiny creature lands on me, I'm sent through a spiral of spinning portals, much like something out of a back to the future movie. Radical swirls of color and passages from a timeline of my life flash from all around me. I spin and spin— oh my head is dizzy.

I shut my eyes tightly, my body involuntarily reaching out trying to grab ahold of something stable and then, it stops.

I am now back inside of my bedroom. My focus still on the fluttering wings of the wicked monarch butterfly that has now landed on the chair of my desk. Within seconds the insect combusts, multiplying into thousands of butterflies, spinning round the chair in a small tornado cloud and poof!

As if by magic or exploding vortex, he appears. Calm and cool, just staring back at me. His left ankle crossed on the opposite knee, oblivious to the fact that he has now somehow re-emerged, casually puffing on a cigarette.

"What the Fu—Fred?!," I gasp out loud, clutching my chest, beginning to feel the pressure of restricted air through my hyperventilating.

His eyes grow wide, his posture more erect, perfectly arched eyebrows rise, and cigarette smoke passes from behind his large set of front teeth. His mouth opens slightly, letting the remaining smoke release as he licks his lips, clearing his throat to speak. His dark eyes gleam with hope or fear- I really cant tell the difference here! I am freaking out!!

I need to go to bed. Wait. I'm asleep, right? This is a dream. Only a dream, yeah. It's fine. I'm just crazy. All is well.

"C-Can you....can you finally see me, darling?"