Once Upon His Last Day

A Visitor From The Future

When I open my eyes, I feel slightly groggy. I try to lift myself from the soft pink mattress of my bed. There is a blinding yellowish light coming from the small gap between the curtains. I squint against it and try to make out where I am. Ah my room. I rise from my bed but I have to sit down again as the rooms seems to be spinning in slow, lopsided circles. As I sit, I sense something isn't okay. Where is this light coming from? I blacked out last evening around 7 p.m. or so. Wow was I unconscious this whole while? OMG! Arthur's memorial! I ruined it, didn't I? It all starts coming back to me. I wanna go back to sleep again! I cannot- I just cannot handle all these disturbing thoughts! It's as I'm being ensnared by something right now. But then again, what's the use of sleeping, really? These days, it seems like it would be good for me if I wasn't able to do it because sleeping and waking up to realize he's no more isn't really my thing right now. Time clearly isn't working for me. 

I see my room has come into its original position and I don't feel groggy anymore. Well, physically. Emotionally I am already dead and there's probably not even an iota of chance for me to be alive again. 

My phone's booming ringtone wears off the rest of the drowsiness that was there. It's Mackenzie. She hasn't called me for a long time. Well, not after Arthur's death. I met Earl and her at school yesterday but since Arthur died they have been somewhat reluctant to talk to me about fun stuff. Fun- the word seems to hit me. It's been more than a month but I've allowed myself to succumb to this  gloominess. Why wasn't I atleast trying to move on? So many thoughts are just swarming in my mind right now. I feel like a prisoner. 

I pick up Mackenzie's call. And oh my, the very moment I pick up her call, she starts shouting at me with full energy. If there is still the smallest amount of sleepiness left in me, then that has also taken its leave.

"Wake up Mummy!"she begins. By the way, she calls me 'Mummy' because that's the closest she and Earl could get in the hunt for my nickname. Why Mummy out of all names? Well, because it's formed by the first two letters of my name but I don't know why they decided to complete it with those last three letters. Anyway, she continues--"The sun's shinin bright, the sky is blue and everyone's happy because!---- guess what! Ah you don't need to guess cause you probably are aware of it UNLESS you are half asleep and have no idea what's going on in this whole wide world! Which, beyond a shadow of doubt, you are cause I know my Mummy, she is like that! So-o-o-o-o lemme enlighten you! Today is Parkin's Day! Our school's birthday? Remember? We three and baby Mackenzie and Arthur light the candles, release sky lanterns with our wishes written on em and so many other fun things! "

WHAT! First of all, Parkin's day is already over. It was on the day before he died- his last day. And, secondly, why is she suddenly so elated? The last time she was this elated was, well,on Parkin's Day. She's being so unusually weird right now. 

"Okay..but how does that even matter now Kenz? It's over, isn't it? Arthur--well you know. "

"What are you even saying? " she chuckles while saying this. Oh wow, now she's on full chuckling mode.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

" Oh my god, Muriel you are still possessed by your weird dreams! I see. Alright, time to wake up! Come on! "

"No I'm not possessed by my dreams! Parkin's Day is over. I'm sure you're the one who's possessed!"

"Ah hahahahaha! Do check the date if you won't believe me. Then , we'll know who's possessed and who's not!"

My god she is out of her mind! Of course it's not Parkin's Day today! Anyway, I check my phone for the date. What I see blows my mind away. 

7:36 Tue 23 June - WHATT! But how come? It's not the 23rd nor is it fucking June for that matter! The memorial was yesterday so today should be 1st ! Of August! This can't be happening. Maybe my phone has gone mad. Yeah it could happen right? Technical problems or something. Right? I immediately lift myself from where I am sitting and start rummaging through my textbooks for my mini calendar. I find it and surprisingly I notice all the days are crossed out except for 23rd June. I flip the page and go to August. None of the dates are crossed out! I always cross out the days which are over  and I clearly remember doing this yesterday! 

"Well" Mackenzie says with a sigh. I almost forgot that she is still on line. "Since you're silent, I believe who have woken up from your dream. Ba-bye Mummy! See you in a few hours!Get ready now! Fast!" she says this and hangs up.

I can't believe this is coming to my mind but something's wrong. Something's VERY wrong.  I hear the thumping of someone's shoes. It seems kinda familiar. The person's shadow is turning towards my room. But before I can peep and see who it is, this person enters my room. And oh my, I almost feel like blacking out again when I see him enter my room. And yes, I can assure you that I'm not hallucinating. It's Arthur.