The Denial

The sun had set but the sky still glowed red, the clouds reflected a distinct shade of purple. She was strolling down the familiar alleys, past the graffiti that had always inspired her to keep sane , and past the houses with fascinating balconies that she , always so dreamily, used to gaze at.

But that day she didn't even care to look up from the scattered stone chips on the road, consequences of an unfamiliar occurrence of having an empty mind. Her headphones buzzed with the songs she dreaded, but somehow they didn't seem to quiver a nerve. It ,well,bothered her.

After walking for a while, into the distance she saw the flickering lights of their meeting den,the Cafeteria. Although she had set out of her house to go just there, but all of a sudden she started to feel an unknown force trying to halt her steps. But she didn't stop.

After reaching there,out of habit she peeked through the glass window, hoping to see him waiting at their usual table ,the only one in the Cafeteria that had a Lily in the table vase. It was empty ...

She felt her stomach drop a bit when she realised the normalcy of the situation.
She stepped in only to find Mrs Gomez smiling at her as if she was expecting her already . The subtle joy , that she always used to feel while listening to the chimes of the bells hung on the door , was absent. Everything seemed pretty strange to her.

She took the usual seat and ordered the same menu , this time, to serve one. She closed her eyes and leaned back, but didn't have to wait for long for her order to arrive; And as she was about to reach for the hot served coffee mug, the pattern of light grids made on the floor by dim street lights coming in through the striped window curtains caught her eyes...and as if by design the silhouettes of the furnitures guided her gaze up the table, through the window,to the sky , which was by then, a shade of prussian blue.

It hit her then.
Unable to contain to herself she almost ran out of the place, leaving the steaming coffee untouched. She felt like she had to physically keep running to save herself from the unwanted thoughts that awaited a scope to pounce on her.

She still doesn't remember if someone called after her, nor does she remember how long it took her to face reality. The last thing that she recalls, and perhaps forever will, is the chime of the door bells as she heard it for the last time.