Ehe was sitting on a grand blue sofa. The chandelier was above her head. It was dragon shaped, and its golden light revealed half of Ehe's face. She was wearing a long red frock, with thin golden lines. Her hands cupped her chin and she wore an unreadable expression, but it surely wasn't of any anger. Richard stood on the red carpet and looked around. Book stacks - making up an entire wall, red roses hanging from the lazy fan, The Tree whose vines were spread on the wall; everything was the same. That's until he looked out of the glass wall – the beautiful dry lianas hanging from the roof were half burned..
Richard's face changed dramatically. He coughed before starting to get her attention, "Uh hey, Ehe." He sighed, "Was it petrol-'
"I was only lighting my cigar. I guess dry things catch fire quickly: Same thing goes for you too, old chap."
Richard tsk-ed, "That's not convincing, c'mon girl… I know what happened."
Richard sat in front of Ehe. She smelled of so much Vicks. Her blue eyes were vibrating with focus. She looked at him for the first time, and forcing a smile, said:
"None to convince if I don't file a case."
Richard's jaw dropped, "You serious?"
"As much as I can be. I can forgive her, you know, though I'm... at my limit."
She continued, not blinking once. "Thanks for coming, Richard. Now I'm sure of my decision." She jumped to her feet and started walking away, "If you don't want juice, you may get going."
This hurt him. She was being way too formal.
"What if I want?"
"You know you don't. Please, I need my space right now.". She turned to him and her face, for the first time, showed emotion,"I'm sorry, Chad. The thing isn't just this. It's also about my father and the business."
"I understand, dear."
Richard stood and walked up to her. He looked at Ehe deeply and hugged her tight. She was really warm and her breath was light. "Take care of yourself".
"I really needed that." She said.
Ehe punched Richard on the chest, then slowly turned around and walked inside; dragging her fingernails – as straight as a blade – along the ground.
*****************************************************************
Richard exited out the door. He was drunk – head bobbing, leg limping. He was satisfied. This is how a party should be. He loved everything about the party: The people, the food, the talks.
Why is she so damn funny?
And did I just... befriend a Colonel?
I did. I..I friended a Colonel! OH that means. That means I can salute now! Richard looked to his left and saluted at the equally drunk, Robert who was sitting on a table outside. He slowly raised his head, saluted back, and fell backwards.
"Yeah, you don't get to do that." Cuz I am.. cuz I am a kernel?
He knew something was off and stupidly stared at the sky, his finger in his mouth. He didn't get it. Argh. Richard got frustrated. He threw his pocket comb angrily at the ground and tottered forward.
A man ran towards Richard, closing his a car door behind him. It was his driver-of-the-day. He held Richard by his shoulder and helped him to the cab.
"Kurnul needs no sapporch" Richard blurted and fell on his seat.
******************
It had been a sunny afternoon. Richard had spent the afternoon, well, doing nothing productive. He was full of agony. He thought,"I shan't blame myself. I'm a man with complete control over my mind." He sighed. Heck, is lying to yourself over and over again called affirmations?
Richard looked out his window for quite a long time.
The forest just won't stop growing, I can't do nothing about it. I MUST STOP IT. I have complete control over my mind. Not my emotions? I guess I don't... I DO! DAMN THIS.
He walked out of his home to get the sunshine. That calms the mind apparently.
It was 1:30. His mind pushed towards that alleyway which he had always avoided. But during lamentation, who in heaven or hell, cares about their intuition. Richard, with his hands inside his pockets, went on deep into the alleyway, repeatedly kicking a broken glass bulb along the pavement.
Why do we need a heart? It's so painful and heavy. There's already blood everywhere inside the body, what is there to pump ag-
Richard felt a chilling sensation on his neck. Goosebumps spread across his spine. He turned around at breakneck speed and found a woman standing there with a bottle in her hand. Her hair, bathed in hair tonic, was spread down like a curtain – veiling her face. He could see her dense eyes focused on him, yet.. blank.
Richard smiled at her. He was oddly relieved to see her. He wanted to express his pent up emotions directly to her, though unfortunately he didn't find the best strategy to do so.
"Hey sweetie. You're here. I'm glad you followed me." He looked at her gently. She stepped backward. Her posture changed. It was no longer as aggressive as it had been before.
He continued, deeply engrossed in his thoughts,"I was thinking about you." She glared at him. Her hands went towards her bottle. "I wanted to apologize, though - I must be frank - mistake was from your p-"
He saw her move - faster than he expected. She opened the bottle in one swift movement. Richard's eyes widened. He heard her scream. Richard jumped away, but it was too late.
SPLOSH
He felt his legs crumbling and burning – as if something alive was eating through him. His eyes watered abundantly. Then, they slowly closed. And then – nothing.