Dead after Divorce

*The

divorce*

“Ten years? After ten years, summer? Why?” I argued “Calyx, I’m sorry but you are the opposite of what I want in a husband.” She replied.

“And I really hate that it took me ten years to realize that we had nothing. No future at all. This was a huge waste of my time.”

“So you’re kicking me out of your life? You’re giving me the backdoor?” I raged. “I love you though baby.”

“God had a plan for me. He chose the path that I needed to take. And you’re just not there. I see no future for us.” She said “So that’s it huh? This is it. We’re done. Done and over.” I sighed “I’m afraid so.” She responded. “Bye Calyx.” She walked out of my house with no regrets and no looks back.

The day of the divorce…

The divorce was final, and my pain seemed to be almost over. I couldn’t fathom another day, hell another second without my woman. I loved her, but I see that it wasn’t going to work. Loving her seemed a little too captivating anyway. My grip on the real world was loosening each day.

We were married for ten long drawn out years. I really have got no clue why she would just up and leave my like that. I was the best husband and lover I could be. On our honeymoon she promised me that our existence as one would last for all eternity. I didn’t want to place that label on women, but some are trifling. Just crazy ass creatures that just so happen to be the sexiest alive. I wander if she found out what happened at that party I went to a few years into our marriage. And I wander who that was that called her the night after the party, trying to tell me I left my wallet at their house.

Our honeymoon took place in Jamaica, and she gave me the best blowjob ever. I mean, my ass was snaking on the damn sheets while she was lolipopping on my sex like

it was the last dick she would ever get to deep throat. We married on June 15th, 1997. The divorce was finalized on June 15th, 1997, which was ironic because we married on my birthday. That was the best day of my life, but now it’s classified as the worst day of my life considering the outcome of the relationship. One good thing did come out of this whole fiasco though. I had her sign a prenuptial agreement the day after I proposed to her. So it was kind of like I said, “will you marry me, but get nothing if we break up?”

But I had no clue that our relationship wouldn’t succeed. I let her keep the ‘his’ and ‘hers’ towels I bought for our anniversary.

Early the next morning…

The day was a new one, and I wasn’t going to let anything destroy what I had already begun to rebuild. The grass seemed greener and the morning dew smelled more beautiful than it did before I got married. The minimal things in my life started to play the big roles in my life, and with that said, I can finally grow and move on. Makes me want to get up and get out. Going to my best friend’s house would make things a lot better because my best bud Paul usually knows how to cheer me up. Last night he rung my phone but I was sleep.

Noon crept up on me and then climbed over my shoulder. The sun was shining and the flowers were blooming. Maybe nature is trying to assure me that everything was going to unfold beautifully. I feel like going out today. Go see Paul and do a little grocery shopping. Paul doesn’t live too far away from the grocery store over on ninth, so I better get up and ready to go.

Meanwhile, I hop into my Mazda Protégé and head on down the main highway over to Paul’s house and my ex-wife’s favorite song was playing on the radio. ‘Any Love’ by Luther Vandross.

Seventeen minutes later I arrive at Paul’s house, his huge house. I always used to get lost in it and would always tell him that he didn’t have to buy that big ass house but he would always say, “why you hating’?” It feels like the house was actually scrapping the sky when I was I’m in it. As I approach the door, I try to hide the sadness from him.

By the time I get to the door, I notice that it’s already open. As I walk in, Paul comes and greets me.

“Dude, you can’t just leave your door all open like that, what if I was a crack head trying to steel your sofa or your fancy wine or some shit?” I laughed “Negro please? If you were, I would have capped your ass with my nine millimeter.” We walk to his room. “So what’s up? How are you?” He asked

“Just came to check up on you. See how you’re doing. Making sure you’re alive.” I joked He shot me a, “don’t play with me” look.

“What?” I say nervously “There is no way you could be here for that reason dude. For real though, you never check on me.” He busted my bubble.

“Okay I guess you’re right.” I said while accepting my defeat.

“So tell me what’s up with you man.” He urged I gulped down the slob that began to dry under my tongue, and then replied, “Oh it’s nothing really.”

“Well I am NOT going to try and force it out of you boy.” He looked away from me and started to fiddle with the buttons on his shirt.

“Okay fine!” I gave in. “The divorce was finalized this morning.”

“And you are sad…why?” He said “Because I loved her!” I gently yelled.

“Loved her. You did love her. Fuck her man, she left you. She wasn’t worth it anyway dude.” He replied “She left me though, Paul. I don’t know how to get over it.” I stammered “Don’t worry about her man.” He said. “She has done you wrong.”

“Huh, tell me about it,” I sighed “I will.” He said with much pride.

“What are you talking about? Do you know something?” I asked “I know why she left. The real reason why he left.” He reviled “Well what do you know?” I asked in a hurry “She had a little problem on her hands. One with a heart beat.” He said “Like what? Was she seeing someone else?” I raged

“You know neo right?” He asked “Yes but what does he have to do with this?” I said “She had an affair with him. She’s been having an affair with him, for the past few years.

She told him that she wasn’t sure about your sexuality after that party you went to a few years into you guys’ marriage.” He informed “What! That’s absurd!” I fumed “Yeah man she’s pregnant with his baby. She found out a couple days before you guys decided to get a divorce. She called me and asked my opinion about it. I said she ought to tell you instead of you finding out like this. I had your back the whole time dude.” He informed “Are you fucking shitting me right now?” I asked honestly “Whoa calm down man.” He said. “But hey, what party did you go to? She was trying to call you a queer dude. Are you…you know.” He started I sat back in aw, trying to digest all of this news. “Am I what?” I asked “Nah man never mind.” He tried to cover up the fact that he was asking me an offensive question. “So you alright with the girl stepping out on you?

“Man hell nah I’m not ‘alright’ with that bitch stepping out on me during our marriage. I mean, she wasn’t even at that damn party. How the fuck did she know what I did?” I said “What did you do?” He asked, really wanting to know. “Well you don’t have to tell me dude. It’s your business.”

Angry at the situation, I storm out of the house. My seethe was inevitable and my ears were spewing steam. My fists were balled up tighter than Prince’s jeans. In the back of my mind there was this voice. This tiny little voice that kept telling me to kill Neo, telling me to do evil things to him. Telling me to kill him slowly. I couldn’t do it though. I couldn’t survive in prison. Paul attempts to calm me down though.

“Calyx wait come back.” He yelled out to me “So why didn’t you tell me earlier on? Before I stressed over her. Before I cried over that…that bitch!” I hollered “I’m sorry man. You know I would never intentionally hurt you. You’re my man, my dude. My brother from another mother.” He said. “But hey look, she called me way after you guys signed the divorce papers.”

As I started to pull off, he tries to pull the key from the ignition. “You have to forgive me.”

“And why should I?” I turned to him with nothing but hatred in my eyes.

“Because I’m your best friend. We like this.” He crossed his fingers really tight and then smiled at me.

“Barely…” I muttered “Excuse me?” He said. “What did you say?”

“Nothing man.” I said, hinting to my irritation “You are really tripping over dumb shit.” He said “Oh yeah, my marriage is dumb. Why care about having a great and fabulous relationship? Why do that!” I said sarcastically “Well at least you know it’s not your baby. At least you know that it isn’t yours.

Knowing her trifling ass, she may pop up later on trying to make you provide for that baby.” He brought up I thought about what he just said for a moment, and then said, “I suppose that’s true.”

“So we cool?” He stuck out his hand for a shake.

“A’ight, look. I’m sorry for tripping man. You know I’ve got issues.” I shook his hand.

“Great. Cool. I’m glad we are cool. I hate when we fight. It’s like we’re married.” He laughed

Initially, I was to leave in the act of defense, but because Paul encouraged my stay, I did. We went back inside after we called truce. He flipped on the television and wasn’t even looking for anything good to watch. We just had it on so we would distract ourselves from the previous situation. We talked forever. The whole time, we talked about candy, politics, and even vaginal herpes. We hated being original.

Meanwhile, my time comes. I gathered myself and then dismissed myself. “Alright man, I’ll holler at your ass later.”

“See you, and be careful.” He waved

Walking out of his mansion, I had my hopes up. I hoped that things would turn out okay. With no remorse, I can truly smile. *A

new start*

A few seconds away from the grocery store, and I have no clue what I want for dinner tonight. I hate when everybody and their mama is at the store. It just rushes me out, making me forget the important things I need.

As soon as I step foot out of my car, not even taking a good breath, a man accosts me.

Looks like a sales person.

“Hey can I interest you in a couple nice Halloween masks?” He asked I look at him like he’s a fucking windbag and then say, “Umm it’s June, not October. No I’m fine.”

“But wait, sir.” He tries and stops me before I walked away. “It doesn’t hurt to shop early. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll regret it. This I can assure you.”

“Look sir I’ve got plenty shopping to do as it is, I have no time or money to even step foot into your lovely shop.” I eased out of his way and started for the grocery store.

“Come on man, my store just opened. It’s the grand opening. Help me out.” He desperately said I give in after a few sympathetic thoughts. “Alright, alright I’ll check out what you have.”

I follow behind the eager storeowner into his Halloween shop, and on the walls I couldn’t help but notice all the freakish masks.

“You see anything you like?” Asked while showcasing the product with his hand I shook my head, declining his offer.

As we continue through the isles, come across a mask that triggered my interest in a hurry. I had to do a double take, my eyes drifted onto the amazing face wear.

“Ah so this is the one?” He asked, trying so hard to make the sale “Maybe, just maybe.” I replied “Why don’t we try it on for size?” He eased I carefully take the mask from its rack, and then fitted it over my face. I began to love how it felt over my face.

“This is it. This is the one.” I said I follow him to the counter that the cash register sat on and then purchased it. This mask was the perfect symbol carnage, extreme slaughter.

In the trunk is where I placed my removable trait.

As I drive home, almost there, I realize I forgot to go shopping as I was supposed to. It was okay though. I have leftovers that will do just fine. I just want to hurry and get home.

Minutes later…

Pulling up to my house, I am more than eager. It’s like this mask is magical. It cleared my mind of Summer and that trick ass Neo. “Wow this mask is something else.” I tell myself. The bathroom isn’t too far from where I stand now. My mirror on the wall tells me what’s ugly and what’s not. I know it’s weird.

I stare into the mirror awaiting its opinion, telling it to only look at the mask. It liked it.

It’s a fabulous look on me, says the magic mirror. So I bask in the ambience.

By and by, I remind myself that I indeed, look good. As I applaud myself, my receptive sense picked up this sound of someone whispering my name. “Calyx…calyx.” I didn’t respond. Again the voice rings my eardrum, “Calyx…calyx.” I now worry. I crept closer to my tub thinking the voices were coming from there. When I reached for the curtain, Paul jumps out at me, yelling, “Boo!” with a scary deep voice.

“God damn, boy!” I gasped. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I used the key to get in so I can cheer you up, but you weren’t here. So I hid in the bathroom ‘til you got back home, so I can scare you for not being here when I got here.”

He explained “Wow that was an interesting waste of your time…because I wasn’t scared.” I lied “Oh what the fuck ever dude I had your ass sweating.” He laughed. “You even gasped like a little bitch.”

“Boy you’re digging your own grave.” I threatened My humor sense was dwindled and I felt uncomfortable. His jokes are always unpredictable but this one was really new. He’s never done this before. But everything was keen. We made our way to the family room, and when we take our seats I reach for the remote to the TV so I can avoid his making fun of my mask. But that didn’t happen.

He began to judge my mask.

“Okay what the hell is this?” He asked while smirking I couldn’t tell him the truth about how I got the mask so I just lied. “This crazy man startled me as I exited my vehicle in the grocery store parking lot, I had to buy it. He had a gun. A big gun! The one with the big bullets.”

“Don’t play yourself like that buddy. You know you are a bald faced lie.” He said I condoned his opinionated response and asked him what he really thought about it. “So you really think its stupid looking?”

“Do I ever lie when it comes to you doing dumb shit? He giggled. “Like that time you asked what E.A.S.T stood for…”

“So you hate it?” I asked “It reminds me of that Michael guy.” He quivered “Jackson?” I asked in confusion “Nah boy, Meyers.” He smirked “Your funny.” I exclaimed

Rage began to build up. Faking happiness can be very sickening to the human face. I am starting to feel guilty for faking happiness for ten years. Maybe I didn’t really love her. Maybe it was just the right picture for me at the time. Didn’t want to make anyone disown me. Didn’t want to make my mother look at me like I wasn’t her son.

Maybe that party was the key to my closet. I couldn’t let my emotional distress affect the friendship that Paul and I share. So I asked Paul to excuse himself. Surprisingly, he didn’t bitch about it, he left with no attitude.

By and by, the sun began to collapse, and the moon began to wake up. The night fell, and the daredevil in me awoken.

*Mission

Mishap*

Tonight my plans have been altered. The feeling of ‘venture’ came over me. I feel ‘bad’. I want to scare the dog shit out of someone. I just want to see the affect this mask really has on people.

Ravenously, I put on some clothing that triggered suspicion for the whole damn neighborhood. I wanted to blend into the darkness. Pitch-black attire seemed only right.

After I prepared myself, I climb into my Protégé, ready for something interesting to happen. Something that would be worth going to prison for.

Driving only twenty miles down the interstate highway, I take the exit ramp that leads to my ex-mother in laws house. When I pulled onto her street, I park my car on her neighbor’s driveway. In a hurry, I scurry around back, entering her yard. I tripped over a long piece of wood and injured my big toe. I sucked up the pain as if it were my favorite soda, and then went in through the unlocked backdoor. Creeping along the floor, and then finally reaching her bedroom. The door was cracked, so I peaked inside. There she stood, with a posture that was less than casual. Facing the walk-in closet, she stared into it, searching for a nightgown I suppose. Thinking strategically, I alter my height, creeping closer and closer. The closer I got to her, she took a step back. By the time I got to her bed, she was sitting on it. My heart was racing extra fast, and my sweat glands weakened.

My socks began to dampen; I was overwhelmed by the temptation. Not waiting any longer, I drew my arms up and dove in for the kill. “Boo!” I hollered. She fell back on to the floor. I watched her convulse and clutch her heart as if she were in pain. In complete awe, I stood back, begging for her life. She began this series of twitching, and then she loosened up. Her body looked relaxed. I move in a little closer, and then closer. Her eyes were blink free, and her stomach had no up and down motion. Her torso was free of

movement. I just killed a woman. I sprinted out of the home like a Giselle escaping death.

I had to get out of there before my heart gave out. *Contemplating*

The thought of me going to prison was engraving itself in my head. I ad no intentions of killing anyone, I just wanted to scare a few people. Because her daughter and I divorce, I’m automatically going to be the first person the cops interrogate. I have to make up some lie that will point the cops in a different direction. The more I think about my possible consequences, the more my body quakes. Should I tell someone?

Should I be secretive? Shall I live or die? Will the consequences be major or minor? Am I going to prison? If Paul questions my where a bout’s, I’m just going to not tell him the truth. I love him and all but I can’t risk our friendship. It was just a mistake, a stupid mistake. Ms. Wonders was a great woman, and I feel oh bad for what I’ve done.

As sweat drips from my forehead, and my palms dampen-the phone rings.

Constantly the sound kicked me in the ear. The phone sounds again, and only negative thoughts crossed my mind. By the time the second ring took place, I pick up. “…” I breathed “Hello?” Paul started. “Man why are you sitting there, breathing all hard and shit. You act like you just committed a crime.”

“Nothing!” I quickly hung up and then curled up into a small ball in the corner behind my sofa.

The moon began to fall, and the sun replaced it. Meaningful emotions began to disappear. It finally sunk in. I killed someone. I’m a criminal. A fugitive. I think we all know not to flee a crime scene. I can still smell the guilt, spilling from my pores. Never in my whole life have I felt as bad as I do. After moments of silence, my doorbell rings.

“Who is it?” I call out. From the sounds of it I knew is was Paul. “Come open the door I have to tell you something. Your ex-wife’s mother is dead. He must have thought that that was ‘news’ to me. He uses his key and then comes in. “I’m coming in.”

“Stay back I’m a murderer.” I muttered as he approached me

“What? Why are you talking so damn low?” He irrupted “I’m a sinful man.” I mumbled “We all are.” He said. “Why are you tripping?”

“Go, just get out of here.” I wept. “Before I kill you.”

“Dude what’s really going on with you?” He asked earnestly I held my head up, trying to hide my face, “Noting. Just go.

He stood there, moving none, which angered me more. “No I’m not going anywhere. Not until I find out what the hell is wrong with you.”

I couldn’t find the power to speak. After twenty-five minutes of sorrowful mumbling, he finally realized what I done.

“So it was you?” He asked with a saddened tone “Yes! It was me! I killed her!” I shouted “…” He gathered himself and headed for the door.

“Wait.” I yelled “So now you want to speak up. Way up!” He raged “I’m sorry. I’m just still in shock my damn self!” I said “…. Whatever dude. I’m out.” He stormed out like a small tornado with out saying any goodbyes.

“Fuck you too.” I said softly. *Fate

among I*

Usually I’m not ruthless but now I’m feeling a lotta, lotta. I’m not saying I don’t care about my actions. I’m just not going to let this fiasco bother me any longer.

Hours have turned into days, and there is still no sign of Summer knowing what I done to her mom.

Just as my delusional mind began to disperse, the phone rings. I hesitate to answer. Not only if I answer the phone she may notice the unbalance of my voice, but I may tell her everything.

Avoiding contemplation, I pick the phone up. “Hello?”

“Calyx, something horrible has happened.” She wept, she being summer.

I pause for a second, and then rejoined. “What in the hell are you calling me for?” I couldn’t hold in my anger for too long. That bitch is going to get her, whether it is with my knife or the butchers down the street.

“I just lost my mother, Calyx!” She fumed. “How could you be so cruel?”

I chuckled a bit, “Bitch you must be crazy.” I hung up the phone, clutching my stomach because the pain of me killing her mother came over me.

Minutes later the phone rings once more. Now I’m thinking to myself “This bitch really wants to find the killer.” But I answer the phone just so I wouldn’t have to hear the sound of it ringing anymore. “What do you want from me woman? You left me and now you need me? Hell no.”

A silent breath comes over the lines.

“Hello? Who the hell is this?” I asked The insufflations quickly turned into a voice. “Your soul…” then the heavy breathing continued even more so.

My anger got the best of me, so I slammed the phone against the wall.

I make some realizations, by and by. Maybe someone saw me when I killed the woman. But what if someone really did see me? Will they turn me in? Would I kill them if they did turn on me? A quick knock met the face of my door. My heart murmured, and then fell. Taking action, I crawl up to the door, and then leaned on it. Withdrawing much paranoia, I lend my ear to the door. “Whose there?” I ask. The mysterious voice remained suppressed. I asked again, “Whose there?” I waited for an answer for thirty seconds and then it finally was given to me, even thought I didn’t like it. “This is your soul. I know

what you did. And bravo, keep it coming. It’s truly for you.” Backing away from the door, my eyes widen. I then noticed the knob twisting. The raging voice busted through the door, and I hid under my sofa. The voice says, “You can’t hide from love.” My fear was too much to handle, so I farted. Releasing all the hot air that was gathered in my gut “Get out of my house!” I hollered. The voice sounded as if it were going back out of my home. The door slammed shut and the freaky line was spoken. “One, two, three. I shall burn thee.” The ambience loosens, the weird voice made its departure. As I made my way to the kitchen, I ponder. All of this murder nonsense is wearing down on me. I need a hearty snack. Reaching into my freezer, I grab a frozen dinner. I open the box, take out the tray and then stick it into the microwave. Minutes into the defrosting, sparks begin to fly. My fear was now ten times as much, and my heart jumped. Another spark flew, and then another. Next thing I know, my whole damn mini oven catches on fire. Hoping for my food, I reach my arm in to retrieve it. My arms were trampled by a herd of flames. I panicked as if mama died. By the time a minute goes by, my arms and face are damaged.

All of the while I was going crazy, I couldn’t feel any pain. It’s like an angel was protecting me. I rush into the bathroom in search of my first aid kit. Finally I come across it. I wrapped my arms up with gauze and then pitched on my mask. *Burned

Reality*

Days of painful hours pass by; I guess the angel didn’t like my past. I don’t know if the atrocious voice was a dream. I know the burning wasn’t a dream, or a beautiful nightmare. It was just a nightmare. The mask is helpful though. Now I can hide my horrible face. The roaring fire knocked my face off like wind does to lawn chairs. No hospitalization though, I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself.

Minutes later, I hear a knock at the door. In fear, I didn’t want to answer it. So I ask who it is. “Who is it?” “It’s me summer.” I grunted and then went to answer it. I flung the door open trying to be flippant. She took notice to my being wrapped in gauze and spoke on it.

“Oh my gosh.” She held her hands over her mouth. “What happened?”

“Be quiet.” I yanked her inside so she wouldn’t attract any attention. “Is nothing private to you?”

“No really what happened?” she asked “What are you talking about?” I pretended like I didn’t know what she was talking about, when indeed; know what she was talking about.

“I can see right through you, Calyx.” She said. “What happened to your arms? How did you burn them? And why are you wearing that ridiculous mask?”

“Damn, woman! Is that some of your business?” I defended. “Now, I think it’s about that time.”

“Time,” her face was covered with stupidity. “Time for what?”

“Time for you to get the hell out of my house.” I headed for the door and demanded her departure.

“Wait, we figured out who the person is that killed my mom.” She said. I stared at her with an “I don’t give a rat’s ass about you or your funky ass mother.” Look “Who?” I asked “I knew he wasn’t right for her. I just knew it.” She drifted. “I think it was some dude she dated a few years back.”

My heart began to slow its racing, and my jaws loosened. “And how?”

“He strangled her. That psychopath choked my mom to death!” she cried “What ever you do, don’t kill him.” I lowered my voice. “I already tripped over that rock.”

“Well I’m going to! I can’t just sit around and let him get away with murder!” she thundered out of the house, knocking me to my sofa.

My fear persistently gnawed at my soul. I committed a ravenous crime, and some innocent man is going to be killed for what I’ve done. I have got to stop this woman from making the mistake that will determine her fate.

Hours pass and I feel even worse about summer going to kill that innocent man. I can change the outcome, by changing the income. Light bulbs hovered over my head and began to shine like stars do. Then a conclusion came to me. I will follow her to the guy’s house, stop her, the guy lives, and I hopefully stay out of the pin. The truth just needs to stay beneath the surface.

For my well and thought out plan, my wardrobe mustn’t be anything less that spectacular.

All black here I come.

I got dressed…

As I get into my vehicle, my cell phone sounds. Looking at the caller id I notice that it’s Paul. I answer, “Hello?”

What’s going on?” he asked. Sounds like he was super bored and just wanted to talk to someone.

“I’m going to the mall, my shoes are jacked up.” I lied He believed me, and eventually I will have to tell him what’s been going on with me but I’m just not ready yet. So I placed my phone on vibrate in order to keep quiet when I stop summer from killing the man.

I drive off at fifty-two miles per hour, and arriving at summer’s mother’s house in less than ten minutes. Her car stood just inches away from the front door. I could see through the open shades, summer was in the kitchen. Grasping a knife, slashing and dashing the air as if it were a person. Her skill amazed me. But not enough to distract me.

After her carnage practice, she exits the house and then gets into her car. She started the engine and then drove off. I followed behind her with a nice distance between us.

*Mistaken

identity*

The long drive to the man’s house drained some energy out of me. But I’m never too tired to correct a mistake. In life, we can’t press rewind; but this is pretty close to it.

She parked in the back behind the shed; I park in the driveway next to the house. I followed her in after she picked the lock like a true villain. She crept up the stairs, and I was like a wart on her ass cheek, when she busts through the door of William’s bedroom.

He stood there, fresh out of the shower. She didn’t even cover her face-the worst mistake ever. The mask on my face was a big help, even though I wasn’t there to hurt the guy.

She charged at the man with full throttle, and wrapped him in her arms so tightly, I coughed. When she looked back to see who was there, I ducked behind the huge vase that stood inches away from the bedroom door. He was in shock while she was going all ‘python’ on him. He grabbed at his heart like it was attacking him. He gave up the fighting back, and then melted in her arms. She loosened her grip and then laid him on his back on the bed. She then began to explain her actions in a way that isn’t too sympathetic. “You do know why I am ending your life, right?” she asked. Will coughed up blood, and she spoke again. “Good…good. Goodbye then.” As soon as she reached into her pocket to retrieve her knife, I come to the rescue. “Drop the knife now, summer!”

She turned to face me while swinging the knife swiftly across my face and then slashing my left arm. My catty reflexes ignited, and I jabbed her in the face. When she fell to the ground, the guy started hollering. He was yelling for me to let him go, and to let him go soon. His bitching and moaning aggravated the hell out of me, too soon, so I backhanded him, and then dragged him to the trunk of my protégé. He hollered in fear, trying to escape capture. He repeatedly punched the inside of my trunk, showing that he was upset.

As I put the key into the ignition, here comes summer, straddling out of the house, moving as fast as she could. She flung her limbs recklessly, and angrily. She starts to shout at me, “I’m going to kill you!” I start to drive off and she comes at me full speed, she was indeed-a raging bull. She busted my passenger side window. “What the fuck!” I shouted. She stopped herself, not. She even stuck her arm into my car and ran the knife down the side of my neck. I slammed my right hand into her face, sending her way away from my car. I hit the gas and zoomed off.

By the time I pull up to my place, the man’s actions became even more annoying. I couldn’t let him get my blood pressure all high and shit. I had to put him in his place.

“Look here you purpled, yeasty bastard. I am not the psycho that wanted your ass dead. I know you saw that bitch! That woman! She was a woman. Now I am the one that’s trying to save your ungrateful ass. If I were you, I’d shut the fuck up, before I knock your ass out.” I help him out of the trunk “So why the hell am I a target?” he dusted himself off.

“You’ve been accused.” I said “Of what!” he yelled “People get accused all of the time dude. That’s where the saying ‘accusations fly like bullets do’ comes from.” I said “And what the hell does that have to do with me? I am asking you why I’m being accused. Do you know or don’t you?” he asked “Listen, can I tell you something? Something that isn’t bad on your part.” I turned away from him and stared into the clouds.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Sure.” He rubbed his head in confusion. “Wait are you going to kill me?”

“Nope…” I glanced at his sex and giggled. “With a dick that size, she should’ve killed you when she had the chance.”

“Fuck you, it’s cold out here.” He defended

“Dude you make my shit look like a horses.” I laughed We looked around us, making sure we are safe. And we both shared the hopes of summer being dead.

The decision was mine, whether I wanted to give him clothes or not. He looked my size, so I decide to loan him an outfit. I couldn’t stand the look on his face as he stood there with his dick dangling. My eyes drifted down there every time he spoke to me. I didn’t think any thing of it, however.

Suddenly, he and I strike up this ludicrous conversation about believing in ghosts.

I told him an evil spirit attacked me, and he didn’t believe me. But when I took off the mask and revealed my jacked up face, he captured belief and handed it to my situation.

After I explained, he shared a little secret of his own. He was planning on murdering Ms. Wonders a couple weeks ago. He didn’t go through with it because he was afraid of going to jail. I asked him how old he was and he said he was in his early thirties, like me.

I questioned why he wanted her dead.

“Why, what did she do?” I asked “She left me because…” He stopped for a second. “She left me because I…” My patience began to wear thin. “Spit it out!”

He fell to the ground in agony. “Because…because I got caught.”

“What were you caught doing?” I asked. “Sucking dick? Licking pussy?”

He picked himself up and said, “Hell no. She walked in on me and her cousin having sex.”

I took a seat in my recliner. “Hell I would’ve left you too.”

*Everlasting

Misfortune*

The night storms by and the sun rises. I’ve already gotten myself into this situation deeply. I want to be free of this burden. This man has got to go. I know I was supposed to save him and all, and I did, so why the hell is he still here? Is it because I want him to be safe, or is my guilty pleasure taking control of me?

I sit in silence, watching over him as he sleeps. I’m thinking of ways to get rid of him. An idea sneaks up on me after several minutes of contemplating.

“So...William,” I groaned He shook his head, “no” “William!” I shoved him angrily. “Get up, I’m taking you home.”

“No!” he barked. “Back home it’s not safe!”

“What ever man, that crazy girl is dead. She will not be able to hurt you.” I replied with the lack of pity.

“Okay fine, just hold on a minute.” He yawned

My life seems to be turning into a malediction, and frankly, I don’t know if I can survive this without being true to myself.

While William takes his morning piss, I return to my bedroom to check my voicemails.

Running across the screen: You have one new voice message. I hop on the bed, click the button for which my messages will be plaid, sat up anxiously awaiting some type of good news so that I can attempt to lead a better life. Instead, what I got was repulsive.

“One two three, thou shall murder everyone in the sea…”

I was totally the opposite of calm. Fear, disgust, and paranoia came over me. Just when I thought it was over, it started again.

“If you don’t abide by me, I shall expel you from the opportunity of eternal life, permanently!”

Speechless and distraught. How could someone leave me a message like this? Have I done such an evil thing to trigger someone’s insanity? Another thing spits from the speakers of the machine.

“I will rid you of something very dear to you. Something you use everyday. Something that can’t be touched, only heard.”

“No!” I shouted at the machine. There is no looking on the bright side because there is no brighter side.

William hears me shouting, and comes out of the bathroom yelling, “Let him go! Let him go!”

“I’m okay, just go back to your morning piss so you can go, please?” I said “Okay man, I’m going!” he enraged “Sorry William but there is something really strange going on right now, and I don’t need any more honest distractions.” I informed “Honest distraction?” he repeated “Yes, honest distractions!” I looked at the front of his underwear and then looked back up at him. “You have just got to go. I would love to hang out when things get a little more situated.”

“Well I’m ready.” He smarted.

Meanwhile, I warm my car up while William gets a bite to eat from my kitchen. I asked him to look over the burned microwave and the overthrown dining room table. A man approaches me from behind. The man wore nothing but navy clothing. I immediately duck for cover, thinking I was going to get shot at. The man smiled and said, “I’m not going to shoot you.” I raise back up, “Thank you.” Then the man pulls a shank from his Afro, and I take off into my house and lock the door. William comes up, fully alerted, “What! What happened?” I cried out to him, “This man is trying to kill me.” BOOM! The glass window in the kitchen shatters and falls to the ground. In comes a tube with the symbol of ‘poison’ engraved on it. I try to save us and run towards the tube so I can toss it out of the window. But before I could get to it, it began to release tuffs of smoke. The tube busted and there was smoke everywhere in the kitchen. My brakes didn’t work, so I kept on into the smoke. Inhaling and panicking, a sharp pain traveled through my body. I tried to call out to William, hell I even tried to scream, but my voice was destroyed. *The

damage is done*

It’s the afternoon; I’m lying on my back near the foot of my bed. Paramedics are hovering all around me. I glance to the left of me and then to the right. Will isn’t around.

“Where is Will?” I panicked The head paramedic guy looks at me in a sympathetic way and asked, “Who is Will?

Doctors he’s delusional.”

“Hell no I’m not ‘delusional’” I try to get up from the bed. But another doctor pushes me back down, softly. “The man that called you guys, he was here. Where is he?” My throat was in pain every time I tried to shout. Nothing but mumbo jumbo came out. “Look, this is really unnecessary. You can round up your boys and get out of here. I’ll be fine.”

An officer walks in the room holding a steamed cup of coffee. He stands right beside me and places his cup on the dresser drawer next to my bed. “We took him home earlier. He said that’s where you guys were on your way to before that bomb episode occurred. Look I want to help you; your voice is completely disabled. Now I need your full cooperation for the duration of this procedure. Can you do that for me?”

“Well how long have you been here in my house?” I shifted my body upwards, trying to get up. I look through the window in my bedroom to make sure I wasn’t being watched.

“Relax. Just relax, man you’re safe.” He helps me out of bed. “We have got the roughest toughest K-9’s out there guarding the perimeter. No one’s getting in, and if the man that did this to you is still in your property, he will not be able to get out.”

“What happened to me, my voice? Am I going to live?” I mumbled “If we don’t get you to the hospital in twenty-four hours, you can die.” He said. “You inhaled a dust the is a voice disabler.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m going to die!” I felt faint so I straddled alongside the wall, attempting to leave the room.

“If you just sit down, we will be able to save you, sir.” He followed behind me with his arms and hands around my waist. “I’m not sure, but I think you may have Zylaxia.”

“And that’s fatal?” I coughed “In some cases yes it is fatal. But in this particular case, you still have a chance at a cure.

Often times, the cure may be a common household object. There are different cures for different types of this bacterium. Because your friend William called us as soon as you collapsed, the cure for you probably won’t be as obscure as the others.”

“Okay?” I didn’t quite understand what he said. “Is my life guaranteed?”

“Not until we catch the lunatic that tried to kill you.” He said

“Damn.” I sighed “We have eight different teams out there, none have returned with any type of evidence.”

He showed rage I sprinted out of the room as fast as possible. The cop chased me all the way into my basement, backing me onto a corner. “You’re not well; you’ve got to stay in bed for a while.” I spotted and open window that stood directly over my heater. To distract him I stared up at the door as if a team was walking by. He looked back with excitement and I jumped through the window. I was finally out of the house that silently interrogated me.

The room full of cops made me nervous, and I thought that they knew I killed Ms. Wonders. I still didn’t understand why they didn’t have me in the hospital right then and there. Instead they just gathered around my body looking like they performing an exorcism or something.

My body is worn out by my running so fast, trying to get away and to never get caught. I take a seat on a boulder to rest. My stomach begins to twist and turn, and all of the sudden I get angry. I am getting so angry to the point of no return. I don’t know how or why all of this is happening to me. I see a squirrel nearby, I run after it and then finally catching it. My heart tells me to let it go but my anger says to kill it. Tells me to make it suffer like I have to. Gripping the animal super tight, I bang it against the cement. It squirmed and squirmed some more, and then it stopped breathing. My phone sounds as I get further up the road and the screen tells me that it’s Paul. I was indecisive about answering it but I figured it might be important, so I picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hey man.” He said. “Ugh I can’t stand when people mumble. Can you talk right please?”

“Something terrible has happened.”

“I can’t really understand you, Calyx.” He replied “Something terrible has happened!”

“What tell me?” He urged. “Don’t tell me you’re still tripping over summer?”

“No, it’s my voice. It’s no longer.”

“I’m right here in front of H.E.B do you need me to pick you up some Listerine or something?” He asked

“No my voice is all raspy and it’s going away. Someone tried to kill me; they poisoned me with that dust shit!”

“Am I going to have to blow a motherfucker up into smoke?” He defended “Look, can you just come pick me up? I’m on the corner of Maverick road a few minutes away from my house.”

“Alright just chill out, I’m on my way.” He responded *To

the hospital*

Up pulls Paul and I get in. Just when I was beginning to tell him the whole story, I smell this insipid stench. I ask him what the hell it was but he ignored me because he thought I was making fun of him. His focus remained on the road and he tuned me out.

Minutes later we pull up to his home. My voice really started to tick me off. I was ultimately angry because I shouldn’t have run my dumb ass into the dust, that wasn’t the smartest move. I could sense Paul’s willingness to hear about what had happened to me. He scurries in after me eager to listen.

“Okay dude, you have got to explain to me everything that happened to you.” He advised I struggled for a firm stringent sound. The sound I obtain is never strong enough to hold a full conversation. Not strong enough to tell him exactly what happened.

Paul taps my shoulder, hoping for a response. “Come on man; tell me just a little bit of what happened to you. It’ll probably give me a lead on finding the bastard that hurt you.”

I clear my throat, roughly. Some sound was uplifted. “It was a dust filled tube. The navy guy chunked it into my house through the kitchen window after I ran inside the house when he pulled his shank out on me when I was warming up my car.”

All of my energy went into that explanation, and my throat ached. The throbbing sensation was overbearing.

“Oh yeah that.” He giggled. “Well I’m going to get you to the hospital before you start getting all freakishly delusional with a brother.”

I nod, giving him thanks.

“Cool let me just get out of these clothes and I’ll be ready.” He assured Inside I feel really calm and satisfied considering I was in the hands of someone that truly has my back. His good intentions always seem to come around when they need to. Five minutes later, he comes from his room and says, “Alright let’s go.” He lifts me up from the ground and kept implying he didn’t want me to hurt myself anymore. I didn’t protest, hell I don’t mind someone picking me up and doing the walking around for me.

As we roll down the interstate highway, the whole left side of my body lost feeling. I couldn’t call out to Paul so I had to use wild gestures. He noticed pretty soon.

He slowed his speed and beseeched, “Calyx, you’re in pain?” my impatience stood forth, drawing my arms up. I have no doubt that he cares for me but he just needs to get my ass to the freaking hospital NOW. He pulled over instead of speeding off to the fucking hospital. He flicked on his hazard lights and I socked him in the chest with my armcausing him to gasp for air. I pointed in the direction of the hospital, and then he finally caught on.

Bush coat Medical Center, seventeen minutes later, after racing through the excessive traffic, we pull into the medical center parking lot. He quickly unbuckled himself and me. Immediately he came to my side and lifted me from my seat. His foot, knocking a few patients out of the way, flung the hospital doors open. He sat me down in a comfy chair, and went to the receptionist’s desk. He filled out some paperwork like the receptionist insisted and then came to swoop me up into his arms. He dashed through the doors leading to the doctors’ operating rooms, forcing me to notice all the plastic surgery freaks of nature. A curious plastic sergeant poked his head out but he spoke no words.

Paul held me with one arm, struggling to keep me afloat. He reached into his pocket and pulled put a set of keys. I ask myself “where the heck did he get those from?” while he unlocks the door in a hurry. In the room were a confused doctor and a big woman. Paul places me in a chair and turned to the doctor. He badgered the man, telling him that I was sick and demanding he fixes me. The doctor was scared out of his mind, because Paul was a deranged maniac. The doctor didn’t want any trouble so he came to my rescue. The doctor told Paul to wait in the waiting room until further notice, and Paul promised the man that he’d kill him if anything happened to me. The doctor began his operation.

*Wake

up*

The air seemed to be cleaner, so I breathed it in thoroughly. I looked over and there on the mini sofa, asleep. I try to stretch but tubes and sticky things with metal attached to them were covering my whole chest. Paul jumps up from his sleep all happy go lucky.

“The doctor went out for a cigarette break.” He informed. “I know you’re probably freaked out right now, but I can guarantee you what I’m about to tell you is much worse.”

I shot him a “What was the point of saying that?” look.

“The doctor is telling me that your voice is damaged. But he said not to worry. They are searching for a cure as we speak.” He clapped.

I felt happiness all over my body but I couldn’t express myself through words.

“Don’t even try. It’s not healthy to push what’s already falling.” He believed I lie there wishing Paul’s ability to speak was gone and mine was here. My sighs had a minimal affect.

I ponder while sitting back in the hospital chair. I feel incarcerated and trapped. I want to get out of this place before I get completely delusional. All of this seemed to be my entire fault. As Paul dozed off, the doctor strolls in. Paul jumps up wiping slobber from the corners of his mouth. “Well thanks for your help, but I’m afraid me and my friend should be going now.” The doctor raised his eyebrows fairly high and replied, “Oh no you don’t. He needs to stay here for a little more testing.” The allusion of evil fumigated the room. “Look doctor, we must go.” Paul echoed. The doctor becomes serious and says, “I have no time for games, sir.” Paul becomes even more serious and says, “Me neither.” The doctor then told Paul that the testing is going to begin shortly and he had to leave the room. Paul showed no mercy when he started popping off at the mouth. He defended me by telling the doctor all the reasons why I need to go home, but the doctor kept telling him all the reasons why I should stay for more testing. He got really bold with Paul when he said, “Get the hell out of here before I’m forced to beat your ass all up and down this damn hospital.” Paul surprisingly kept his cool. He left the room waving goodbye and good luck. I sit back in silence while all of this craziness takes its toll on me. *Testing

Gone Wrong*

Doctors come rushing in the room holding gloves on their hands and little masks on their mouths and noses. I can barely breathe now that the tubes are coerced down my nose and throat. They lift me onto this bed and tossed a horse pill down my throat. The saliva kicked the pill down quickly and it dissolved as soon as my stomach acid got a hold of it. I could see but couldn’t feel anything. My mind was empty of thought; my body was being taken control of. Hours upon hours flew by, and then something went wrong…

“Doctors the tube, the tube!” I heard one nurse shout.

“Pull it out slowly, doctor. Slowly!” another doctor panics Operation stupid has officially been corrupted. The doctors manage to remove the tube from my heart, while I’m still pain free. “Good work doctors.” They praise themselves.

“Now let’s get his sense of feeling back, and get him out of here before we really mess up something important.”

I couldn’t feel the puncture but I could see it, I thought to myself, “What kind of hospital am I in? These untrained maniacs have no clue what their doing!”

They grab hold of metal resuscitators and pound them on my chest, forgetting that I’m pretty much alive. Because they tested horribly, my pulse began to go down like a rock from a plane. The doctors holler in shock, “Oh my gosh not again! Something happened again.” When one doctor panics it promotes nationwide panic. They pound my chest once more and their able to retrieve my pulse. My vision becomes blurry and all I see is tubes driving all over the room. They try cover up the incident, not knowing that I saw the whole thing.

“Hey Calyx. We just wrapped up the best procedure and we’ve got some news for you.”

A female doctor says I rolled my eyes to the back of my head and grunted heavily.

“We aren’t able to aid your speaking ability right away, but in a couple of months we shall come to you with a cure.” She articulated. “We had a nurse call your friend over, but I want you to be really careful when you leave this room today. Try not to talk because if you try too hard it could be very dangerous. We wouldn’t want you to be permanently damaged now would we?” She joked

The doctors leave the room and I’m starting to lose it. It’s all too much for me to handle.

First, I lost the love of my life. At least I thought she was the love of my life. Second, I get cursed by an evil spirit that I’m not sure is real but it burned the shit out of me so it may be. And third, someone tried to kill me at my own freaking house. I’m definitely losing my cool. It’s like I’m dead after divorce.

Seconds after the wobbly-handed doctors leave the room Paul rushes in, eager to take me home. “The car is still running, and I’ve got a Red Barron in the oven and a chic in the backseat. You all set?” My thoughts were clear to me but I couldn’t speak like a normal human being so I just nod to imply that I was ‘all set’. He lifted me from the bed to my feet, and held my hand as we walked out of the death trap hospital. He takes me home so he could “wax this bitch’s ass”. He also promised to check in on me a little bit later. I shook my head “No don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” I just needed some time to think about how my life is going to be with out the voice of mine.

*The

meeting of someone*

All that was mine is gone. My lady, my face, and my god damned vocals. I continue to blame it all on that stupid cloud of dust. My life is now going down the drain, so I think that I need to just live the way I should have been long before I decided to do what every other guy was doing-screwing girls. What have I got to lose? I’m already doing to die; I feel it creeping up behind me. I better just do this the way I was meant to do it.

Coming from that confused hospital and changing into some decent clothing, I lead myself to the burned kitchen for a snack. After being in that place for whatever operation they were trying to do on me, I am starving. Every time I inhale I wish it were a big seafood platter. But I’ll just have to settle for what’s here. I open the fridge and my damn chicken nuggets are gone. Those cops ate up all my shit! I don’t what they thought my place was but for sure it isn’t any high in restaurant. I want to go and blow up every police station now. But its okay, I’ll just have to go to the grocery store like I was supposed to when I bought this mask

I hop into my Protégé and drive off to the H.E.B. By the time I arrive all of the parking spaces are except wheelchair ones. I snatched one of the spaces because I’m

handicapped. And I want my disability check too but I can’t get one. There’s a woman in the space next to me giving me a shitty look. She was probably angry because I stole her spot and almost bumped her Cadillac doing it. I shot her a, “be quiet or I’ll slice your ass up” look and continued into the store. She was appalled. When I enter the public grocery store everyone drops what they are doing and stares at me, like they’ve never seen a guy with a mask on four months before Halloween time before. I should pull out a twenty-two caliber and blow every body’s eyes out but I won’t because I want to live to see summer suffer a slow and painful death. I better stay calm before my blood pressure rises. I continue through the isles grabbing an empty cart along the way. The ones outside had string caught up in the wheels and shit, I couldn’t deal with that. Heading straight for the frozen foods, I scurry to isle seventeen to get away from the wide eyes. As I come across the chicken nuggets, I look over by the sausage and hotdogs and I see the most beautiful person. Tall, built, biceps beaming, statues really. It was then that I had a flashback of me being in the locker rooms as a child. My feelings for guys smothered me in fear of being made fun of and probably killed the KKK or some devoted organization. I couldn’t help but stare at him. I scooted a little closer to him and then a man comes from up behind him and kissed him on his neck. I stood completely still; the both of them being so brave captivated me. Then traveled to the next isle and I followed like a harmless stalker. The statues guy points to the dairy products and shook his head ‘no’. I didn’t want to lose this opportunity, so I figured it was my time to move in. I humbly approached him. I acted as if I dropped something near his foot, and bent down to retrieve it. He saw me and asked, “Ugh can I help you?” I was trapped in the bliss and ran my hand down his arm and nodded. His mate ran up to me and started to defend his man. “Hey this here is all mine so fuck off weird guy.” He shoved me away, I tried to take a deep breathe and not take the tip of my shoe and shove it up the lip of his ass but I couldn’t hold back. I snatched a link of sausage from their cart and wailed on him ten times harder than King Kong. He yelped for his boyfriend to help him, “Kale, help me!” I was happy to hear what his name was. Kale looked at him and said, “You hit him first, and plus I’m glad someone is beating your ass. As many times as you pissed me off.” I felt so confident at that point. I stopped beating the helpless man with the frozen meat and Kale began to explain to me why his psycho man tried was so belligerent with me. I shook my head, “No don’t worry about me I’ll be fine.” Kale asks me the question that no one has ever asked me before, “Are you gay too?” I quickly nodded, not even being completely sure myself. He smiled and said, “Great, maybe we should hang out sometime.” I nodded in agreement. He slid his hands down the front of my mask and said, “Wow I wander what’s under there.” I pulled away quickly; he thought I was being playful got closer to my body and whispered in my ear, “I like it kinky too.” I had no idea what that meant, maybe it’s some kind of code in the gay language. We stepped over his knocked out ex-boyfriend and made our way the conveyor belt. The cashier lady rang up his items and it ended up being less than fifty bucks. Loading the bags into the trunk of my car, he says his car was repossessed last month and his ex-man drove him to the store. He asks me if I would like to join him at his place just so we can chill and I agreed to. We sped off to his home put the groceries up and then the fun begun… *The

Date*

“So what’s your name?” He asked I get up and go to his kitchen and picked up a napkin and a pen that was sitting on the microwave. I returned to him with the words, “It’s Calyx.”.

“I’d appreciate it if you actually talked to me, Calyx.” He gazed into my eyes and winked “I can’t.” I wrote down angrily “Why not?” He asked. “You’re shy? Aw how cute.”

I giggled and then wrote, “Pugh-lease, I’m not shy.”

He gets moves in closer and rubs my legs. “Then what’s the matter?”

I quickly covered my lap with the couch pillow to hide my erecting penis. I then wrote down, “My voice has been jacked up by the poison dust thing.”

He playfully takes the pillow from my lap and whispers “Don’t be shy, man.” He then slowly removes his t-shirt and says, “Does this ease your mind?”

I was so amazed at the sculpted body that sat before my. His abs was rippling, his skin was smooth looking and his nipples were perfectly circled. I could feel my penis growing harder and longer.

“So comfortable I see.” He flirtatiously smiled “You make it so easy…” I wrote

Kale pushed me and I laid back. He takes off all of his clothes and started to caress his perfect frame while biting his lower lip. My penis shot up like an erupting water fountain. He began to remove my clothes, when he got to my pants he says “Damn that’s nice.” I blushed innocently and he continued down my body. Leaning back closer as he kissed the tip of my dick, my toes began to curl and my ass began to grip the sofa cushions. He put my penis in his mouth and started to blow me. His mouth on my sex was heavenly. Thirty minutes of pure pleasure made me come a little sooner than expected. He wiped the semen from the corners of his mouth and kept on blowing.

“Damn you taste good.” He claimed. I was too far from earth to make any gestures. All of the sudden he pulls my dick out of his mouth, I began to worry. The pause was killing me softly. “Let’s go to the bedroom.” He led me into his room and it was amazing, like he was. The bed was water filled, he threw me onto it. He hopped on my dick and started to

ride it like it was a bull. I latch onto his back and the passion made me leave scratches across his back. He moaned loudly and I feel the second nut coming along. Hours flew by and it was over. We head to the shower, his steaming actions were inviting. I enjoyed his company and I’m sure he enjoyed mine as well.

We have dinner after sex, and the food was fantastic. He made lamb chops, collard greens, yams and cornbread. White boy can cook. I had to remove my mask so that I can eat right. It was shocking to see my face so pale. Surprisingly it has healed. It’s pale, but it’s healed. Kale was so excited to see my real face.

We enjoy the sweet taste of lamb chops…. and then some cake…

As we wrap up dinner Kale comes up behind me and breathed softly down my neck. I almost lose grip of the plates and he whispers, “Do you love me?”

I responded with a pair of shrugging shoulders. “Do you love me?” he asked once more but this time kissing me on my neck. As he moved in, pressing his hard dick against my ass, he sucks on my neck and gently bites it. My body seemed to be under his control.

“Look we can do it right here right now.” He said, to make me say I loved him. I lifted my shoulders again. I guess he was fed up with my disobedience so he wrapped me up in his arms, and we fell into making love again.

Days pass…I notice a change…

*Side Affects* When I awoke myself this morning, Kale was missing. I get up to go fish around for him and then came across a crazed man.

“Good morning, babe.” He smiles dangerously I nod “Morning dude.”

“So I woke this morning feeling our friendship is a little one sided, so I dug around in your jeans and found this!” He held up a picture of summer and I at a beach resort we went to a few weeks into our marriage.

“Oh shit!” I thought to myself “So who is she?” He asked nicely I maintained a stare into space.

“Is she your bitch?” He fumed I took a seat on the sofa next to him and sighed.

“Negro what the hell is this! Who is she to you?” He slapped me across the face.

I immediately take action on that crazy ass dude. He put his hands on me and that isn’t cool at all. I jumped up from the sofa, punched him in the jaw so hard, his tooth fell from the top row. He began to bleed and his eyes watered. He wept, “I thought you loved me. I thought what we had was special!” In my mind I shouted as loud as I could, “Child please, I just had an itch and you scratched it.” I decked him once more in the face for calling me a Negro, and he fell to the ground gasping for air. I left his ass there to think about what he done, Stupid bitch.

*Voice

reincarnated*

I pull into my driveway and notice a U-haul van is parked in the driveway next mine. Curiously, I wander over to the back of the van, and there stands a guy that isn’t much taller than I am. He had short kind of lengthy black hair, and brownish greenish eyes. His jeans seemed a little uncomfortable, made me check on my sack. I see he’s packing in bags and I rush to help. He looked at me like I was a purse thief and I shook my head, directing him not to worry. He exhaled and stuck his hand out to me for a nice greeting. “Hey I’m Steven; I’m kind of new around here. I guess it’s kind of obvious huh?” He spoke. I smiled and nodded. “So what’s your name?” He asked. I pull a piece of paper from my pocket and wrote, “Its Calyx. I’m Calyx. I can’t speak, my voice is totally jacked.” Steven covered his face with an empathetic expression. “Ph I know how you feel. I just recovered from the same thing.” I quickly scribbled, “What you inhaled dust too?” He replied, “Yes, some idiot threw it though my kitchen window and my dumb ass ran into the cloud of smoke so I can get rid of it.” I grabbed some of the bags from his hands in addition to the ones I already grabbed and listened as he spilled out to me the rest of the story. It was weird considering his story was identical to mine. After everything was packed into the house, we sit and have steamed coffee. There was

something about this guy that I really liked. He seems smart, caring and kind too. He wasn’t boring at all; he sparked my interest as soon as I laid eyes on his tight little ass. He seemed open minded about almost anything. He was kind of jumpy thought. Not like turret jumpy but just like, he couldn’t stand still. I noticed he kept swaying back and forth as we talked over coffee. I had to dismiss myself and return to my home, sadly. I was drained from the sex I had with Kale’s crazy ass.

I sleep until eight in the evening…

After waking up from a good ass nap, I yawn and stretch heavily. Wanting to be in the fresh air, I go out to my patio and automatically get mesmerized by the beautiful skies.

Taking a seat in my lawn chairs, in the almost night is what I do rarely, but something about this night is bringing out things in me I’ve never seen before. Like having sex with a man and beating up people in grocery stores, oh and not to mention the devilish thoughts of mine. The sky is delightful, the birds in the trees are sound asleep, and the wind is barely gusting. The world seemed to have stopped its spinning.

Just as the satisfaction rolls in, so does Steven. I notice him leaving his home, and I suppress my happiness. Instead I just lay back in the lawn chair and got comfy as if I needed no friends. Moments later he arrives, holding two cups of steamed beverages. He politely waves my way and smiles. I motioned for him to take a seat in the chair beside me.

“This one’s for you.” He hands me a hot cup I reached underneath my chair, riffling through things for paper.

Steven stops me and says, “Its fine, you don’t have to say a word. I’ll do all the talking.”

I take a sip of my drink and notice it is tea. I sat back and thought to myself, “Okay, he’s got this.”

He turns to me and begins to talk. “I’ve come to let you know that I’ve been watching you. This ‘voice’ thing you speak of, it’s all me baby.”

I sat up quickly and my eyes widened. I almost spat out the hot tea.

“Sit back, and let me finish!” He mildly shouts while growling at me I sat my ass right back.

“Now listen, I told you once before that you better abide by me.” He said. “If you haven’t figured out by now, yes-I am the one that fucked your whole life up. But hey, it’s your fault. I told you to do what was in your nature but no! You had to be the nice guy. Well hey let me tell you buddy, there are no nice guys in this world. I am sick of people trying to be nice all the damn time! You’ll get run over that way! That shit ticks me off a little.”

I’m puzzled to the max.

‘You can’t sit there and say that I didn’t warn you, man.” He raised his eyebrow “What the hell is happening!”? I thought to myself.

“You may want to watch what you think; I can read your mind. I also have control of it.”

He laughed. “It was hilarious when you were in the grocery store and you wanted to ‘blow every one’s eyes out’ or what ever you thought. It was funny. Just hilarious.”

I sat in silence. His sense of humor was slightly demented.

“I guess you want to know, huh?” He giggled. “I want you to kill every one on this block.” His eyes drifted off to the sky. “Tonight.”

“This dude is nuts!” I thought “Ha!” He laughed. “I’m totally kidding. Just take out that summer chic. She is such a two timing slut.

“No!” I shook my head “Oh come on! You can’t even stand her.” He yelled. “All I’m saying is…well, there is no nice way to say it.” He yawned. “I want you to kill her dude.”

“Okay just don’t kill me please.” I thought.

“Good, you can do it first thing tomorrow morning.” He got up and snatched the cup from my hand. “Goodnight. Best friend.” He walked away, cool like ice.” *Mission-Drama*

Soon after the ill-hearted whoreson left my property, I zoom into my house and lock the doors. Something in his voice tells me he really wants my cooperation. And I better give it to him before I get knocked off. My emotions at this point are in the open.

Following through with his plan may be the best thing for me right now. I never thought

he’d turn out to be so mean, hell I never even thought he could be an evil spirit, which isn’t a spirit. It’s a person! A mean and nasty person who needs to be shot for wearing jeans that tight. I guess when I first met him he was hiding his true persona. Looks really are deceiving, and his looks were pretty damn good.

My heart races as I get myself settled into bed, and I clutch my chest with many worries. Forget it I’m not getting myself killed for not following his rules. What he wanted me to do was laid out pretty well.

Night completes its course…

I open my eyes and the morning light stares me in the face. The temptation of me wanting to ditch this plan is overwhelming. Having done my morning chores, the door bell rings. I rush to answer, hoping it be summer so I can tell her what’s going to happen.

But it wasn’t, it was Steven. He smiled ravenously and said, “Rise and shine, time to go.”

I already start to feel the pain from the consequence. He put his arm around my shoulders and started with the plan. “Okay let’s get right to it. Let’s go straight to summer’s house.

I want to hear her squeal.” All of the while he was talking; I hoped that summer wasn’t home. I know I said I wanted her to die a slowly and painful death but this I was just mad at her when I wished that upon her. Steven turned to me as we hopped into his land rover and said. “She is there. I already stopped by.” I frowned. “Look I didn’t touch the dirty bitch! She’s pregnant.” Steven addressed. I sat back and tuned him out the whole way there. By the time we get there, time was greatly reduced and it was almost too sunny.

Steven said that he’s staying in the car to keep watch. I was in total shock and I quivered like a scary person.

As I make my way through summer’s house, I pick up the mini-dagger that lay on her porch. The home is mildly lit, my heart starts to pound and my pulse tightens. My middle ear picks up the sound of lovemaking. I could hear summer begging the guy that’s plowing her to keep on a little harder. She got quiet for a moment and then I hear a guy’s voice calling her a bitch and telling her that she loved his dick and he knows why she left me. The voice rang many bells, it sounded like Paul. I burst into her room and catch Paul fucking her so hard, his veins were protruding. How can this be happening? Paul, my ‘best friend’ and summer my ex-wife? No, hell no, this isn’t going on any longer! They ignored the noise of me busting in the room and kept on fucking. There was a foot at the end of my leg so I stomped it on the ground. Summer shot up and said, “Oh my, it’s not

what it looks like!” I turned red with furry and charged at her. My rage gave me super speed and I got to her in seconds. I yanked the sex-crazed woman from Paul’s dick and threw her up against the closet door. I charge at Paul next, bashing my fist on the ridge of his nose until he finally lost his breath. As he lay back on her fluffy bed, bleeding illimitably, I attack summer again. I try to force the dagger into her back but her stupid spine kept getting in the way, so I slap the shit out her so she’d lean over some more. I jab the dagger through her back again and then drove it up to her neck. She died instantly and I have no mercy. Her body lies there in the weirdest position, and her hair covered her face. I have never felt that rush before in my life. I take one more look at my work, and walk out of the house and into the land rover. *Praise

Thee*

As I climb into the land rover Steven pounds on the gas. He started getting all happy and jumping up and down chanting, “I knew you were the one, I just knew it!

YOU are the shit, man. You’re the shit! Just know that. I couldn’t believe what I just done. I killed a mother and her child, and my best friend. That’s three possible charges of first-degree murder against me. I didn’t even kill her because he wanted me to. I did it because I was hurt by the actions of them both. I couldn’t stop myself from raging, I had to keep on. It was like a drug to me. A drug that I that may become very addictive. Deep down, way deep down I knew there was something going on between them when Paul told me that she called him before we signed the divorce papers. I should have slit his motherfucking throat and stood over his body until I knew his death was assured. That scene I interrupted and ended was the most disgusting thing ever. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Meanwhile, I stress over what I done and Steven is so happy and cheerful. He praised me for like, ever. But after basking in the ambience for a while made me praise and congratulate myself as well. I got too happy and started to fling the bloody dagger around and Steven didn’t like that too much. “Hey don’t get too damn happy, now.” He then comes to me with another stipulation. I sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes.

“Because you conducted yourself as well as I expected, I have another person I need you to snatch out of this rollercoaster we call ‘life’.” I got so heated hearing what he had to say. After all of that killing I am tired as hell. “So we can head on over there now, huh?”

He asked in a “We are doing it anyway” tone of voice. “Yes, let’s”. He picked up more speed and got onto the interstate highway.

Arriving at this huge mansion minutes later, I exit the vehicle. He waves my way and says, “Staying here while you do the dirty work. Can’t afford to get these precious hands of mine dirty. Have fun!” I dreaded that his scary ass bailing on me again, but I have to do this. I take major looks at the greatness that’s surrounding me at every angle.

There was gate in front and it read “Welcome to the home of tennis” I feel all over the golden gate, and it pushes open. The front door stood about thirty feet from the golden gate, but I scurried up to it to be sure that someone other than Steven wasn’t watching me. I pick the lock with the dagger and then crept in. the inside is even more glorious, sure looks better than my place. No one seemed to be on the first floor so creep to the second. I dared to touch the solid gold walls and the golden rails that ran along them.

Reaching the second, there is this man who looks virtuous. Tall, maybe about five feet nine inches. Milky white skin and a few cute moles here and there. His hair was nicely trimmed and his smile was breathtaking. I got so caught up in the bliss, I collapse onto the floor. The man runs to me, helping me up. “Are you okay?” The moment he touched me my arms started to feel all tingly. “How can I help you?” He asked while dusting me off. I gazed into his beautiful brown eyes and melted. He seemed to be let down as I enjoyed his touch. “Did I leave my door unlocked again? I knew one of these crazy fans would follow me home on day.” He said. I shook my head, “No, I’m no fan. I don’t even like tennis. And I don’t even know you!” He sits me up on a bar stool, I was in a haven.

My eyes drifted down to his jeans, and the impression of his man-hood had me in a daze.

He catches me staring at him and says, “I take it you want me like every body else.” I’m thinking to myself “Yes who wouldn’t?”, but shook my head “No”. He then wipes the smile from his face and says, “That’s a bummer. You seem like a real nice guy.” My sex began to harden as is erected. He came onto me, he knew I was lying. “You are such a liar you know you want this.” It was kind of weird the way he was so eager to flirt with me, a total stranger. I don’t think any famous athlete is known for screwing random people, but this can be revolutionary. I nodded real hard to imply that I did in fact, want to have sex with him. “Just one question, why are you here anyway? Are you here to kill me or something?” He asked me. I covered my face with a sour expression and shook my head powerfully. The hot and sexy tennis player goes around to the bar and pours him a glass of wine. It’s amazing how easily people give it up when they desire sex. “Well let’s get this party started, shall we?” He danced around a little. He downed the wine and grabbed my hand; we headed through the halls and into his bedroom. “Please tell me you haven’t messed around with Kale.” He begged. I moaned in shock of him even knowing Kale. Oh gosh, Kale is a whore. “Oh and I’m Zane by the way. Zane Scott. Wouldn’t want to screw a guy you don’t even know now would we?” He giggled as we lay on his bed. The room was filled with the sexiest toys and all that good stuff. The bed was a huge tennis ball that was cut in half and stuffed with the finest cushion. Handcuffs were hanging at the foot of the bed. He asks me, “Comfortable?” and then climbed on top of me. Grinding already, he starts to strip me of my clothes. Caressing my every feature with his masculinity, my sex grew long and hard. His body was perfect and his dick was eight inches on hard, and six inches flaccid. I couldn’t just let him do all the blowing.

After compassionate bumping and grinding, he sucks my dick some more. It was as if he was taking advantage of the last lollipop on earth. The sex was great, and now I’ve got to get home. I take a peak outside and noticed the missing sun. I’m in trouble.

*News

pertaining to death*

“So do you have a ride home?” Zane asked.

“Nope I don’t.” I shook my head. I was so scared of Steven killing me once I stepped foot in my home.

“Okay I guess not.” He said to himself. “Let me take you home, come on.” He goes to his room and grabs his car keys. I wait anxiously by the front door, thinking of what may happen to me when I return home.

His Toyota Tundra was spacious and clean. We rode all the way to my place doing seventy. His truck picks up speed so quickly; he couldn’t tell when he passed the speed limit. When we got there my car was parked on the street. How did he do it? I don’t know but I’m guessing he used his super powers or some shit. This is heightening my fear of him killing me. I get out of the car and head up my driveway Zane yells from his car, “I’ll see you around…” he blew a kiss and drove off.

As I walk in my home I notice it’s a slight colder than it was before I left this morning, someone has been tampering with my temperature. I search my house for Steven and hoped that he wasn’t here. I look in and out, up and around and without desire, I come across a miffing man sitting on my bed holding a box of HIV tests. I glare at him strangely and flipped the lights on. He rose from the bed and pitched the box at my chest. “Go check.” Angrily I snatch the box from the ground and go to the bathroom.

Minutes after testing…

The results had my stomach churning, all my insides tightened. I’m HIV positive, thanks to Kale.

“I knew it.” Steven laughed while wavering his finger in my face. “You have really got to be careful Calyx.”

My life is over, I’m going to die, and my life is over.

“Oh guess what?” He giggled aloud. “Now I don’t have to waste my time pitching you into a pool of acid for not going through with the plan, but you’re already dieing.

EXCELLENT, this will teach your ass a lesson to not to screw me over. And not to sleep with the kill.”

*Choices*

“Calyx, I should have known what was going on. You were in there way too long.” He chanted. “It really isn’t that hard to kill someone, and if you would’ve just gone in there and did the job, you wouldn’t be in this predicament right now. You killed summer real quick, and you know you liked that feeling. Look, I suggest you kill as many people you possibly can. I mean before you die, that is.”

The thought of my life ending due to unsafe and frivolous sex is way too hard to handle. I can’t take all of this that is going on all at one time. I know it’s my fault for having sex with those guys, but hey my closet is finally open and the bones are trickling out of it.

“Ugh perk up dick wad. It isn’t that bad, we are all going at some point and time.” He rubbed my back, trying to be sensitive.

His lack of honest sensitivity only made me angry; there is only so much of his bullshit I can take. I’m afraid that if he does one more insensitive thing, I may do something and he may just kill me off right here and now.

“So do you want a morning, an evening, of an afternoon service? Cremations are totally cheaper dude, but the decision is yours.” He rejoiced.

“I’m going to beat this man’s ass to the point of killing him and I can’t kill anyone else.”

I thought.

“I can hear your thoughts, dumb ass.” He whispered in my ear. “Go ahead, hit me. I bet you won’t do it. No, you won’t because you don’t have the balls. You’re so busy sticking your dick in ass, you forgot how to man up and stand up for yourself.” He babbled.

“Weak ass fagot,” My temper flared and my fists balled so tightly, my veins were throbbing. He stuck his face out at me and caroled, “Hit me, Negro. You’re weak you can’t do it. You know I can kill your ass right now if I wanted, don’t you?” I swung my fist into is jaw and it showed

its dislocation. I threw a left hook and then another right jab and he fell on the ground really hard, making the lamp from my nightstand fall. I kicked his face in and he bled like hell. The fact that he made me kill all those people angered me the most. Having seen the blood spew from his face gave me the absolute feeling of relief and safety. Someone needed to knock that bully off of his high horse. He just didn’t know when to shut his mouth and that can result in getting your ass beat. I tie his half dead body with a bungee cord and dragged him through the dirt, faced down, to the trunk of my Protégé and dumped him in. I need to dispose of his body; I don’t want him to be alive anymore.

Twenty minutes later…. I pull into a glass warehouse…

I’m eager to chop his ass up, as I park my car in the Glass Ville parking lot. By the time I get around back to pop my trunk, he’s passed out thanks to the onions Kale left behind. I feel somewhat sad for having to kill someone so good-looking, but never too sad enough to let him live after what he done to me. What he done to me is ten times worse than what I’m going to do to him? I want his death to be meaningful and real dramatic like in the movies. I want blood, really bloody blood, and I want slaughter. I want his head to be removed from his body so I can take it home and make love to it… nah I’m kidding, so I can chop it up some more! There is this machine, this magical machine near the glass pit, ‘The Separator’. It was created to separate any and every thing that’s thrown in its path. I make my way over to the separator and position him exactly the way I dreamt of. I hunched him over the bench thing so that his head would be in the cutting zone. The string that is holding the sharpest metal ever is tied up to a tree near the glass building, and that’s where I needed to be standing. I take hold if the string and began to think things so he’d wake up and respond. “Look up at me, you time has come.”

I thought. He gains consciousness and looks up at me. I quickly untie the string, and the blade falls. His head tumbled into a muddy ditch and his body fell to the ground, and I check him for cash. Nothing is what I found, disappointed once more. But when he’s totally disposed of, I’ll feel way better. Burning him would be the best thing for me. I scurry off to the shed and fish around for the fire liquid and a box of matches. Soaking him with the liquid, and then lighting him up was the greatest rush ever, bump the rush I got from killing summer, and this one is extremely better. I watch him burn and I wish I could sing, “Burn baby burn,” but I can’t. Eight short minutes pass by and he was burned to a crisp. His skin was no longer and his clothes were gone. I was overwhelmed by the excitement; I left him there hoping he’d stay dead. *Emotional

Rivalries*

It’s now the time that I break down, and the time I think super hard about what I’ve done. My emotions are so unstable I can’t feel the same way about something once it

sits on my mind for a moment. Meanwhile, I still find room to think of Zane Scott. I can’t stop thinking about his sexy body and personality, I wish I could be with him again, but I can’t risk giving him what I’ve got. Just as my mind begins to drift towards the thought of sexy ass Zane I hear a horn beeping out in my driveway. With caution I take a peak from my living room shades and it was Zane. He was getting out of his car and walking up to my door. I bolt to open it before he knocked and greeted him with a firm handshake. He had a curious expression on his face so I glared at him for a reason.

“What went on between us will remain between us, right?” He asked nervously. “I can’t afford to disappoint the fans or the wife who by the way, doesn’t know about my other life. I have to keep my family together, and I don’t want to be looked down upon.”

I wrapped my arm around his back, hinting to my empathy. I had him come in and join me for a cup of ginger tea. The magnificent taste of hot ginger tea calmed his nerves down real soon. Towards the end of the tea scene I asked myself, “How can he keep his family together if he continues to sneak out and get booty with guys? Why can’t he be true to himself? What does his wife have to offer that is so rewarding besides the woman on his arm?” Then I thanked myself for being true to myself, finally, before I got to sick of hiding the real me. Fuck everybody else, they can all suck my dick and lick in between my toes, I’m happy and I will not let anyone prevent my happiness. My happiness is my sanity, and no one can take that away from me.

*You

may have it*

Zane got to comfortable and fell asleep. It’s eating me up; I have to tell him that he needs to get tested. I scramble around for a pen and a notepad, and wrote down, “I have HIV, and did you give them to me?” I shook him out of his deep sleep. He skimmed over the writing, grunted and returned to his sleep. I smacked him in the face, forcing him to wake up and read the pad of words. He says, “Shit you didn’t get them from me. I’m clean.” Relief came over me, and it made me wish I were clean. So that leaves Kale, gasp! That sonofabitch gave me aids.

Contemplation is the very best friend I have right now. Seems like when ever I have troubles, it’s always there to serve me. I don’t want to just ask Kale if he gave me aids. But if he says he’s clean I will be so shocked because I only slept with him and tennis boy, how else could I have gotten it from.

I planned on leaving my home to go question Kale, so I moved Zane to my bed and wrote a note explaining my disappearance.

Zane,

I have got some business I need to take care of. See you soon, hopefully.

Bye.

-Calyx

I roll the letter up and stuffed it into the pillowcase, and then left him to finish out his rest. I drive to Kale’s house and when I was right around the corner from him, I remember I forgot my mask the last time I was there. Now I have another reason to show up after our disagreement. His front door is wide open when I pull into his driveway, and I go right in. I slam the door so he’d know that I was there. He comes and faces me from the top of the stairs.

“Calyx,” He said. “You here to beat me up again, or have you come to your senses and you’ve come to tell me you love me?”

I stared at him with a ‘maybe’ expression.

“Or maybe you’re looking for this.” He dangled the mask on his finger roughly.

My face became red with seethe “Come get it.” He laughed I sprinted up the stairs like a starving lion and tackled him to the ground. I picked up my mask and put it on. He blurted his angry words, “Why are you doing this! What did I ever do to you!” he tried to get up but I kicked him back to the ground and mouthed, “You may have HIV.” He didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to tell him and I didn’t really care. I hopped back into my Protégé and drove back to my place. I wish him an ounce of luck, and that’s if his life isn’t too damn bad already.

*Surprise:

I’m back*

A day has passed and Zane is still here with me. How the fuck can he keep his secret life hidden if he stays out for days without telling his wife? I’m beginning to feel slight irritated by him being up under my ass cheek all the damn time. I highly anticipate his departure, but until the time comes I guess I will just have to deal with a sexy tennis player, gallivanting around my house…with nothing but boxers on…

The phone sounds as I stare at his male camel toe, I hesitate to pick up. I figured it was important because it wouldn’t stop ringing, so I pick up. It was the doctors from Bush Coat Medical Center.

“Hello Calyx, we have some good news for you. We found a cure for your particular predicament. Okay listen up, this may sound easy but if you do the wrong thing you could die.” He paused as if he were reading a script. “All you have to do is swallow blue ink. I know it sounds weird but blue ink has a certain chemical in it that fit hand and glove to your voice thing.” He paused again but this time it seemed as though a higher authority was observing him. “We tested this guy, I believe his name was Steven, yes it was Steven. Real nice guy, tight pants, but that’s okay.” He laughed. “Anyway, he was tested and the blue ink worked just fine. His voice recovered perfectly. He mentioned you guys being real close friends. I thought that was sweet. Well have a nice day, and remember to guzzle down blue ink. Not pink, red, turquoise or any other color. BLUE!” He hung up, and I run to my office to grab the cup full of pens on my computer desk. I had to butcher a perfectly good pen, and then swallow the ink. It tasted like poison.

Within seconds I feel the sudden urge to speak. My stomach began to quake, I cough and I spat up a little blood. It wasn’t until I yelled, “Gross!” that I realized that something of mine has returned.

*Celebration

is the key*

Happiness and all the baggage that comes with it, stampeded through my body when I found that my voice came back. I felt like doing a lot of excess talking, Zane

shouts, and “Shut up “he hadn’t realized my voice was working and he just kept yelling” Shut up Minutes later…

He speeds into the living room where I sat up properly, and smiles “What was

that? Was that you? Oh my gosh your voice is fixed!” I grinned heavily while crossing my arms and holding my head up high. He found it amusing to mock my posture while caroling, “This is great, boy! So now you can tell me how great I am in bed, huh?” I released my arms and said, “I’ve had better.” Zane gets all red and says, “Oh don’t tell anyone that. Everyone knows that I can pound a woman and leave her wanting more.” I fumed, “I’m not a woman!” He positioned himself next to me and said, “That’s right.

You’re a man, a sexy man whose face is absolutely gorgeous when it’s not pale.” I laughed and we shared a romantically long kiss.

Zane and I are celebrating the shortcomings of this blessing at a wonderful seafood kitchen. His car had the most gas so we drive off in it. The ride was great, seemed like the beautiful skies were introducing me to colors that I’ve never seen before.

When we arrived in the parking lot of the restaurant, he was ready to play chicken with the small Suzuki esteem for the last spot in the lot. The tiny car stood no chance, we grabbed the spot, exit the car, and made sure we locked all the doors, and then went inside. The lobby was packed with many races. After waiting for a period of time, a waiter comes and escorts us to an empty table. Sitting way in the back where the restrooms stood didn’t faze me a bit. The smile remained on my face, and I kept being polite to those ‘proper’ ass folks. Minutes after being seated, a Hispanic waitress approaches our table and takes our orders.

“What can I get for you guys today?” She asked “Pues, para mi” Zane started, but she hinted to her being able to understand and speak English. And then he began again with his order. “I would like the fillet Mignon and the Australian lobster tail, please?”

“And you sir?” She asked while writing down Zane’s order.

“The Louisiana shrimp gumbo, for me please? And a side of garlic bread. Oh, and the crawfish platter please? Thanks.” I listed “Sure, it’ll be right out gentlemen.” She walks away

We wait for our food for about thirty-five minutes, and then it finally came out. The food was steaming hot and I could smell the freshness of the fish. We scarf down the food like two fat people at burger king. The food was great, especially that Louisiana gumbo. I hardly eat out this expensive; this was a lot of money. The waitress brings us the bill when she saw out belts bust. When I read it, my mouth dropped.

“Wait, ma’am this can’t be right.” I stared at the bill. “Como puede ser?

“I can speak English, sir.” She raged. “And yes, you owe $100.50.”

“Don’t worry, I got this.” Zane pulls out his wallet and handed her exactly what we owed.

“Thank you so much.” I wiped my mouth with the napkin. “Because I was going to climb out of the restroom window.”

“Let’s go before I spend another cent.” He laughed. “This money is burning a whole in my pocket.”

The drive home from the seafood kitchen was breezy and cool. We laughed the whole way home about me tripping over the small piece of $100.50 that was thrown at me. I had to make it clear to him that I didn’t pop out of the pussy holding a block of gold and that I had to work for the little money I did have. I’m sure he didn’t exactly sprout from a money tree either, but hell he must be doing something right, he has millions. Zane leaves shortly after I doze off. I was strung out over all that has happened so fast and from what the doctors told me, Steven might still be alive.

*Death

becomes Him*

My sleep was only too short and my dreams were invaded by evil images of Steven forcing me into a razor machine, or a pool of acid. My thoughts were ruling my head and I couldn’t stop it. My neck is sore from sleeping in a weird position, but maybe a hot cup of green tea and a massage from my massage chair can carry me back into my comfort zone.

As I stick my cup of tea into my new microwave, I hear some glass shattering.

With caution, I sprint to my room to make sure nothing fell, and nothing did. Back in the kitchen, I go to check on my tea, and I come across a human body wearing pasty white skin and a twisted smile. “I’m back, from the dead.” Steven laughed with an evil tone.

The moment I heard that it was him, I pass out. Opening my eyes hours later, all I see is darkness. Steven stands over me asks cracks a smile, “Nap well?” I shook my head in order to regain reality. He bent to the ground below me, pulled a lighter from his pocket, and dropped it on the floor causing a circle of fire to surround me.

“What the heck is this?” I yelled “Oh this,” He asked sarcastically. “This is what you call payback, bitch.”

“But I chopped your head up. And I even burned you.” I stuttered “Come on now; let’s do a little bit of thinking.” He twirled a wrench on his finger. “The first time I came into your life I was a floating voice. Think real hard about this. The second time we came across each other I was a person. Doesn’t tell you that I can probably come back to life if you try to kill me? I mean are you really that stupid, if so you need to get a brain scanning to see if your brain is still there.”

“So what now?” I look around at the limited space. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Oh-no, this circle of fire things was just to scare you.” He joked “What are you going to do with me then?” I wept in concern “I’m not telling you!” He shrugged his shoulders. “That’ll just ruin the surprise. You like ruining things don’t you? You ruined your own life Calyx. You tried to ruin me but I’m just too cool for that.”

“Are you going to torture me with your mind games, or are you going to perform an autopsy on when while I’m still alive?” I smarted.

He pulled a butcher knife from his pocket. “Aw man, now you’ve gone and ruined the surprise.”

Gravity takes hold of my mouth and all my insides, and I start to cry.

“You might as well pick that big ass lip up off of the ground because nothing can change my mind.” He assured himself He turned to a tall rusted box and fishes around for death weapons. My opportunity awaits, and I shall take action. I leap from the circle of fire and onto his back. He tries to fight me off but I was too powerful for him to handle. I embrace his neck and began to

writhe as he gasped for air. His thin neck made it easy to snap but I can’t kill him again. I think I love this man.

“I’m counting to ten and you better get off of me if you want what’s good for you.” He threatened.

“I’m not going to risk you killing me, so no.” I maintained “You know you can’t kill me off. I have to be in this story. I am the one you think about at night. I am the one you fear; yet you keep playing it close to the chest with me. You can’t kill me, I’m too important.” He droned “What makes you so sure?” I asked “Because, I know you love me. I saw it in your eyes when you came over to help me pack some bags into my house when I first moved into the neighborhood.” He screamed.

I loosened my grip a turned his face to meet mine. “Yes, I do love you.”

“Great now let me go.” He demanded I tightened my grip again and then twisted his neck like it was a twig. He fell to my feet and I shared a few words with him while he pants. “Say hello to summer for me.”

*An

illness to remember*

I roam around the unknown building searching for an exit. I come across a door after several minutes of ripping and running. I pushed myself through the door like I was an overdue baby, and just outside of the building was a street with parked cars and houses. My eyes took a while to get familiar with the light, and my protégé sits right behind a SUV. I hop into my precious car and the keys are already in the ignition which means Steven drove me here in my own car. I drive off but can’t go home just yet, not until I figure out if I really have HIV. After seeing Steven do all these devilish things, I’m not sure if he tampered that HIV test before he threw it at my chest. The closest medical center to where I am is really far away, Steven had me all in the woodworks and shit. But if I want to have a real test done, I have to go that extra mile.

I place my car on cruise control after amassing seventy-five miles per hour. The original highway speed was sixty-five, and plain old sixty when the sun goes to sleep.

And if I get pulled over by a cop then I’ll just have to make up some excuse like my cousin’s baby daddy just got shot on 45th and Crenshaw. I guess I better slow up before I do get stopped.

Long drive later…

Seton Medical Center, the place where you die or where they tell you that you’re going to. Hopefully I will have a chance at living my life out the way it should have been lived out. I’ve only had this disease for a few days and there’s really no telling if I had this ‘HIV’ curse before I had crazy sex with Kale and Zane, either. Waiting for the doctor’s response seemed to be my best bet. Sop I snag a spot in the parking lot and then head on into the medical center. The lobby wasn’t packed but there were some weird looking people there. The receptionist was a big and tall slinky guy. When I take my seat, he gives me a “Come fill out this paperwork, please?” look. I stared him down after noticing his crummy attitude. I filled out the paperwork so I can hurry up and see a doctor. I was a little confused by the length of what he was having me fill out so I questioned him about it.

“Hey sir,” I motioned for his assistance. “Did you mean to give me a booklet to fill out?”

He takes the clipboard from me and said, “My mistake. I know this clipboard can put a ton of weight on this ten page packet.”

“Just don’t let it happen again.” I continued filling the paperwork out.

My arm began to tire after all of the heavy duty writing just for a simple HIV test. I needed to vent so I approached the receptionists desk again. “Sir, this is too much. I’m just here for an HIV test. Do I really have to fill out the entire packet?”

He grabs a sheet of paper and handed it to me. “We all make mistakes. Fill this out. It’s the right paperwork for HIV testing.”

Having completed the paperwork for HIV testing, I feel one step closer to finding out my fate. The receptionist tells me to wait and a doctor will be right with me, I go back to my seat and found the most interesting thing to do with my time. There was an old lady about three seats down from me, and through her silk shirt I noticed her muffin top and her countless rolls. I began to count to myself, “1, 2,3,4,5, damn this lady’s tits are hanging real low like a ball and chain. By the time I finish counting her flaws; a doctor comes out and calls my name. I shot up and followed him into his office.

“So Calyx, I am Dr. Jones.” He introduced himself while adjusting his glasses. “Wow that’s an interesting name, sir. Where is it from?”

“It’s a street name in Dallas; my mom liked it so she chose it for my name.” I explained “Interesting, very cool. So I see you are here to get tested for the big disease?” He asked while reading my paperwork.

“Yes that is true. The big disease may have me wrapped around its finger. I took one of those boxed ones and it told me that I was HIV positive.” I looked around for a license.

“Can you give me some sort of professional test that will tell me if I’m really HIV positive?”

“Sure I can, I’m a licensed doctor.” He reached his hands into a pair of gloves, and then handed me a cup. “Here, piss on this for me, would you?”

I take the cup, turned to an empty corner and pissed away.

“Yellowish red?” He sounded serious.

“Is this bad?” I asked nervously.

“Symptoms of HIV number one.” He sighed I wrapped up my piss project and zipped up my pants so quickly, I almost got my dick caught. “Here you go sir.”

“Thanks,” He took the pee and pulled out a small wooden stick. “I’ll just stick this in your piss until it beeps.”

Tick…ticks…tick…. beep!

“Alright,” He takes a deep breath. “Here we go, the moment of truth.”

“So what does it read?” I yelped.

“I’m sorry to say this, but…” He struggled to speak “Dr. Jones you’re making me nervous here!” I blurted “You really need to start using condoms man.” He fumed “Why are you being all frantic with me, Dr. Jones? I can accept the fact that I have HIV.” I said.

“Because you are so young and so damn stupid.” He started. “At all times you should be wearing a condom while having sex. Always wear protection even if you really love the person. Everyday someone dies from this disease” “So am I dying or what?” I croaked “What do you think? Hell yes your ass is going to die.” He exploded “How long do you suppose I have?” I asked “Do you honestly want to know?” He asked “I do, I really do want to know. I want to hurry and get my last will and testament completed.” I mentioned He took a look at the stick once more. “From the looks of it, you’ve got about two months.”

“Okay, two months. Everybody has to die, right?” I asked myself “Most of which made terrible mistakes that numbered their days before the next one even began.” He said.

“Well thank you so very much Dr. Jones.” I wiped my eyes. “Bye now.”

I leave the doctor’s office hanging my head in shame, and a man says to me “It’s going to be alright. Hold that head up as high as you can, baby.” I look up at the chairs and I see a man dressed in tight jeans and a killer smile. He turned to me as I exited the office and grinned really hard. I couldn’t believe it, it was Steven! *The

last chapter*

The tow truck man stood in the back of my car, trying to find a place to hook the chains onto. I waddle out to my car and beg him to have mercy on me.

“Wait, that’s my car. I’m right here!” I shouted “Sir where is your permit to park here?” The man smarted “Since when did I need a permit to park…?” I look down and noticed the handicapped logo. “Ugh well, see what had happened was…”

The man interrupted me rudely. “Excuse me sir, but I have a car to tow.”

“I’m sorry but I had to take this spot!” I said “And why is that?” He kept looking around my car for a place to hook the chains.

“Look sir, there are no hooks on my car!” I shouted. “I had to take this one because this was the only one left and I really had to get in there.”

“And why is that?” He asked “I don’t think that’s any of your fucking business!” I raged “Look, I have got to tow your car; you can have it back for $700 bucks.” He said “Hell no, bitch you better back away from my car.” I force him out of my way and headed to the drivers side.

“You know the world doesn’t revolve around you.” He grunted I thought to myself, “What the hell does that have to with anything?”

“I’m going to let you off the hook this time, but next time I won’t be so nice.” He hopped back into his truck and then drove off.

“What a psycho.” I muttered

Oh what is there for me to do? My life is gone, my parents are dead and I can’t call on them to warn them of my deaths proximity. Then this whole Steven thing is freaky to the highest degree. I killed people, I tried to kill him but he turned out to be immortal. I hate that I fell in love with someone who tried to kill me, and someone who tried to turn me into a serial killer. I guess normalcy isn’t really a part of my fate.

When I arrive back home my eyes are red as hell from crying so much, but I can’t cry anymore. I’m going to die and there’s no stopping it. I’m thinking I’m done with this mess. I go to the bathroom in order to scrub away my troubles, and then a sudden breeze of cold air runs down my spine. I scramble for a dry towel and then patted my face dry. When I look up into the mirror Steven’s angry face appears. I lose my balance, and he starts to speak.

“I am seriously getting sick of you trying to kill me. You are a complete jerk!”

“I can’t believe this.” I muttered

“Please believe it.” He encouraged. “So I couldn’t help but overhear the doctor basically call you a dumb ass prick who needs to borrow a condom.”

“And so what?” I hang my towel on the bar “And you should listen to him, that’s what.” He said “If you’ll excuse me, I have a life to return to.” I dismissed myself.

“Barely,” He pointed out. “So what do you have planned for the next two months?”

“It’s none of your business, Steven.” I thundered “Don’t get all sassy with me Mr. Man. You’re the one that messed up, not me.” He demanded.

“Just go, please?” I sobbed “But I have a little gift for you.” He reached into his back pocket.

“No, thank you.” I left the bathroom and entered my room. “You’ve already done plenty.”

“Not really.” He assured himself of it.

“Can you just go please!” I shouted in irritation. I went to my closet “What are you looking for?” He giggled “What part of ‘go’ don’t you understand?” I yelled “Oh I understand what ‘go’ means.” He smarted I fished around my closet for my nine and I couldn’t seem to find it. I kept it in the top corner of my closet in my shoebox.

“Looking for this?” I looked back and he was holding my gun. I looked him in the eyes and said, “Please, go ahead. I’m ready.” He fixed the gun directly between my eyes and

cocked it back. “Oh I will, trust me. Now you will see how it feels to die. Now you can go through what I have to every time someone attempts to kill me. And best of all, you can’t come back to life to tell the story. Goodbye Calyx, your time has come.”

UP IN HEAVEN…

“So yeah, that’s what happened Jesus.” I said “Oh damn dude, you had a fucked up life.” Jesus noticed “Tell me about it, I got shot by the guy who I was in love with. That’s fucked up, huh?”

“Yeah man, but it was a nice story. It had a lot of twists and turns, I like that. Oh, and I loved when you killed summer! Oh my devil, when you told me you drove that dagger up to her neck I felt a little rush of my own.” Jesus laughed “Well hey, I’m bored. Let’s strap on our wings so we can go Negro knocking.”

“Ooh can we bring messiah and timothy!” Jesus jumped up and down.

“You can go get Messiah but not Timothy; he doesn’t know how to be a father. Let his ass stay here so he can help his baby mama raise them big mammoth ass head babies he has.”

“Ha, ‘mammoth ass head’, that’s hilarious.” Jesus laughed.

“So I’ve been told.”