Life is Strange. By James Hayes My name is James and I am getting old. I used to be an owner of many things; a home, a car, and a flat screen TV. But one day I lost the lot, along with my family. Why? Well, there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who work for things, they are lucky ones, the lucky ones who work but dont make a lot. They still enjoy family and friends, necessities and simple pleasures of life. Im neither of those and thats why I am here. I live a very simple life now and although I did not choose it, it has seemed to be working out alright for me. I miss the way things used to be but I guess you have to play the cards life gives you. I spent the day walking in town feeding the birds and singing in my head. I met a little girl in town, her name Nora, and could she talk? While her mother was busy talking to a friend, I showed the little girl my favourite place in the park. We sat and she talked about her favourite food, spaghetti and meatballs and how chicken noodle soup made her sick, how her mothers cooking smelled fab, but would like birthday cake. Before I knew it, Noras mother was standing in front of me what you think youre doing with my daughter, you creep! She grabbed the little girl and before I could say goodbye she was gone. As I left I could feel the disgusted stares of other mothers but I didnt understand it. I know I was dirty and my clothes werent all that great but I was kind. I caused no trouble to anyone and I was once a normal person too. But looking at me now, those things must not matter very much. I decided to find something to eat. I guess there are a lot of hungry people around now-a- days, so all I could find were some leftover pieces of turkey in a bin near my usual spot. I ate quickly and lay down on some old clothes. Its been an unusually cold month, but when youre tired enough you can sleep in any weather. I curled up, closed my eyes, and fell asleep. I wake up to shouting. Theres a young couple, no more than twenty years old, a few feet away from me. The young woman has beautiful but pale skin and her once warm cheeks are now pink from the bitter cold. She wears a long beige trench coat and is carrying a large leather briefcase; it looks as though she was making her way home from work. The young man with her is slightly taller with a scruffy chin but very well groomed. They become louder as they scream at each another. It seamed Nick (this I learned through the womans pleas was the name of the man) had been expecting her home, and when she did not come, he went looking for her. The woman claimed she was working late at the office and meant to call but it slipped her mind. Im just so sleepy love; lets talk about this at home. she said. But Nick went on shouting. I wanted to tell them not to worry, just go home and enjoy each other. Oh how I regret not taking advantage of that feeling! To come home and crawl into bed after a hard day, pull the covers up to your chin, feel the warmth, and let the noise cars passing soothe you to sleep. I felt that feeling many times, but not anymore. Finally, Nick grabbed the womans arm and dragged her to his car. Its a brand new BMW. As they pull away I wonder what will happen when they arrive back at their home. I hope the man forgives her forgetfulness because life is precious enough to do so. Sometimes you just have to let things go. I decided to go on an adventure today, so as the bus drove past me I jumped on board the back of it and held on. We passed beautiful buildings crawling with vines, none like I had ever seen in my part of town. At the first bus stop I saw a little boy with a balloon. His father held his hand tight and I could tell that they were in a hurry to get somewhere. Come on son, you have to be quick. His father said. And in the process of pulling his son along, the little boy let go of the balloon. He started jumping up and down, madly trying to grab the end of the string but his balloon was already gone. I watched the red spec until it disappeared into the clouds. This reminds me of when I was a child. My family and I always went to the hills during the summer; it was sort of like a family tradition. I remember my mother telling me don’t let it fly away son, you wont get another one. so I held onto that string so hard my knuckles turned white. Your hands get tired after doing that for a while, so I let go and I lost my balloon. I decided to stay on the bus for another while, then the bus stopped at a supermarket, through its automatic doors I walked as people tried to get around me, I guess they were in a hurry. I started over to the fruits and vegetables. I worked in a supermarket years ago, way back in time. As I walked around the familiar sites a woman bumped into me with her shopping cart. In pain, I fecked to my-self as I stumbled knocking over a stack of canned veg. The woman looked at me, thinking if she should ask me if I was all right, but she didnt. Not many people do. In a few minutes, a man stocking shelves nearby came over and started recreating the stack. I tried to tell him that I could do it myself but he ignored me. Maybe it was time for me to leave, and as I came to the door I heard a woman talking about how she was never going food shopping again, she was sick of all the things that are wrong in a supermarket, long lines, crowded aisles, and heedless cashiers. That girl put the eggs on top of the bread! she went to anyone who would listen, I smiled thinking when my wife said the same words. At the time they were merely annoying but now I miss the sound of her voice. When you stop hearing them for awhile, you start to forget the sounds of the people you love. The way they sighed when they got up in the morning and slowly slid out of bed, their laughs, sneezes and coughs, and their voice telling you not to forget to pick up the milk As I was walking, it started to rain. I saw the couple from the other night, running without an umbrella, their feet tapping against the wet foot-path. This time they were laughing and smiling. The woman playfully tugged Nicks arm as he gave her a kiss on her forehead. They reminded me of my past. I knew that couple would work out their problems, and as I watched the woman I felt like something was very familiar, so I followed them. Should I approach them? Say hello? No. It was too soon. They went into a pizza parlour, I sat behind them. But after ten minutes or so, the arguing began again. This time it was because he talking with his mouth full. If you have a problem with me, piss off and get some-one else. You shouldnt say things like that, she might. I realized I had said it out-loud, Nick stood up. What did you say to me? His girlfriend tried to calm him down but he came towards me. I was saying that you shouldnt tell your girlfriend to find someone else because she might it. And you shouldnt talk to her that way; its disrespectful. Nick didnt know what to say, so he stormed out, letting the door slam behind him. The woman came over to me and apologized for his behaviour but I told her it was Ok. We had a long conversation and I learned a few things about her and Nick. They met in collage and have been together for five years, they were also engaged to be married. I noticed that she hesitated to tell me that last part and I asked her why. Well, were so young and some people get the wrong idea when you marry young. They think its too soon and that its only infatuation not true love. I question it sometimes myself. If you want that person to find happiness even if its without you, then thats love. I waited with the young girl until her taxi came and watched her vanish in the night. Again I started walking home. I guess it wasnt really my home. Of course I live there, and I come back there every night but its not my home. A home is a warm place, a place where you feel loved and protected. I didnt feel safe here. Instead I felt lonely and afraid. I thought about the woman and how there was something about her face I had seen before. It was in my mind someplace but I couldnt find it. Was it the colour of her hair, her nose or her smile? No. Ive been living out here for almost ten years now and Ive seen so many different types of people that when I try to think of the face of just one person, they all get mixed up. I cursed myself when I realized I hadnt even asked for her name. Hopefully tomorrow I will find her but then again I dont have much luck anymore. My luck seemed to have run out years ago, after I lost my job and became useless. I left my home that night, and just roamed the streets, going nowhere. When I went back, I found that my apartment now belonged to a Mr. and Mrs. Ryan. I turned around and started to walk, for now its just another thing lost, taken away, but never forgotten. I woke up in pain. A shopkeeper was kicking me, feck off somewhere else, youre making me lose business! No one wants to look at you when theyre trying to drink their morning coffee! As I tried to get up, a crowd of teenagers on their way to school gathered around me. They threw pennies at me and laughed. Go buy a bar of soap you dirty B. Half asleep, I staggered to an alleyway. This would be my new home, at least until I was told I wasnt wanted here anymore either. Im used to rude comments from people on the street and I try hard not to let it bother me. I always ask myself how important the person who made the comment is in my life. Are they someone who is going to be a part of my life until the day I die or are the just someone who is passing through? I didnt see the young couple for weeks. I didnt leave my spot and instead watched people from the alley. Each day I became more and more disgusted with what I saw. They looked at me as if I was a monster, a disgrace to society because I wasnt like them. But was I really the monster? Day after day I watched people cheat and steal. Ive gone hungry nights on end because there was nothing for me to eat, but I did not steal. Each day, cars competed with one another, horns blowing at each other. The funny thing is that all of the cars met at the same traffic light right down the street. There were kids crying only to be hushed and pulled along by their mothers and fathers. How I wished to be there for them, to console them. Men were taken into police cars for petty fights, fights over a mere shoulder brush, problems that couldve been fixed with a simple sorry. I went to sleep those nights heartbroken and miserable. Finally, as the weather started to get better I saw my couple sitting on a bench outside of a restaurant. My heart raced but I remained in my spot until they crossed the street towards me. I didnt know how to get the womans attention since I had not known her name but I gently touched her shoulder. She turned around and smiled. Hi, um, do you remember me? I hoped I would see you again. Yes, I remember you of course. Youre the man from the pizzeria. Its the first time Ive ever been called a man, not a weirdo, or creep. I knew I had to tell her about my weird awareness of her. Nick in the meantime was standing beside us, puzzled. This may sound strange but I feel like I know you from somewhere. Oh? That very moment I spotted something on her finger. It was a metal ring, no stones just metal twisted into knots. I searched through my memory for something, something that would tell me why this looked so familiar and then it hit me. A wave of joy came over me and I couldnt move. I saw my past in her eyes and then I hugged her. I hugged her, I didnt let go and I felt happy. She was my daughter. I had been living out here alone. It was fifteen years later. But she was still my daughter. ....... What...How did you know my name? I dont remember you. Who are you? Please do not be afraid. Its a long story, so I told her. Copyrighthayesp2013
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:53:42 +0000
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