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The Intruder
What was supposed to start as a normal day was anything but it. Great. The alarm clock decided today was the perfect day to stop working and to top it off, there was no coffee left in the kitchen. Just my luck. I rushed my way down the staircase, and as I passed by a mirror I saw it.
I looked straight into my eyes and something looked a little bit off about them. I could not figure out what was wrong. They were not my eyes, but at the same time I recognized them as mine. It was back.
“Who are you?” I asked out loud, but there was no answer. It never answered. “How long are you staying?” Still no answer.
I resolved it was better to ignore whatever crazy things my mind was elaborating, as I was in a hurry. I took the bus and even though I tried, I felt as if that day someone that wasn’t me was inside me. How could I explain that? It was not the first time I experienced this type of possession, I don’t know if I first noticed by my outfit choice, or was it the smiles people were giving me all around? Oh my God, I probably have something stuck in my face or my teeth. There is no other explanation. Even so, if that was the situation, what should I do? Run to the shrink and tell her that I feel there is something possessing me? Way to go, as if your boss didn’t think you were crazy already.
After mind-blowing overthinking, I was sitting down at my desk, going through my day schedule. I was deep into paperwork when I heard a knock in the door. I looked up, my colleague, Tyler was against the doorframe. His ridiculous eyes boring into mine. Oh how I hate that look, like he knows something that I don’t. I should mention he is, and has been my best friend since forever, or that’s what we like to tell people around.
“It’s you. I’m glad to see you’re back.” He said, the corner of his lips twisting up, in a small smile.
“I’m here everyday. Of course it’s me.” I replied.
I think he knew something was not right. Still there was no way I could explain what was going on with me. I had no grip on reality by now. Was it real? Was it just my tired brain telling me I should sleep a little more? Maybe it was that. Come on, there are billions of people in the world, why did this spirit, ghost, demon or whatsoever decided to creep in me, out of billions. Whatever was inside me picked the worst host. I have the same schedule everyday, no big changes, no big goals, no big dreams accomplished. If I say so to myself, I am probably depressed. I am nothing more than painfully ordinary.
“It’s lunch time. Join me?” I heard Tyler speaking. Wait. Lunch time? I just got here, what happened with the last 4 hours? Something is wrong with me. I took a deep breath. Paperwork turned into air, and I could see myself going out of that office. Not for lunch, forever. Driving who knows where, with who knows who. But fulfilled. I felt like I could sing at the top of my lungs right now, and you know what? I wouldn’t care. What everybody else said, or did. I couldn’t care less.
“Thanks, but I need to finish my paperwork.” I answered. I needed to focus and stop my mind wandering around.
“Listen to it. You might fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me.” He said.
He knows. He definitely knows. “How do you know?” I answered.
“Lately, you’ve been working nonstop. I know you hate this job. You have bigger things ahead. After the accident, you retreated yourself. I thought you were gone for good. I kept waiting daily, for you to come back. I did my waiting. And today, they are different.”
“Different? What do you mean by different? What is different?” I was confused and scared. I felt like a kid who got caught stealing candy.
“Your eyes.”
“My... what? Do you know what is wrong with me? Am I sick? What’s inside me Tyler? Please tell me.”
“Certainly I do. I think you knew by now.” He answered warmly. “It’s your soul.”
