—Well, tell me why you are here.
She was a young woman, with a serious expression. I was full of fear, biting the inside of my cheeks.
—Do- Don't you should know? —I asked, after thinking for a while. I felt somehow attacked.
—I wanna hear you, please. Are you okay with it?
My hands were shaking and the cable for the serum made me wanna cough. I took a breath after nodding.
—I had no energy… and I got apparently sick.
She looked polite, completely concentrated in my words without making it any weird. My face felt so weird, like I was about to cry my soul out. But there was no tear to fall, so I continued.
—Was something before that?
—I suffered an accident.
She bit her lip softly, in a nervous reaction mixed with surprise.
—Oh, I didn't know that. Are you fine with talk…
I nodded, looking to my own hands.
—Tell me if you don't want to answer, okay?
—Yeah —I said nodding again. Was hard to remember… but a part of me needed just to tell anyone about it.— Was a… car crashing accident.
—You were the driver? —her face was full of compassion, like I was some sort of hurted animal. Made me feel weaker.
—I...—I could feel how my fake smile was fading— Was someone else's car, was driven by someone else. I would never crash a car… I am not… It wasn't me, I swear.
—I believe you, you don't need to reassure me. I am not a judge, don't worry. Are you sure to continue talking about this?
—It's fine…
—Who's car was then?
—Was a… my fri-
Eh, was my now ex boyfriend's car. He-
My chest was moving crazily, I tried to keep talking. My voice came out broken and full of pain I couldn't even recognize.
—I just wanted us to break up and he got mad. So mad, he started screaming and crying.
—...
—He didn't stop the car even when pulling his hands out of the steering wheel. Then he threatened me, saying so much… Just…
My face was trembling, like my throat was getting dryer with every word or lull.
—I'm sorry, I...
—It is fine, don't worry. Take some water —she handed me a glass of water and pointed to the door softly with her head— You can leave, Ver.
I nodded back, moving the wheels of the wheelchair. My legs were still too weak and I was not accustomed to walking after I fell down over that bed.
(...)
When I arrived at the lounge, an old lady got closer to me. She looked paranoid and sad, deeply sad. Her eyes were full of tears, and she got closer, touching my arm.
—Sorry, don't you know my grandson? —her voice was gruff, almost like she was tired of asking everyone that.
She had a softed yellow skin color, and her hair had some grey color. Her head was full of different tones of grey. Some wrinkles were surrounding her skin, even over her arms.
I didn't know what to say.
I hesitated, her face was hopeful and almost fake smiling to just find a single and dumb "yes". The sadness and panic I felt a second before disappeared suddenly, replacing it with concern.
—He is my best friend, ma'am.— I was lying, I didn't even have a best friend or just friends.
Her face changed with such a brilliant expression, she even straightened her back. Started to smile and was like looking at someone else. She opened her arms, willing to hug me. Her hands encircle my complete back, coming closer to my wheelchair height. All the light over her eyes screamed and reprise for my cold hearted lie. Her body was warm, just as a soft and kind old woman. She was asian, the monolids were kindly over her little and curious face. Was almost like a kid, asking about so much.
—My little Akihiko must be so happy now, right? Is he working?
I bit my cheeks, confused. Her expression was so full of maternal love.
—By now, he is studying… literature?
She smiled, so happy with my answer.
—Is he? Oh my god, he always loved to write. You know about him so well, I can trust you!
I swear I felt my face getting paler, I said that randomly but anyway she was more excited. As I really know, that made me more impostor than ever.
—You are so calm, boy. Sorry, my name is Chiasa, but you must already know.
—Yes, nice to… finally meet you.
She nodded back and left, humming. Was somehow sticky, I felt so dumb for lying. She was openly smiling all the day, so bright and careless, completely happy about her kid. But none showed to visit her, even after she waited patiently over an old bench.
I wondered how her grandson could be, and why she was alone with us.
(...)
I heard screaming to the other side, just a mad scream that sounded full of hate and pain. Pain, pain and pain. Even due to the circumstances, it was unusual to hear so much noise when we were not eating or doing some kind of activity outdoors.
—Oh, don't turn the lights on.
His voice was sleepy, so I turned the light off. —I'm sorry, Cee.
—I woke up before… just my eyes don't want to see any light for at least the rest of the night.
—Understandable —I breathe while nodding.
I nodded again, trying to figure out from where he was talking and which was his figure between all the shadows. His name was Cilio, he had an italian family, his history was interesting, full of mafia things like a movie. He tried to always avoid the fact we were there… Sometimes he even acted like we were just walking around a normal place, like some sort of building neighbors or roommates.
—You know… everyone says there's a ghost over this building.
—What? Haha, who supposedly is?
His figure moved a little, but I couldn't again recognize if it was his arms or his legs.
—Dude, you know what happened here?