The house was dim-lit from the outside, the handrails are dusty. When you step on the stairs, you can hear the creaking sounds of the wooden treads. There were six treads and the fourth one was the most damaged as if it was just waiting to be totally ripped off in the stair. It started with a little crack on the corner until molds started to live there. It has been cleaned but not thoroughly and so years passed and that single tread has been like that. Left without getting any good repair and just covered with a new tread. It was quite strange why it was the only tread on the staircase that kept on getting molds and cracks; not even affecting the whole staircase.
The veranda looks fine though there is still creaking of the floor. Staying there gives you a breather after being cooped inside the house all day. It was a nice place where you can sit and relax, drink a good cup of coffee and read a book, or even just having a simple look at the garden is much rewarding. It was just a shame that most of the plants and flowers wither time and time again as if no one has been taking care of them.
Upon entering, one will be welcomed by the tangling cobwebs that stick to one's hair and skin. The inside of the house has glancing and glimmering lights, sometimes, penumbral.
Footsteps echoed followed by the creaking sounds of the wooden floor. Inside the house, one can see that it looks like a normal and just the regular house with one four-seater sofa, one armchair, and wingchair on each side, a glass center table, parallel to television on the right side. On the left was the dining room and adjacent to it was the kitchen and the comfort room. There's one room on the first floor and a staircase leading to the second floor with three more rooms.
Looking at everything, things are supposed to be nice. But it's already abandoned… filled with horror and despair. The windows have shattered and the shards were dangerously scattered on the floor. The doors were dilapidated, and the walls and the ceilings were running down.
It's disheartening to look and get a load of everything. Sitting on the dusty couch; I see the flickering light; I can feel the agonizing humidity in the house touching my skin; the frowsty smell and stuffiness in the house linger in my nose. I had the notion that I have to live in this house… that I am living in this house.
I tried to clean the house, I tried to remove all the dust in every corner. I removed the tangling cobwebs, and I cautiously sweep the window shards on the floor and tried not to get any cuts. But it wasn't easy. I got hurt even though I took safety measures. Dusting should be done daily or at least every other day. But I wanted to give more time to refurbish the floor, especially the stair. I knew it should be done right away. But it wasn't easy. I have to focus on getting the smaller details done first. I wanted to tend the garden but I still have things to do inside the house.
In a day, I just cleared one room… I just cleaned it… nothing more. The light's still flickering. Do I need to change it or have it checked? How would I know? I don't want other people in here yet. Not now. My family might get anxious, too.
I lay down and huddled and stared outside the window. The fresh air made its way inside the room and cool down the heat inside my body. I tried not to fall asleep as I await for the sun to set. I can see the clear clouds from the room, the birds flying freely up in the sky, the green leaves happily swinging on the branches of the tree. It was a fine day. I felt my eyes are slowly betraying the free show and my mind is being cuddled in oblivion. I tried to fight it, I tried to open my eyes… but I couldn't. I felt a burning sensation in my body, my face stiffened, and my throat felt sore. A voice inside my head sounded brittle and kept waking me up.
"Wake up… wake up… wake…"
It faded. Then there's warm water that suddenly ran down from my eyes. My body's trembling and my heart beats fast. I was disenchanted by myself.
I finally opened my eyes.
"No… am I dreaming?"
Yes… I'm in a dream. My consciousness is alive and I can feel my heart beating fast. I can't move my body and it hit me right away realizing I can almost roll my eyes. It's frightening as if someone's keeping me from moving. Then there it was, I saw it. I saw myself sitting in front of me… making no movements, expressing no emotions. I was praying inside my head and I was made to stop. I was petrified. The me in front of me suddenly moved its lips and mouthed the words inside my head. It kept on mumbling but I can hear her words loudly and clearly. Her? Or should I say… it?
"No…"
The weak voice inside my head tried to stop it as it approaches me. It's coming nearer I know and it wanted to touch me but it couldn't. I moved my gaze above and saw beside my head a rosary. My mind again started to speak of prayer. And it did voice it out again. This time, it's moving its head sidewards... like a child, like a pendulum turned upside down.
"Please, no more…"
I didn't know what happened next. I woke up in the middle of the night and wasn't able to sleep anymore. I'm too afraid to move my body and just kept my eyes closed.
"It wasn't easy…"