After coming back home, I gazed at the blue flower for a long time. It reminded me of what Shams said and every time I would smile unknowingly. I felt happy somehow. I put the glowing blue flower in the water vase at my study desk. I glanced at myself in the wall mirror beside my closet and stared at my eyes curling my copper brown hair with my index finger, blushing and smiling continuously. My ears echoed with Shams's compliment every time I looked at the blue flower or my eyes and would unknowingly smile.
"It's rare just as you are."
While I was looking in the mirror, I saw a scary shadow behind me in the mirror. I turned pale. And I suddenly turned back. But, there was nothing behind my back. I looked into the mirror again and the shadow started moving toward me. I started stepping backward. I felt as if my soul would leave my body and my feet froze to the ground. I was unable to think of anything. As the shadow approached me and was about to throttle me, I closed my eyes and screamed.
My brother came in first as his room was next door. He came running towards me and shook me as I was screaming.
"Ashma, Ashma! What happened?"
"That...that shadow!..."
"Which shadow? Open your eyes! See, there is nothing."
I opened my eyes and it was exactly as he said. There was nothing.
" But I saw! That shadow was about to throttle me! Where did it go? Yeah!...the mirror...maybe it's in the mirror."
I ran towards the mirror but found nothing.
"Here, it must be here. Where did it go?"
I was so horrified that I looked like a psychopath while explaining.
"Ashma, Ashma calm down! It's only in your mind. You must be hallucinating."
"No, I am not! I did see it."
"Okay, okay! Take a deep breath. Calm down."
I took a deep breath and wanted to share these awful happenings with James but somehow I hesitated and couldn't do so.
—--------
The same night, it happened again. As I laid on my bed, I became paralyzed. I felt smoke floating around me whispering in a hoarse voice.
"Alright, my dear, stop struggling and give yourself to me. Surrender, so that I could make your power mine. I would make good use of it. I promise. Hahaha! What a delicious aura! Stop struggling, my dear, that fool can't help you this time. HoohooHahaha! "
That smoke started to settle in my body through my skin and I felt my skeleton breaking into pieces and my flesh ripping apart. It was so painful that I wanted to die. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. Suddenly, James came to my room and turned the light on. As he did, the smoke vanished saying,
"Damn it!"
As the smoke vanished, I felt normal but tears that were rolling out of my eyes due to pain were still on my eyelashes and cheeks.
"Sister! Do you have some water? I ran out of it and your room is nearby so I don't wanna go to the kitchen."
His gaze fell upon my wet eyelashes. He ran towards me and got anxious.
"Sister! You are crying? What on earth happened? Is something bothering you?"
I couldn't take it anymore so I told him about my recent hallucinations. He calmly listened but suggested I see a doctor.
"So, you are saying that you often hallucinate nowadays."
"Yes, but ironically, I didn't expect that your bad habit of barging into my room in the middle of the night just because you ran out of water would save my life one day."
"Yeah! Me too. So, you should thank me. No?"
"Alright, alright, thank you. But, hey, don't discuss any of this with mom or dad, or else they'll worry."
"I know, I know. Don't worry, I won't. But sister, I suggest you consult a doctor. I don't mean that you have psychological issues but it never hurts to be careful."
"Yeah, you are right. I will go tomorrow."
—--------
I visited the doctor the next day.
"How is my condition doctor? Do I have some psychological issues?"
"No, that's not the case. Your reports are normal. The issues that you described often happen due to stress. I would prescribe you some medications. Take it regularly till you feel better."
"Thank you, doctor."
I took a breath of relief and went home. James asked about my condition and I showed him my report.
"How was it, Ashma? What did the doctor say?"
"All my reports are normal."
"That's good then."
"Yes, I am relieved."
"Oh yeah! I got news for you."
"What is it?"
"Some girl got her eyes on your fiance."
"What? I mean, it's not something new. Shams is always popular with girls but he never cares about any of them."
"But this girl is very special."
"How so?"
"Well...how to explain? Her aura is very enchanting and also Shams doesn't seem to be avoiding her. She is on very friendly terms with him."
"Who is she? Why have I never heard about her before?"
James looked at me with a teasing face turning his eyebrows up and down. He came near and whispered in my ears.
"Are you curious? Or, perhaps, should I say you're jealous?"
I became nervous and overreacted.
"Nonsense! Jealous? And Me? Never in my dreams!"
"Then why are you so anxious and nervous?"
"When...when did I...Fine! Don't tell me. It's not like I am dying to know."
"Really? But why does your facial expression oppose your words?"
"If you are gonna talk nonsense, then get out of my room."
James grinned and his expression looked satisfied.
"Ashma, just admit it. You are falling for Shams. Looks like all his hard work finally paid off. I am so happy for my friend."
"What are you talking about? You misunderstood. I was just curious because he always avoided girls who liked him and that's it. Nothing more, nothing less."
"O, my silly sister! I'll give you a tip for free. If you don't cherish what's yours, you'll only understand its value when you lose it. Shams never once diverted his attention from you his whole life. So don't make decisions that you may regret. Try to cherish him."
Saying this, he left. I became puzzled by the fact that I started falling for Shams.
"Just when the hell….When the hell did such a thing happen?"