I stuffed the napkin into my pocket not thinking more about it. I just need to get into my car and make my way back to Kirby, then I can process what this weirdo is trying to say. He must not be mentally well judging by the way he ran out of the diner. I fumbled the keys around in my hands and opened up my car door. The familiar scent of black cherry and leather filled my nose, reminding me that there was nothing to worry about. I turned the ignition and started towards home.
I rolled my windows down to prevent my windshield from fogging up again. The wind swept through my golden hair sending it in all different directions. I liked my hair messy, it was more freeing, I just don't like the constant stress of trying to be perfect all the time. "Ah, home sweet home." I neared the final turn toward my small beat-up apartment. I was finally about to see Kirby again after a long and stressful day. He always had a way of making me smile despite everything else.
I parked a few rows back as most of the parking was taken up in the lot. I grabbed the leftovers and Kirby's sausages to bring upstairs and went on my way. The stairs seemed to get harder as the days went by, maybe my joints were starting to deteriorate. I could hear the excited whimpers of my baby boy Kirby as I walked down the hall towards my door. "Lucky number 4, like my grandma always said." I grabbed for my keys to unlock my door and couldn't help but notice a piece of paper sticking out from underneath the welcome mat.
"Another note from the landlord? I already paid rent this month, maybe it's a complaint of Kirby barking again..." I quickly grabbed the note as I unlocked the door and shifted my way into the apartment. "Kirby baby I know you are excited! Give mama a second and I can give you your treats and a bunch of Lovins..." Kirby was dancing around my feet eagerly waiting on his welcome home cuddles and belly rubs. You could just see it on his face ' why aren't you paying attention to me mother? I should be your only priority.'
I opened up the container holding Kirby's sausage and threw them down to him. It was like a never-ending black hole that just absorbs whatever you throw at it. It was like it never even existed, gone in an instant, not even having a chance to hit the ground. I gave Kirby all the rubs he could ever ask for as we cuddled together on the couch. I turned on my favorite show, 'The Concrete Warrior' a show about a young princess fighting for her kingdom. As I watched my show I couldn't help but think back to the note on the napkin, there was something so weird about the encounter at the diner that had me feeling queasy.
I pushed it from my mind as I jumped up from the couch to grab a glass of wine. After a day like today, I was definitely going to need it! I poured a glass of Pink Moscato and suck back against the kitchen cabinets, thinking over the day. It always seemed to go that way no matter what I tried to do to avoid it. You are always stuck staring at a wall and thinking about all your problems. After what felt like an eternity I stood up and placed my empty glass on the countertop by the sink, I was too lazy to wash the glass tonight so it would have to wait until tomorrow.
I noticed the note I had brought in with the now empty containers of food I brought for Kirby that I still needed to throw out. If it was the old lady from down the hall again I was just going to give her the same answer as always, he is a loving dog stuck in a small apartment and wants to be loved. You have to get over it or you can always just dog sit since you just sit at home all day. She would always refuse, she didn't like dog hair. I unfolded the note in my hand and stood there studying it for a moment. It read ' You are our only hope to stop this apocalypse. You are the savior and I am the key. Together we can stop this tragedy."
I was not sure how to proceed as I read through the note over and over again, hoping I read it wrong. Was this the same guy that was in the diner? How did he know where I lived and why am I the savior? This was getting too weird for me. I took the note and shoved it into the junk drawer next to the sink. I am too tired to deal with this shit tonight, I will figure it out tomorrow... I jumped in bed grabbing my pillow tightly. Kirby followed and curled up at the foot of the bed ready to have me tuck him in. I kicked the blanket over him tonight and let myself drift, thinking about the possibilities of becoming my own boss and living the life I have always wanted. Maybe I could open up my own bakery or something hipster like that.
I felt my eyelids drift closed, held together by the darkness around me. The whirlwind of dreams flooded my mind as I slowly drifted off to sleep. I wonder what I am going to be tonight? Am I going to dream of myself as a CEO or maybe as a young girl running through the fields? There was no telling tonight, I just let myself fall deep and fast into the abyss. Hoping that it would forever enclose me in its shadows, keeping me safe from all harm. If only that was the way the world worked.