I stood at my apartment's entrance on a typical Sunday evening, watching the sunset and its amber light casting shadows in my small living room. The fresh air outside offered a brief respite from my cramped apartment's confines.
Life had become repetitive, lacking clear direction. That night, I felt an overwhelming urge for change, so I stepped out onto the balcony stairs, looking over the city. The air, usually just a backdrop of urban life, seemed to resonate with my restlessness.
My quiet reflection was suddenly broken by my best friend's arrival. I could see him walking with purpose up the steps below me. I sighed and took a deep breath. "Again huh?" I muttered to myself.
Adrian had been my best friend since Kindergarten. As kids, we had constantly gotten in trouble, admittedly mostly because of me but he was always there to pull me out of it. He was loyal and a steadfast friend.
Lately, however, Adrian seemed to have become more distant. His struggles getting the better of him. Most people missed it but I noticed the occasions when his calm demeanor would slip into unease. I was also aware of a new awkwardness in our interactions that had not been there before but our friendship stood firm. I could tell he needed me again today. Just as he was for me.
When Adrian bounded up the steps he was surprised to see me waiting. I waved, "Hey man, what's up?"
Adrian, normally the picture of stability, appeared visibly unsettled in front of me, a stark contrast to his usual composure that immediately raised my concern. His black hair was a mess and he looked disheveled. "Hey, can you talk?"
I nodded my head and he walked over next to me. Leaning his back against the wall. He went to say something but stopped himself. I heard him take a deep breath. "Alex, we've been through a lot, haven't we?
I turned to look at him and put my arms on the railings to lean back. Matching his posture. "Just a time or two. I can't think of a specific one at the top of my head but.." I paused in a teasing manner. A forced smile on my face.
Adrian looked at me and grinned, knowing I was lying. Adrian had made a mistake with his current girlfriend, forgetting an important date. I had been a good wingman and took the blame for his tardiness earning her wrath. I was fine with it though, she couldn't hate me forever. I had set them up after all.
That was why his next few words took me by surprise.
"I ended things with Heather," Adrian said. He looked a bit sheepish at the admission.I couldn't help it. I muttered a curse. "Damnit, Adrian what happened? If I am the cause I will make it right. I will go talk to her, let me make this right." I began to walk to my door so I could go grab my phone.
"NO! It was not your fault. Don't apologize." Adrian had jumped up and his posture was defensive. I put my hands in the air to surrender.
"Easy man, I'm just trying to help. Let's go inside and crack a few beers then we can talk this over." I slowly reached around him and opened the door to my apartment.
He met my gaze, his eyes stormy. "It's complicated, Alex. There's a lot I'm trying to sort out," he admitted, his voice breaking a bit.
A heavy silence fell between us, filled with unspoken words. I could feel his internal battle, torn between sharing and keeping his emotions guarded. "Adrian, you can trust me with anything," I reassured him, trying to ease his reluctance.
He sighed, a mix of frustration and acceptance in his voice. "I know, but it's not straightforward," he responded, his tone tense.
Wanting to lighten the mood, I suggested a change of scene. "Yeah, I think those beers are in order." I opened my door and as I led him in I began to ponder Adrian's troubles. His usual confidence seemed to have evaporated.
"As we entered, we were greeted by Tiger, my large, orange tabby cat. His familiar presence always seemed to bring a sense of calm to my apartment. I scooped him up, feeling the reassuring weight of him in my arms.
'One or two?' I asked Adrian as he walked into my apartment shutting the door behind him. I grabbed two.
After handing him a beer, I took a seat opposite him, Tiger purred on my lap, a small island of comfort in the room's uneasy silence. "Care to give me some idea on why you've been so tense lately?" I took a sip of my beer. "You've been off your game for more than a minute now. It's not just Heather, is it?' I leaned in to observer him.
Adrian's hand tightened around the beer, his expression tensing. 'Alex, it's a mess, man. There are things I'm wrestling with... things I'm not sure how to handle.' he admitted, a defensive edge to his voice.
I leaned back, trying to keep the conversation casual. 'We've been through all sorts of scrapes since we were kids. You can level with me, no matter what it is.'
He exhaled sharply, his fingers running through his hair in frustration. 'It's just... I don't even know where to start. And I'm not sure you'd get it,' he said, avoiding my gaze.
The tension in the room seemed to thicken, a testament to the unspoken struggles Adrian was facing. He finally met my eyes, his look one of conflict and apprehension. "I know, and I appreciate that, Alex. But some things are better unsaid for now,"
I could tell by Adrian's posture that he was getting defensive. I was getting frustrated too. How was I supposed to help him if he wouldn't let me?
Just then, Tiger, ever the peacemaker, jumped off my lap and rubbed against Adrian, breaking the growing tension. It was a simple, grounding moment that seemed to bring Adrian back from the edge.
He smiled and gave Tiger a gentle scratch behind the ears. 'Thanks, buddy,' he said softly. "I guess I just need to sort through some stuff in my head."
"Look, I get it. You're going through something tough. But shutting me out isn't going to help," I said, trying to keep my voice even. The words felt inadequate, but I needed him to understand that I was there for him, no matter what.
Adrian glanced up, his expression full of complex emotions. "Alex, I don't even know how to deal with this myself. I don't want to burden others with it, especially you." His voice was filled with a pang of sadness.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "Whatever man, friends help friends. That's what friends do."
His response was a tired smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Some things are just too personal, too... complicated. I don't want to drag you into my mess."
The conversation was going in circles, and my patience was wearing thin. I Grunted. "Something with the fam?"
Adrian shook his head, a hint of stubborn resolve setting in. "I just need time, Alex."I could feel the frustration building up inside me, a rising tide that threatened to overflow. "Fine," I snapped, a little more harshly than I intended. "But remember, I'm here when you're ready to talk."
There was a long pause and the room filled with tension. I stood up abruptly, needing to break the stifling atmosphere. "You know what? Let's forget about it for now. How about another beer? Maybe it'll help us both relax a bit."
I went to the fridge and grabbed a couple of beers, the cold bottles momentarily grounding me. Handing one to Adrian, I tried to offer a reassuring smile, but it felt forced.
We clinked bottles in a semblance of our usual camaraderie, but the mood had shifted. As we drank, the conversation steered away from the heavy topics, focusing instead on mundane things – work, the latest sports games, anything but what was really on our minds. Tiger settled back into my lap. My legs would go numb soon.
Suddenly the room's atmosphere underwent an unsettling change. The lights flickered erratically, a startling occurrence that made me jolt in surprise. In my arms, Tiger tensed, his ears shooting up in a clear display of alarm. Then without any warning, an intense flood of light filled the apartment, catching me completely off guard. The sudden brightness was disorienting, and I hadn't even come close to touching the light switches.
Amid this bewildering brightness, something extraordinary happened around Adrian. A small circle materialized beneath him, composed of intricate markings that glowed with an otherworldly luminescence. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of the bizarre scene unfolding before us. Adrian's face mirrored my shock and confusion, his eyes wide as they met mine.
Acting on instinct, I reached out to grab his hand, still holding Tiger firmly in my other arm. I grabbed Adrian's hand tightly to pull him away and got a flinch from Adrian. Before I could say anything, the circle's light surged with a startling intensity.
Before I could blink, we were completely engulfed by the circle of light. A blinding flash filled the room, its brilliance so intense I instinctively shut my eyes against it. The sensation akin to the sun suddenly bursting into the confined space of my apartment. The light pierced through my closed eyelids, leaving me disoriented and bewildered.
Gripping Adrian's hand tightly, a mix of fear and protectiveness welled up inside me. I couldn't let go; not in this moment of uncertainty, not when he might need me the most. Tiger, equally disturbed by the unexpected turn of events, vibrated with tension against my arm, his fur bristling with unease.And then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything was swallowed by an all-encompassing whiteness. The room, the apartment, the world as I knew it – all disappeared into a void of pure, blinding light.