June 7th, 2024
It was dark, cold, still, an endless blackness, JOSH was paralyzed and absent from this reality, unknowing of what has been. A slurp of a straw broke through the frozen moment the greedy squeaks of the straw as it searched for more echoed throughout the void. Like forgetting a dream this sequence becomes an afterthought as the memories of reality took its place and the boy awoke, it was time.
Webber Street
A row of townhouses sits on a shadowy street protected from the summer sun, a stillness in the air. A single police car sits outside one of the homes, the siren long been silenced. The door of the house closest to the police car was propped open allowing the fresh air to flood in. Inside the home a sex doll sat slouched on the living room couch expressionless, blood splattered on her face glistening as the cartoons on tv illuminated the dimly lit room. A body wearing a doctor's coat laid face down in a pool of blood at the foot of the couch inches from his lover.
Two officers stand around the body, one to the right of the television blocking the dolls view of Rudy Rabbit and Friends the other stood next to the body peering down at the corpse. With tired eyes the officer closest to the body examined the numerous stab wounds on the victims back and then exhaled slowly.
(the officer mutters)
Officer One: Looks like another suicide
His partner, now distracted by the cartoon, hesitates before responding.
Officer Two: Wow, that's the third one this week.
Flower shop
A peculiar little flower shop—quaint, cluttered, and brimming sat on the corner of a busy street. Inside a bouquet of pink tulips sits on the goth cashier's counter ready for purchase.
Cashier: Cash or card?
Josh stands across from her frozen, his grey shirt stained with red, his brown hair messy, strands of it stuck to his forehead. His eyes fixated on a floor stain.
(irritated)
Cashier: Cash or card?
Josh reached into his pocket and fumbles with his wallet avoiding eye contact. A small imaginary creature with a white round head and a pointy mint green hat peaked over Josh's shoulder. MEL extended his lips and whispered into Josh's ear.
Mel: She is totally into you.
Josh's face blushed and his vision grew blurry, the goth mommy cashier now visibly uncomfortable. It was time to leave.
Cemetery
With his newly acquired flowers Josh ventured into a nearby cemetery and walked a familiar path past the fields of erected headstones. He arrived at the family plot, five graves, one already taken, the rest yearning to be filled. Josh knelt before the furthest headstone, carefully placing the bouquet down. The headstone reads "We will meet again, one day - Tina Bell June 7th, 2023". Josh stared at the headstone as a lump formed in his throat.
(murmuring)
Josh: Tina... did I do the right thing? It felt right, but what even is right anymore? Everything is just so... fucked. I just really miss you.
Tears poured from his eyes staining his cheek, voices from a nearby group grabbed Josh's attention. Josh wiped his face hastily, sniffing hard.
Josh: Fuck, this is embarrassing.
Like it never happened Josh straightened his face and glanced over at Mel who was perched on a nearby headstone.
Josh: Let's get out of here.
Josh makes his way to the exit as a dark figure watches from afar.