by Jon Athan
The child did not respond. From the blinds on the closet door, Marsha could see the young girl in the small storage space. She sat with her knees to her face and her arms crossed. The room's light seeped into the closet through the slits on the blinds, illuminating the child's sorrowful, downcast eyes.
Marsha gazed into the girl's woeful eyes and said, “It's okay. I won't hurt you. I won't get you into any trouble. I promise. I just want to help you. What are... What are you doing in my house, sweetie? What are you looking for?”
The young girl gazed into Marsha's eyes and asked, “Where's my mom?”
Marsha shook her head and said, “I... I don't know, sweetie. You have to tell me. I can call the police. They can help us find your mommy if you want.”
The child shook her head and planted her face on her knees. In a muffled voice, the girl said, “I want my mom. That's all. I just want my mom.” The girl gently whimpered and asked, “Where's... Where's my mom? Why is she hiding from me?”
Marsha's eyes swelled with tears as she felt the girl's pain through her doleful words. She could feel the fear and loneliness in the tone of her cracking voice. Marsha could relate to the apprehension. She felt an inexplicable bond with the child.
Marsha swiped at the tears on her cheeks and said, “It's okay, I'll help you. Don't worry, I can find her...”
The child whispered, “Okay.”
Marsha staggered to her feet, then opened the closet door. She furrowed her brow as she gazed at the empty space on the floor. The young girl had vanished without a trace. Awed and shocked by the mystifying disappearance, Marsha staggered in reverse until she fell onto the bed.
Marsha whispered, “I can... I can help you. Let me help you.”
***
The pungent aroma of coffee wafted through the kitchen, dancing with the refreshing breeze from the open window. The scorching black liquid swirled, creating a dark vortex of caffeine. Marsha's hands trembled as she took a sip of her drink. The white ceramic saucer rattled as Marsha returned the cup with shaky hands. The dazzling sunset pierced through the kitchen window, diminishing with every passing minute.
Alan walked around the corner, loosening the blue tie on his white button-up shirt and wiping the clinging lint from his black trousers. He stopped at the archway upon spotting Marsha's distraught appearance. Alan narrowed his eyes as he slowly stepped into the kitchen, contemplating his next move.
Before Alan could speak, Marsha asked, “Aren't you going to say anything?”
Alan nodded and said, “Yeah, yeah...You don't look so good, sweetie. I told you to call me if anything was wrong.”
“Does it matter? Is that really all you have to say? I want to talk about the girl, Alan, the girl. I don't care about my appearance right now.”
Alan shrugged and asked, “What girl?”
The chair screeched on the linoleum flooring as Marsha quickly stood up. She glared at Alan with teary, piercing eyes. She was fuming with irrepressible anger. Alan shrugged, oblivious about the situation in hand.
Marsha explained, “The girl I heard on Lily's birthday. The girl I saw standing over Lily's crib. The girl hiding in the closet. That girl, Alan.”
“You saw her again? Where is she?”
“I–I don't know. I saw her, but she... she vanished. I swear I saw her Alan. I spoke to her. She sat in the closet and asked me for her mother. By the time I opened the door, the girl vanished into thin air, like some sort of... of magic trick or something,” Marsha explained as her breathing intensified.
“Oh. Are you still talking about that girl?” Alan asked. Marsha nodded as she crossed her arms and sobbed. Alan continued, “Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, sweetie, but that girl doesn't exist. There's no one in the house, Marsha. It's just you, me, and Lily. You can't keep doing this. We were getting better. You know we were getting better. I don't know what's going on with you, but we can find help if you really need it. I can find you a good doctor.”
Marsha scoffed, “I knew you wouldn't believe me. You never believed me. You think I'm crazy.”
Alan chuckled, then mockingly said, “What do you want me to believe? Huh? There's a ghost in the house? We're being haunted? Is that what you want me to believe? Is that what you want me to tell people?”
“You don't have to tell anyone. This is our business, this is our family,” Marsha rebutted. As Alan shook his head and trudged away, Marsha followed him up the stairs and said, “We need to help her. We need to find her mother. We... We need to find an exorcist or something.”
Alan stopped at the top of the stairs and sternly said, “Stop. I want you to stop this. This is not good for you. It's not good for Lily, either. Just drop it for now, Marsha. I'll call a doctor tomorrow. Try to get some rest. Please, try to forget about this.”
Marsha whimpered as Alan strolled into the baby's room. He could hear his soft voice as he coddled Lily in the bedroom. His words and demeanor were stern and dour, but he clearly meant no harm – he simply didn't understand the severity of the situation. Marsha reluctantly dropped the conversation, then strolled into the bedroom.
Minutes turned into hours and light turned into dark. Marsha and Alan rested in bed in their usual nightwear. Alan snored as he shuffled on the mattress. Marsha contemplated as she absently gazed at the ceiling. Her mind wandered away from her body – she could see herself sleeping.
Suddenly, the baby monitor buzzed. Without turning her head, Marsha glided her eyes towards the radio. A soft female voice indistinctly murmured. As she reached to wake Alan, Marsha stopped herself. She didn't want to agitate the situation if she were wrong.
Over the radio, the young girl asked, “Mom? Mom, are you there?”
Marsha whimpered as she slowly stood from the bed. The cool floorboards howled beneath her bare feet as she sauntered towards the hall, then strolled towards Lily's room. She held her hands to her mouth and inhaled deeply as prepared herself for anything. As she turned the corner, her eyes widened.
The young girl stood on a stack of children's books as she watched Lily's nocturnal slumber, unaware of Marsha's presence. Marsha did not cry or yell. From the doorway, she could see the sorrowful apparition was not malevolent.
Marsha walked into the room and gently asked, “Who are you, sweetie? Who's your mother?” The young girl glanced at Marsha, then grimaced as she struggled to respond. Marsha shook her head and said, “Please, don't go. Don't leave again. I don't want to hurt you, sweetie. I want to help you. I think it'll help me if I help you. Do you understand? I can... I can help you find her. I just need... I need something. A name or... or something. Tell me: who is your mother?”
As her eyes swelled with brackish tears, the pale apparition gazed down at her bare feet and responded, “You.”
Marsha furrowed her brow as she staggered in reverse. Her breath was stolen with a single word. She tilted her head and bit her bottom lip, awed and baffled by the revelation. Her eyes sparkled as she carefully examined the apparition.
Like if the clouds in her mind were whisked away, Marsha could suddenly see the resemblance. The child had wavy black hair, lustrous brown eyes, and tiny speckles on her cheeks. She resembled a younger Marsha and an older Lily.
Marsha stuttered, “You–You're...” She paused to wipe the tears from her cheeks, then said, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It was an accident. I had no control over it, sweetie.”
The girl gazed down at Lily and whispered, “I know...”
Marsha trudged to the young girl's side as she gently sobbed. She wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulder. She was surprised to find the apparition was tangible. Marsha vigorously rubbed the girl's gelid shoulder, giving her the warmth and reassurance she had sought for so long. The pair happily gazed down at Lily.
As she gently touched Lily's silky hair, the girl asked, “What's my name?”
Marsha's eyes twinkled as if she were reminiscing. She responded, “Caroline. Your name was... Your name is Caroline, sweetheart.”
Caroline gave off a serene smile as she continued to stroke Lily's hair. She said, “She's very pretty.”
Marsha planted her cheek on Caroline's dome and said, “You know, she'll be as pretty as you someday.”
Caroline's smile dithered as she turned towards her mother. She said, “I don't want to go away...”
Marsha sighed as she gazed into her deceased daughter's sad eyes. She glanced at the doorway and contemplated Alan's inevitable reaction to her discovery. She knew she could never tell him the truth. She knew she would have to keep the secret to protect herself and her family.
Marsha planted her warm palms on Caroline's cheeks and said, “You don't have to go away, sweetheart. I want you to stay with me. Stay with us. I want you to... to grow up with your sister. I want you to protect her. And, someday, we'll even tell your father. We'll be a family. You can stay. You can always stay. Does that sound good to you?”
Caroline smiled from ear-to-ear as she nodded and responded, “I love you, mommy...”
The Meal of the Day
The sturdy door rattled as the knocking reverberated through the modest apartment – the door being pummeled like if a police squad waited on the other side. Daniel Patterson smiled from ear-to-ear upon hearing the relentless thuds. He turned off the faucet, then wiped his sopping hands on his brown pleated trousers.
Without a door or archway in his path, he stumbled out of the kitchen and into the seamlessly-connected living room. His brown dress shoes clacked on the hardwood flooring with each plodding step. He shuffled in his tight white button-up shirt, trying to find the perfect comfort in the smothering garment. He stopped directly in front of the rattling door, then gazed at his reflection on the pristine mirror to his right.
“Tonight's the night, Danny, don't screw this up for us,” Daniel whispered as he gazed into his zany blue eyes. He spit a blob gooey saliva into his hand, then dug his slimy fingers into his thinning black hair. With a corporate grin, flaunting his straight teeth, Daniel whispered, “Let's do this, boy. Let's get her back on Team Danny and keep her there this time.”
The door trembled from the persistent knocking. Danny inhaled deeply, then opened the door. He couldn't help but smirk as he inspected his fuming guest. With deviancy sparkling in his eyes, Daniel blatantly ogled every curve on Diana's voluptuous figure.
Daniel wiped the beads of sweat trickling down his brow and said, “Hey, Diana! I knew you were running a little late, I knew you'd show up. Anyway, you look... you look absolutely ravishing, sweetheart! Wow! You've taken my breath away once again.”
Straight-faced, Diana Patterson stood at the doorway and crossed her arms. She donned a black button-up shirt tucked into a tight black skirt sitting above her kneecaps. Her black stockings veiled her sultry legs and her black high heels propelled her to a five-eight stature – a few inches below Danny. Her straight black hair reached down to the strap of the black leather bag dangling from her shoulder. Her piercing brown eyes could penetrate the most fortified facade – she was incapable of being duped.
Diana scowled and said, “You've seen it all before. What do you want, Daniel? You asked for five minutes, so I'm giving you five minutes. The clock is ticking.”
Daniel's eyelids twitched as he swayed his arm into his apartment and stuttered, “We–welcome to my–my humble abode, sweetheart.”
“Humble abode? Really?”
Diana huffed, then strutted into the living room. She sighed as she inspected the cramped apartment. The living room and kitchen were seamlessly-connected – only the transition from hardwood to linoleum tile flooring separated the areas. At the center of the living area, the wall on the left splintered into a hallway with four doors. The first door led to the storage closet, the second to a bathroom, and the last two doors in the hall led to the bedrooms.
As Diana walked towards the hallway, Daniel said, “Sweetheart, I don't think I asked for five minutes. I mean, I asked... I asked for dinner, remember? Five minutes won't be enough time to eat our special meal. Can we talk about this?”
Disregarding Daniel's plea, Diana gazed down the hallway and said, “Where's my sweetheart? Where's Mary? I'd like to have a little talk with her. Share some mother-daughter time. Maybe give her an allowance.”
Daniel chuckled and shook his head, then said, “There's no need for that, Diana. She doesn't need your money.”
“That's fine. I'm sure you're taking good care of her with your... your 'managing' job. She could probably use a female figure to talk to, though. I'm sure you haven't been telling her everything she needs to know about being a woman.”
Daniel nervously smiled, his nose and eyes erratically twitching. He responded, “It's... It's a good paying management job, Diana. A very good paying job. I've been taking care of her for a long time. I think I know what I'm doing. You... well, you really haven't...”
Diana shook her head and glowered in vexation, like if she knew the words Daniel would utter if she didn't stop him. She turned away, then banged on the hallway wall. The picture frames bounced off the wall with each brutish blow.
Diana shouted, “Mary! Mary, mommy's home! I've got something special for you! Mary, come on out, sweetie!” There was no response. Diana turned towards Daniel and asked, “Where's Mary? Where's my daughter?”
“She's... She's probably listening to music. You know kids these days, Diana. They listen to music so loud on those damn headphones, the neighbors can hear it. I'll warn her about that later, I promise.”
Diana sighed, then nonchalantly strolled down the hallway. Daniel stumbled forward, clumsily tripping over his lanky legs as he pursued Diana. Before Diana could reach the bathroom door, Daniel tightly clenched her wrist and pulled her back.
Diana glared at Daniel and shouted, “Let go of me! What the hell is wrong with you?” Daniel bowed and planted his damp brow on Diana's unclad forearm. Diana warned, “If you don't release me and allow me to see my daughter, I will leave. I don't have to give you five minutes. Let me go.”
Daniel sniveled as he stood straight and released Diana's wrist. Diana furrowed her brow as she gazed into Daniel's teary eyes. His face was scrunched, his nose leaked mucus, and his mouth was brimming with saliva. He was vulnerable and enfeebled. She had never seen him in such a distraught condition.
Daniel clasped his hands and pleaded, “Please, Diana, give me a few more minutes. I've cooked a special meal for us. Mary is... She's in her room listening to music. She agreed to give me some time alone with you. She wants this as much as I do. Please, let's just have dinner and reconnect. I won't force myself onto you, but I'm begging for one more chance. Please.”
Diana sighed as she gently glided her fingers across the silky hair sprawled on her shoulder. She grunted and groaned as she stared into Daniel's glistening eyes, like staring into the eyes of a puppy begging for a treat. Diana had a cold exterior, but she still felt sympathy and pity.
Diana glanced down at her high heels and said, “Fine. What's for dinner?”
***
Diana sighed as she flumped into the dining table chair. She leaned forward, planting her elbows on the circular hardwood table, then retrieved her touchscreen cellphone. Like a child dragged to the doctor's office by her parents, Diana absentmindedly fiddled with her phone and ignored her surroundings. Her inattentive face was solely illuminated by the chandelier above the dining table.
From the oven, Daniel said, “It's good to have you here. How have you been doing, sweetheart? You need any money or anything like that? I've been doing well for myself, you know. Financially, I think I'll be doing even better after tonight. So, if you need it, I have it.” He glanced over at Diana and asked, “How much do you need?”
Diana scoffed at Daniel's shameless vaunting, shaking her head in a combination of disgust and disappointment. Daniel sniffled as he erratically blinked and turned back towards the oven. Only one explanation seemed rational in his mind – Diana didn't hear me. There were no other viable options.
Daniel whispered, “Danny, you idiot, you need to speak up...”
The oven door squealed as it slowly opened – the hinges squeaked like a rat in an empty auditorium. With his hands veiled by crimson oven mitts, Daniel carefully delved into the sweltering oven and retrieved the aluminum roasting pan.
With a gleeful smile, he sashayed towards Diana, then placed the pan at the center of the dining table. There were thick slices of juicy steak atop the pan. The delectable aroma swept through the room, dancing in-and-out of baited nostrils. Diana's eyes widened as she caught a whiff of the pleasant smell.
Daniel placed a slab on Diana's plate and said, “Bon appétit.” He tossed a slice of the tender steak on his plate and said, “Let's dig in, sweetheart. I promise, this will be the greatest, most liberating meal of your life.”
“Liberating?” Diana repeated in a dubious tone.
“Yes! Liberating, sweetheart! Trust me, it's going to change your life.”
Diana huffed and shook her head as Daniel brazenly lauded himself. She sliced into the juicy steak with the utmost ease, like a knife cutting through butter. She inhaled deeply as she balanced the steak on a fork directly in front of her eyes. She meticulously examined the meat for any anomalies – she could not be duped. Daniel eagerly watched from the opposite end of the table.
Diana whispered, “Okay, here goes nothing...”
Diana's eyes widened as she gnawed into the steak. The juices streamed across her tongue and squirted from between her teeth. Her taste buds tingled from the succulent flavor, like if a colony of ants were marching across her tongue.
Diana covered her mouth as she chewed the steak and ecstatically said, “Wow.” She swallowed the piquant steak with one loud gulp, then said, “This is absolutely delicious, Danny. This is just... This is heavenly. I can't even think of the words to describe this. You've got yourself a great recipe here. You should think about selling it.”
Daniel smiled and said, “I'm so happy to hear that, sweetheart. I've been working hard to improve myself. I've really been trying to rebuild myself and... and better myself. I know now, Diana, I can change the circumstances around me. I'm in control.”
