5 May 2012
Instinct: Chapter 3 (Part 1)
Leo
I sat at my office, processing mindless invoice after the next. I tried to manually check the calculations to give my mind some form of distraction but it offered no retribution. In the kitchen at lunch I sat around the white plastic table with my microwave pizza and newspaper.
Angie and Pam, two young female colleagues, were comparing notes on their drunken experience at the weekend. I wasnt included in their talk as they thought I was engrossed in my paper.
I wasnt engrossed though! As I tried to read the articles I found my eyes drifting over the words without them sinking in. The world seemed a jumble and out of place as I found myself drifting back to the park. As hard as I tried to stay in the here and now I found myself back there wondering if what I had seen was real or some bizarre dream.
It was impossible that anyone could race up the side of a building the way Kate had. It was unworldly! The only way to settle my weary mind was to stay awake again. I had promised myself I wouldnt do it again. I through rest was the salvation I yearned but I knew now it wouldnt be enough.
Strangely enough the rest of the day at the office moved swiftly. I felt upbeat ever since I had decided what to do. I decided to focus on enjoying the last part of my day rather than dwell on trying to understand what sort of person I was becoming. If I dared to look too much at myself, I knew I would be disappointed. Everything had changed overnight. Yesterday, I felt she was betraying me and I had every right to track her and uncover her secret. Now I was not so sure? I wondered if my sneaking was actually betraying her. I found myself with more questions than answers. What was she and did even have a right to know? Was I safer not knowing? Was I safe at all?
*****
I didn't believe she was dangerous. However, what I had seen had caused me to question everything I believed. I found myself looking at people differently wondering if Kate was alone with her unique ability or if there were more like her. If she was special, what would she be doing with someone like me? There had to be more like her.
"Woah son, how did you pull her?" My dad had teased when I first introduced her to my parents.
On some level I had always wondered this too. Now the inadequate feeling was even greater! She out marvelled me in so many ordinary ways. She was exquisitely beautiful where as I was plain. She was smart and wise beyond her years.
"So how old are you?" My dad asked. He was interested to the point of embarrassment.
"It's rude to ask a lady her age!" My mum scorned my dad.
That was another thing that began to puzzle me, she had told me she was 26 years old but as I began to question whether she was even human, I began to question other things too. For example, does she even age the same way we do?
Now, I realised she didnt just out marvel me but all of mankind. What position did that place me? I felt uncontrollably insecure. It felt wrong to think about Kate like this but I couldn't help it.
Instinct - Chapter 3.1 (Leo) • Opuss № I