It was orange, green, red, and brown. Walking down a path with my girlfriend, arm around her shoulder, we chatted about the most random things.
It was a good day. It started when I got out of my bunk bed and jumped into the brown world. A mountain of stress crept in as the reality sunk in. I was stuck in my room. The noise outside terrified me and my roommates, soaked by water leaking through somewhere I had no idea.
Nervously waiting, I kept checking my phone. I wanted to live; I was sure this moment would pass. I'd soon be safe and asleep again. I didn't really know how. Looking at the phone again, still no notifications. "Shit," I thought, "I can't die here. I won't die here." Calculating my chances, I decided if I stay here, there's a higher possibility to stay alive, as someone might help. Going out there, someone might spot me, and that's an instant loss. So the best solution was to stay put and wait for help.
And somehow with my brain at full throttle, I decided it's no use waiting anymore; it's time to head out. I got up, started sweating even more, increasing my contribution to the already half-full pool we were drowning in, and headed towards the door when suddenly my phone vibrated.
Hesitating to check it, "I've already made the decision to go out!" I thought. "I'd hate changing that now." Ignoring the phone more determinedly, I walked across the room. I was going to get out now. I don't care if I die; I mean, I don't want to. But I'm not waiting anymore. I'm so done. I was going to get out of there no matter what when suddenly the water around us started to turn red from its previously muddy color.
I stopped. The water near the door got bloodier, the red spreading slowly. I couldn't move forward anymore, no matter how politely I asked myself. My feet just wouldn't move. My body started aching violently, and my vision started getting blurry. "What's even happening here?" I asked myself, dreading to come up with an answer. Looking at my phone out of habit, I read the notification.
"I have a book for you. Pick it up today."
What book? The message was from a close friend of mine. Rather a former close friend. I grew up with the guy and went to school with him. We did used to read a lot of books together. Is he recommending a book to me?
It wasn't weird for him to recommend a book, or it wouldn't be if we hadn't lost contact since a few years now. We used to read similar books growing up, so he did know the kind I liked. We had a similar sense of humour, and I was hoping it's a funny book, but why? Even more confused and even more sweaty, I touched the notification and dragged it down to reveal more messages.
"I have a book for you. Pick it up today."
"Open the door. We're here."
"Get unlimited SMS and data for 784 days with our new family..."
It was orange now. I was safe. I was outside a room. It was warm. I was in a building. I walked ahead and knocked on the door - the only one that existed there. Moments later, the cutest girl appeared with her sweetest smile and said, "I was waiting for you."
"I was waiting for you," I replied.
"But you just came here right?"
"Uh, yeah, I mean, I was waiting for you to open the door," I said awkwardly.
She ignored the awkwardness and just walked down the stairs that I didn't know existed a while ago. I followed her down and we walked out of the building.
The world was orange, green, red and brown. She was wearing a plain beige shirt and a blue bag on her back. We walked side by side, her head just barely above my shoulder. She smiled often, and we talked about our lives. I told her it's going good. I told her I missed her. She called me a liar jokingly like she always did and lightly pushed herself into me. I held her closer and we continued walking and reminiscing about the past. It was a good day.
The buildings around us were orange and beige, each with a parking space with a few motorcycles and cars. There was a smal park close by with a hint of yellow somewhere. As we continued walking, I saw a familiar face. I was shocked for a second.
"Hey!" I said as I recognised him.
"Oh, hey, man" he looked at me like he had no idea who I was.
"Hey, you said you were giving me a book?" I asked him, recalling his text earlier today.
"I don't know what you're talking about"
"What?" What? Didn't he say he was going to give me a book.
"You texted me today. The book. I'm here." I said. "Just give me the book."
"I don't know what you're talking about." He repeated.
"What was your text about then?"
"I'm sorry I don't know who you are. I gotta go." He said and started walking away.
I jumped like my heart did, and went and grabbed his collar.
"Hey, what the fuck?" I shouted at him. My head felt heavier and I coudn't breathe. He tried to push me away but I held on tighter. "You said you're giving me a book."
"I don't know who you are," he pushed me away successfully this time, shouting profanities while a random crowd gathered around us.
"It's me, I know you." I said in a low voice.
"We don't know you." A random girl in the crowd retorted.
What's happening? Is this some weird prank? I didn't really know what to think. I looked at my girlfriend.
She smiled at me. Her eyes betrayed an aura of sadness. I knew what was going to happen next, but I willed her to stay.
"I'm sorry," she said and left. None of my mental strength brought her back.
The random girl from the crowd came forward to assert once more, "we don't know who you are."
I made a finger gun and pointed at her, "I'm going to shoot you."
"That's not a real gun." You're not a real gun. Shut up!
"I'm shooting you," I said, mimicking gunshots. Her blank stare barely affected my demeanour
"It is not a real gun."
"I'm shooting you!" I screamed.
I woke up sweating profusely among my roommates lying face down in a pool of muddy brown water leaking from who knows where. The noise outside still deafening and inviting, I got out of the bunk bed and opened the door.
It was a good day. The outside was red.