Deceptive Bliss

Deceptive Bliss

  By Jesus Evies

  Copyright 2012 Jesus Evies

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  The dusk was coming. But it appeared as if it had already arrived. The gray clouds that covered the sky tarnished what had previously been a sunny day. The view of a guard from the height of a ten-story building probed the large street and surroundings. He was tall. And due to his challenging posture he resembled a top vigilant stature. His sharp ears scooped up every honk and hustle. His eyes, keen like an eagle, looked for any shifty move.

  As a dutiful servant he’d been on that since hours ago. And his patience finally paid off. He caught the figure of a young woman crossing the street. She was slender. Her look resembled a traditional lady though a certain tone of modern style shone out of her. An ivory one-piece dress featured her shape which it also matched perfectly her purple elegant shoes. She was in a hurry and disappeared from his eyes when she got into a park. Serene, the man kept his position and resumed his bleeper.

  The woman followed through a path flanked by light posts. Sideways, benches also nourished the way. At the last bench there was someone sitting. The long coat covered him largely.

  The woman approached. “Frank, is that you?”

  His head was down. And his eyes were hidden by the shade of a white hat akin to one of those mob gangsters’. His elbows were resting on each knee. And his hands were together while his fingers wiggled unceasingly.

  She placed herself in front of him. “Frank, it’s me.”

  He welcomed her showing a slight grin.

  “What did you leave the feast?”

  He didn’t answer. He just gazed at her for some seconds. Then, he looked away.

  “Frank, is there something wrong?”

  He ignored her.

  “Come on. Look at me!”

  He raised his eyes. They were brown like the dry leaves in autumn.

  “Days are vain.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You already know.” His voice sounded firmly.

  “I don’t know.”

  He frowned, “Yes, you do.”

  She baffled.

  “The problem is that you deny it.”

  “I don’t recognize you. I don’t know uh…” She sighed, “Tell me what’s got into you?”

  “Don’t patronize yourself.”

  “What are you really talking about?” At this moment her angst was notorious.

  “We are far from all familiar voices. Those ones we took in so proudly without thinking how meaningless they were.” He surveyed his surrounding. “You know, this place, even as dark and murky as it looked, is much more pure that the rotten spot we’ve been dwelling. So, please do me a favor, Melanie. Don’t hide your feelings.”

  She stood still. His words seemed to get to her. No moves accentuated in her facial skin, not even impetus reflexes slipped off, not until he uncovered a small gun hidden behind his hands.

  “What are you gonna do with that?” She went pale.

  He glared at her. “You’re afraid I’m using this on you, uh?”

  She tried to respond, but the words stuck in her throat.

  “Or… on me?” He chuckled.

  She pulled a face like a child being punished.

  “No need.” He said before letting off a puff. He got his eyes on her again. “We’ve been dead for so long. It’s just you don’t realize it.”

  She loved him too much. Hence, she tried to talk sense into him, “My god Frank, don’t talk like that. Anything that might be going wrong with you, we can fix it, together!”

  “You’re so wrong. When it started, we both embraced it… and kept it.” He pointed his own heart, “In here.”

  The nerves got her. And in an attempt to find refuge from the rising anxiety, she looked vainly toward the leafy trees that populated much of the park. But like searching for any oasis in a desert no shelter loomed. So she exploded.

  “What is this? A NIGHTMARE!”

  “This’s reality, Melanie.”

  She began gasping.

  “In dreams you can escape from it when you wake up. But in this form of life, you have to endure it.”

  “I don’t believe what you´re saying.”

  “It’s not a question of believing. You have to face the truth. The only truth that sucked us in.”

  His statements were hellishly sharp that her knees shivered and she collapsed, scraping her fine white stockings.

  The breeze tucked the park, he breathed in deeply as if he wanted to inhale the last drop of air. He even took pleasure in the stillness of the evening. So closing his eyes to catch the voiceless crack of the tree branches he found comfort, a certain relief from years of pretending. As for her, she got her hands on her laps. Her long red fingernails sank in the grass.

  He noticed her suffering. And though he was unable to solace her, his face mirrored certain sympathy.

  Slowly, he got on his feet. “My love, I’ve gotta do this.”

  Bewildered, she only gazed at what might be the farewell of her beloved companion.

  The determined husband hurried through the path in the direction of the avenue. She leaped up and followed him. Trying to keep his pace she tripped over. Her legs hurt. And a helpless feeling came over her. She rose her gaze and noticed how the blurred figure of his husband disappeared in the distance. Her heart started to beat less, which made most of her body unresponsive. The only thing that was still on was her thinking.

  A heavy fog arrived and scattered throughout. The sunset was looming on the horizon. Only a couple of rays were able to slide through the dense clouds. They encountered her face which was resting on the ground. The glimmer of light enhanced the blue color of her eyes for a while. But it was enough to wake up something in her. It stirred her reason. Then her mind got to a point where all her valuable things were supported by faint bases.

  Sunlight inchmeal faded away just like his husband. And on the spur of the moment a basic feeling revived. Her will and courage boosted considerably which she used harness on. Her steps hurried back through the same path that had led her into him. On her way she dropped a shoe, but she could care less since she needed to carry on. The sound of cars told her the vicinity of civilization, which at same time alerted her.

  Due to his husband’s state, a pair of thoughts inevitably crossed her head. She fought to toss them away. And eventually, she succeeded when she found him safe and sound on the edge of the sidewalk.

  She didn’t get to him immediately. She had just stopped few meters away. He was stood still, quiet, but his gun was at sight. Many people were around. And to her disbelief none of them seemed to notice his presence. Fearing he did terribly wrong, she opted not to move.

  “Frank, listen to me.” She was choosing her words carefully. “Turn around and face me.”

  He didn’t do as he was told.

  “I need you to look at me darling, please.”

  The last beam of light vanished. And the darkness bathed the sky. Nonetheless, the city exhibited its own lights. He glanced at his surrounding, jewelry stores, dress shops, and fancy restaurants showed shimmering regale, “What for?” He chuckled.

  She began to come near him. But before she was even close, his arm already raised, aimed at a hotel across the street.

  “GUN!” A male scream rumbled. And almost instantly a shot suppressed his voice.

  Panic gripped the street. She
rushed toward her husband who laid on the pavement. Tears uncontrollably ran down on her cheeks while she held his head. When her sobs became less, she begged him for an explanation. “Why did you do this?”

  “We lost it and now we’ve got it back.” Said Frank between gasps.

  She hugged him hard. And seconds later, in those tender arms that softly patted his forehead in summer days in the countryside, he died.

  A man touched her shoulder, “Ma’am please, step aside.” A badge shone on his belt.

  She stood up, and another man dressed in a black suit, led her toward a limousine. “Are you hurt?” He asked.

  Visibly broken, she shook her head.

  “You better wait inside.” The man said. Then he returned to the place the corpse of his master was laid.

  She took his advice and proceeded to get into the limo. But before jump in, she looked up, and saw the guard in a SWAT uniform. “There it is, the executioner of my beloved husband.” She whined.

  Once sat in a comfortable leather seat, she lowered her head, and noticed her white dress was stained all over with blood. In front, a T.V screen was reporting the news about an attempt of murder of a chancellor carried out by a respectable man in the surrounding area of central park.

  The man came back, sat behind the wheel, and turned on the engine. He looked through the rear view mirror, “I convinced them I myself should drive you to the police station. They’re careless. They don’t know the damage that could cause if the media spot you inside a patrol.”

  When they were leaving uptown, she glanced at various sumptuous facilities. Naturally, the pain, which had weakened momentarily, surfaced again.

  The driver caught her grief. “Don’t blame yourself. Nobody had ever imagined he would do something like that.”

  She put her head on the window glass.

  “Too sad it ended like this.” He sighed, notably affected, “If I had arrived a minute earlier, I would’ve stopped him.” He was teary-eyed. “I was terribly late.”

  “No. It was already too late.” She cleared her throat.

  The limo stopped at a traffic light. And before taking up the freeway he looked at her. Her countenance was different. The youthful appearance had turned into a wrinkled wasted aspect.

  “For him and me…” She met his eyes through the mirror, “Decades late.”