Category: Short Stories

“How am I going to get out of this situation?” she thought frantically.

Without moving her head, she scanned the room in front of her.  No exit signs and just as she feared she was going to have to walk past the man who had caused this sudden crescendo of emotions.

Standing up as quietly as she could she pivoted slowly about 180 degrees and with head held high and making sure she did not make eye contact with anyone she walked with dignified grace towards the door.

With relief she felt her hand curl around the cool white metal of the door. She pulled at it swiftly, the adrenalin racing through her blood as she realized escape was nearly within her grasp.  The door swung open and to her horror the bell tinkled.

“Helena, is that you?”

”Run,” her mind screamed, “Don’t turn your head! You’re nearly there!”

Her heart, however, longed to find out how he was. The conflict raged within her for what seemed like an eternity.

“Helena?”

A firm hand was placed on her shoulder and much to her horror she felt herself turn. She realized that all eyes in the little café were looking at her.  Conversations had stopped and onlookers were engrossed in what they sensed was a drama about to unfold.

Helena smiled, “Robert, What a surprise!”

The lie came easily. She needed to diffuse the situation and calmly allowed him to lead her to his table.  The ruse worked.  Realizing there was no imminent bust up or shouting match to watch the customers slowly returned to their murmured conversations.

His eyes twinkled as if amused at her discomfort.  He could see she felt nervous but why was she so awkward.  Helena had been happy enough this morning but she seemed strained.

“Not your usual neck of the woods is it?” he asked playfully.

Helena blushed.  How she hated herself at this very moment.  Why did she always find these things so difficult?  Robert seemed to glide through life without a care, charming his way through even the most adverse situation and it made her so envious.

“Please don’t ask me why I am here,” she thought feeling he heart pound waiting for this question to pass his lips.

He caressed her fingers gently and she started to relax.

“Perhaps, just perhaps she could pull this off!” she thought trying to slow her racing thoughts.

“How did it go then? The meeting? Did you get the contract?” her words ran into one another in her effort to take control of the situation.

He smiled, “Looks good to go!  They were really impressed with my pitch.”  Then with a slight frown he added, “Sorry I ran out so early this morning but nerves got the better of me and I needed some time to think before the presentation.”

Typical Robert, not that she needed an explanation.  She knew he would be nervous, he always was when pitching for new work and to be honest she had relied on him leaving early this morning so she could start to make plans.  How had she got the timings so wrong?  She knew he frequented this café but had expected to have been early enough to miss him.

With trepidation she asked, “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

His eyes lit up!” Is there an offer behind that question?” he joked.

Her heart lurched and she could feel herself weaken with desire but she knew she mustn’t succumb as everything would be undone.

“Sorry I shouldn’t tease, I know how uncomfortable it can make you,” he continued,” I am afraid I have to finish off at the office but won’t be too late.”

Taking this as a cue to end their conversation, Helena got up from the table. Leaning over she kissed him gently on the cheek and murmured, “See you tonight.”

She felt sad at her awkwardness with the man she adored and her touch though soft was filled with regret.

This time holding the ice cold metal purposefully and smiling as she heard the tinkle of the bell, Helena left the café with a deep sense of relief.

An hour later sat listening to the idle chit chat of Samantha her hairdresser, Helena smiled to herself. The mixture of blonde highlights and ash blonde roots really were hiding the grey that was threatening to take hold of her auburn hair.  She looked like a new woman, ready for the next chapter of her life.

Thrilled with her new look along with her special purchases she arrived home.  As she put her key in the lock the stillness enveloped her. The suitcases packed earlier this morning were still by the door and no Robert.

“Perfect,” she thought.

Everything was finally falling into place. The taxi arrived on the dot of five o’clock as planned and the Friday afternoon traffic seemed to dissipate conveniently allowing her to arrive at her destination ahead of time.

The foyer of the building was crammed full of people desperate to leave for the weekend.  She nodded at the security guard who tipped his hat in amused acknowledgement and made her way up the escalator to the second floor.

Down the corridor she tiptoed as quietly as her three inch heels would allow and giving her appearance a cursory glance in the glass door she flung it open with all her might.

Robert stood and stared at the vision in front of him.

She moved swiftly towards him carrying something in her hand that glinted in the light. The rest of the office had gone eerily silent and as she reached him she grasped his hand, knelt down and said “Robert will you marry me?”

Astonishment followed by delight passed across Robert’s face before he said “Yes.”

Helena had finally done it.  She had escaped the shackles that had stopped her showing Robert how much she loved him. She was free!

 

“Escape, well there’s an idea,” he thought.

Paul’s clammy hands tugged at his tie forming a knot around his neck.  Sweat dripped from his forehead, soaking his collar.

“Could he really do this?”he asked himself.

Thoughts flooded his mind. He tried to catch them. Why was he here? What had led to this?

There were no perceivable answers and yet the panic pervading his body intensified. His breath became more ragged and his heart felt like it wanted to leave his body at any minute.

“Perhaps it was his heart that needed to escape!” He dismissed that thought as quickly as it had entered his head.  Don’t be absurd! He could have laughed at the ridiculousness of that thought had his overcrowded mind not been so distracted.

He wanted to scream at the voice within, “Shut up it makes no sense to me!”

Looking round the room he saw no need for the immediate fear that had taken over his body. Trying to regain some kind of composure he started to focus on the outside world.  He walked towards the window.

As he peered out, the view of the beautiful rolling countryside was not lost on him especially the way in which the clouds were touched by the red ruby glow of the rising sun.

Still his breathing would not slow easily and his hand shook as he touched the ice cold glass. “It was winter,” he reassured himself, beginning to become more lucid.  Waking in such a state had shaken him, made him lose complete touch with the reality of the world around him and as he began to feel more grounded a little voice inside his head said, “You can do this!”

He sought sanctuary in the stillness of the room and yet he knew he needed to run, here was not where he wanted to be. He didn’t deserve this, his life appeared to be over, and he couldn’t seem to take back control.

Paul paced the room.  The feelings in his stomach caused his muscles to contract painfully.  He was conscious of them screaming to his agitated mind to relax but he couldn’t.

The cool neutral green walls of the room did little to still his mind. Paul touched the wall by the window.  Its solid form was comforting.  He soothed himself with the idea that this was not a dream; there was something concrete around him, even if it took the form of a box, a cage even.

With that another wave of heightened anxiety flooded his body. He was captive in this viredescent cell and he would never be able to leave.

He sat on the edge of the bed. The plain white single duvet provided a stark contrast to the colour of the walls. Apart from a single wardrobe and a utilitarian set of bedside drawers the room was pretty bare.  The floor, covered with what looked like shiny linoleum, glistened slightly in the morning light.

“At least the room was clean,” he thought. His terrified mind was calming again slightly.

Focussing on a spot of light on the floor he tried to slow his breathing.  He collected his thoughts enough to keep himself steady, still aware that his body was still in fight or flight mode.

Studying his well-groomed hands, Paul was sure he had worked in a well heeled environment. Even if he had wanted to look at himself, there was no mirror in the room. He gingerly touched his face. Stubble round his mouth and chin indicated he needed a shave but apart from this it felt normal.

“I may feel slightly alien inside but outwardly I am a regular human being,” he thought.

Could he remember anything about himself? He felt he had family.  His mind was foggy. Paul tried to recall where he lived, who his loved ones were.  Faces appeared in his mind’s eye.  There was a beautiful woman with golden hair and smiling eyes, a small boy giggling and finally a young girl playing on a swing.  He immediately knew them to be his family.  Where are they?

“I must try to find them,” he whispered quietly to himself.

Now the terror within was chained for a moment he opened the drawers of the bedside table. In it he found an overnight bag and some changes of clothes. Had he come here voluntarily?  This didn’t seem to explain why he was so fearful.

He strained to hear any sounds outside his room.  It was early; perhaps he was the only one awake. This could be his opportunity to disappear.  If he got out he could find a place to hide from everyone. He could go where no-one could find him and he felt sure he would feel better. Yes, he had to feel better than this.

Another wave of alarm overcame his body.  This was it; he was going to die surely!  He lay back against the pillow, closing his eyes as the surge of fear rose within him.  Was this all life held for him? Perhaps he didn’t want to live like this. He curled into a ball and hoped he would escape from these feelings.

A sound interrupted his terrified thoughts. The door opened and in walked a young man. Paul remained in a foetal position.

“Good morning Mr Hayes,” he said with a concerned smile, “How did you sleep last night?”

Paul turned to observe the new arrival.

“Not too well from the looks of you!” the young man continued not waiting for a response.

Paul sat up slowly. Gathering his thoughts the reality of his situation hit him like a ton of bricks.

“I think I slept ok but when I awoke I panicked.  I don’t want to feel like this anymore!” Paul responded quietly.

“It’s to be expected,” the young man explained, “This is a start of a long journey on the road to recovery. You need to rest and let us help you. Escaping from yourself is impossible