Unwanted guests
I stand there stuck in place waiting for everyone to leave. Until I am alone with silence, I decide to head back to my desk. I hear my phone go off, telling me that I had gotten a message. Unlocking my phone, I see that my mother, that I haven’t seen in years, had suddenly written to me. I sigh for the 20th time today, knowing what was coming. “Great, now this?”
Being so intrigued in my little world I didn’t notice the unfamiliar silhouette that was in my doorway. I hear someone clearing their throat, but I don’t think much of it and stay a bit longer in my world. They clear their throat again but they follow it with a knock. I look up and I see a young gentleman. The young man stands at about 6 feet, maybe a bit taller. Well-kept cinnamon brown hair but a little long from the top, combed and styled, but it still reaches his eyebrow. Dressed with a burnt orange turtle neck that hugs all the right places, black slacks adorned with a black belt and black dress shoes.
I speak up, “There is no other lecture for the day.” I say while looking at the watch on my wrist.
“I’m not here for your lecture professor.” He walks out of the door frame and closer into the lecture class.
“Then can I ask what you are doing here then, student?” I ask him a tad bit confused but annoyed for being bothered on my after-hours before I can head home.
He gives me a slight chuckle. I grow a little more irritated and impatient but I don’t say anything.
With his soft but raspy voice, a mixture of lemon and honey. A mixture that shouldn’t work but it oddly does.
“My apologies. I should have introduced myself earlier. My name is John Kim, I’m a professor. I teach philosophy on the other side of the building.” He says slowly coming closer with a smile on his face. He takes his hand out for me to shake. I stare at him and I look back down at his hand. He stands there for a few seconds and retracts his hand back to his pocket. Feeling a bit awkward that I didn’t accept his little greeting gesture.
He clears his throat and continues talking, “I came by to see if the rumor was true. Some of my students said that there was a new professor around my age that taught English in this building.”
I walk back to my desk collecting all my items, getting ready to leave. “okay so the rumor is true. Anything else?” I turned to him trying to find my keys that were somewhere in my bag. I look up at him, he looks taken back but he puts on a smile. “I wanted to ask if you wanted to be friends?” His smile somehow becomes bigger and his eyes start to shine like a kid in a candy store.
I stare at him with a blank expression. “I don’t do friends, sorry.” I look down at my watch and I let a curse under my breath. “If you’ll excuse me I have somewhere to be.” I walk out of the lecture hall and towards my car.
I drive off home. I finally get home after being stuck in traffic for 25 minutes. I open the door and I take off my heels, my caves being relieved that they don’t have to endure one more minute of hell. I turn on the light to my apartment and I leave my keys on the kitchen bar and head upstairs to my bedroom. Putting my bag and my coat on my bed, I go to my wardrobe to get my sleeping clothes that consist of an oversized t-shirt and some loose sweatpants. I leave them on my bed and I grab my towel and drag my feet to the bathroom to take a shower. Getting in the shower I stand there letting the waterfall from above. The water cleansing me from all the stress the day has crawled on my skin.
I stand there for some more time thinking about what John had asked me earlier. Friends? Why would he want to be friends? I shake the thought out of my head and I turn off the water. I jump out the shower and get ready for bed. I lay there within the cold sheets, forgetting about dinner, and forgetting about everything that happened today.
I wake up to the sound of raindrops hitting my window. Beauty at its finest. I get out of bed and I go to my bedroom window. I sit on the ledge and I gaze out to the world. I get out of a trance when I hear my phone chime. I walk across my room to the side of my bed where my phone sits. A text message from my mother appears, saying to go pick her up from the airport at noon. I look at the time on my phone, reading 10:30 am. I sigh knowing what is about to come. I haven’t seen my mother in 7 years. I am surprised she even found out where I live. I moved away from my city when I turned 21 and left the country and moved to Canada.
I grab some old boyfriend jeans from my wardrobe with a soft brown knit turtleneck. I wear my usual necklace but I tuck it inside my shirt. I grab my glasses from my desk downstairs, too lazy to put in my contacts. I tie my hair up in a messy bun, too tired to even make an effort with how it looks today. I grab my journal, a book, and some other necessities that are on my desk and I stuff them into my leather backpack. I look at the time on my watch, it reads 11:15 am. I grab a pair of vans that were shoved in the corner of the entrance and put them on.
Driving to the airport I head towards my favorite coffee shop. I go in and the smell of freshly baked bread and sweetness surrounds me. I look around to see if Sofie was in today but I remember that she doesn’t work Saturday mornings. I go in and order a mango green tea and a coffee. I headed out of the coffee shop once I received my order.
I arrive at the airport 5 minutes before 12. Dreading for this moment. I want to go home. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to see her. I got out of my car and headed to the terminal my mother was supposed to land in. I wait in the lobby for her. I look down at my watch reading 12:07 pm. Why does this have to go on longer than I want it to go?
“Autumn?” I hear a feminine voice call my middle name. I turn around to see the devil herself standing before me.
“Mother.”
