NYSSA
For the rest of the night, I couldn’t sleep. Kazmir who happened to be the sweetest man I knew, tried all his best to make me shut my eyes but I couldn’t. “You must go to bed and let me be, Kazmir,” at some point, I pleaded. “I’ll sleep when the feelin’ comes.”
My assurance did not come to life. I tried all I could to shut my eyes and nothin’ happened, which brought me to my feet and then out of the room in the dark. When I walked out, I turned around again and caught up with Kazmir’s side of the bed. He was asleep already, so I didn’t bother to wake ‘im but instead, took the bunch of keys and then headed to the art studio.
Even though that room scared me too much, it gave me peace I knew I have not had in a long while. I caught up with the door in moments and opened it with the key, walkin’ into the space and turnin’ on its light.
A mini-loud scream ran out of my mouth at the sight of the drawin’ I made on the board. It looked scary in a way, maybe not directly but them somehow. With a sigh of relief and my hand on my chest, I walked closer and tore off the sheet, throwin’ it in the nearest bin and then takin’ a seat on the chair.
Finally. Some peace.
What was that dream ’bout?
How did I have such a dream that looked so real? Since I came back from the hospital, I haven’t had a dream and the first one chooses to be this scary? Why? I heaved a sigh and was on my feet, headin’ to the safe spot in the space where the mysterious gift was hidden.
What if Kazmir was followin’ me from behind all these while? I wondered and in a rush, I turned around and he wasn’t there.
No one was there, and again turned back around to stare at the portrait, wonderin’ at the same time what I was supposed to do with it.
How long was it goin’ to be in this room without bein’ seen by Kazmir?
What would he say if he ever found this? I walked back to the safe spot, placin’ it back there before walkin’ to the door and then out of the room.
I had locked the door of the art studio when I caught sight of another door. My thoughts went back to the day Kazmir told me ’bout this particular room bein’ his office, and also how he didn’t want me goin’ close to it.
Why? I had asked and there was no exact reason behind his demands and instructions.
I wanted to walk back to the room, but somethin’ inside of me did not let me go. I stopped in my tracks, my gaze directed at the door.
After a while of thoughts, I was standin’ in front of the door and searchin’ the bunch of keys in my hand for the particular key meant for the door.
Don’t go, my instinct warned but I did not listen. Without hesitation, I walked into the space after openin’ the door, lookin’ around with a smile plastered on my countenance as I wondered what the reason behind Kazmir not showin’ me his office is.
Why doesn’t he want me to be here?
In my sight, it didn’t seem to me as an office even though it did in a way. I shut the door after takin’ the keys and began to walk around, admirin’ each artwork pasted on the walls of the space.
Just then, somethin’ caught my attention.
I looked to my left, a look on my countenance. What was that? I walked a little, stoppin’ in my tracks to turn on the largest bulb before continuin’ once more. It didn’t take long for me to catch up with the machine and I stopped thinkin’, centerin’ my attention on what was before me. What was that?
It wasn’t a machine. Or was it? It looked like a machine, but it wasn’t one.
It was a safe.
A secret safe with many vital informations inside of it, I was guessing, while my head did not stop thinkin’ and my hand for the first time reached for it, withdrawin’ it the next moment.
I gave a nod and looked around the room, sightin’ a torchlight before walkin’ back to my initial spot. “What’s inside of you, safe?” With a sarcastic tone, I raised the question. “What is your pin or code?” I wondered, voicin’ out my thoughts. “Tell me at this instant.” I wished, makin’ a guess and tryin’ my luck, but it wasn’t workin’ on the safe.
It was gettin’ late.
No, it was late but I have been out for too long and if care was not taken, the man I am married to will be here in no time.
The last thing I wanted was to be caught by Kazmir, especially if I would love to know what was in the safe. With these thoughts, I had another guess and tried my luck, but there was nothin’ like that and I gave up – in the meantime.
I walked to the door, clutchin’ the bunch of keys. My legs led me out of the room and I used its key on the door. In moments, I was standin’ at the door of the room I share with Kazmir, pushin’ it open and walkin’ in with a look of uncertainty plastered on my countenance, after which I caught up with the bed before layin’ on it.
“Hey?”
I faced ‘im. “Yes, Kazmir. Aren’t you sleepin’?” With a smile, I raised the question. “I thought I should take a walk before layin’ back to sleep. You know? Now I am dizzy and will like to sleep.” Before he could ask, I gave ‘im a million and one reason why I left the room in the first place. “You should go back to bed.” I didn’t forget to add when I was done talkin’, and also turnin’ around to face the other side of the bed.
For the rest of the hour, I still couldn’t sleep. At some point while I acted asleep, I felt Kazmir leave the room. I turned to check and he wasn’t there, so where was he? I lay back on my initial position, listenin’ to sounds and finally, the sound of the door. Where did he go? He walked to the drawer next to the bed, placin’ stuff that sounded like the clankin’ of keys in it.
The next mornin’, I was the first to come awake. But with a severe headache that forced me to stay back on the bed, not movin’ or makin’ an effort to. “Is everythin’ okay with you, babe?” Someone walked out of the bathroom. “Where were you last night? Do you want to tell me or not?” As he walked to the wardrobe, he threw this question. “And what did you dream ’bout that freaked you out so much?”
I recalled.
“I can’t recall-” I said rather. “It wasn’t a good one, though. I should recall before the end of the day. Are you goin’ to work?” Even though I had the answer to my question, I asked, watchin’ ‘im take a piece of shirt from the wardrobe where many of them were placed.
“Yes, darlin'” he turned and looked at me. “I made somethin’ for you to eat already. I’ll have mine and leave you to yours. It’s obvious you had a rough night, especially when you showed how restless you are.” With these words, he walked out after wearin’ a bottle of one of his perfumes – leavin’ me to think:
What if?
Just what if there was a camera in the office I walked into a few hours ago?