Not Even Once

CHAPTER 1 PART 1: Misunderstanding

"Why is that so confused?"

"Because...it doesn't make any sense! You wouldn't get it..."

"But you are very beautiful."

A brief smile twitches on my face for a few seconds, until tiny tears begin streaming down my freckled cheeks and my face falls absent. I shake my head and break from the trance, then I spit at him and run off in a storm. "I wish somebody would just tell me the truth!" I shout with a pained, dry throat. "None of this makes sense..." I mutter with a rapidly decelerating sense of excitement. My breaths turn more and more pained as I repeatedly tap on the elevator call button. My lungs hoarsely breathe in stale, humid A/C while I clutch my chest. "I should never run...exercise is a trap." My eyes slowly become fixated on the numbers as they slowly crawl up to her floor.

The elevator doors slide apart and Siddiq says, "Lady first."

She glances at him worriedly and takes a step back. "How long have you been here?"

"Five seconds."

"Well, that's not that creepy." She nods to the side and steps into the small space with labored breaths. "God, I hate small rooms. Like this..."

"This not a room. It's a carriage...I think. Also, it's not creepy to need down to floor."

"I guess it is a carriage...anyway, it doesn't really matter. I think I get what you're saying." I look both ways and whisper, "I'm cursed."

"'Awh."

"What was that word?"

"No English."

"What does it mean?"

"I'm surprise. I've never know curse woman."

"Wait, am I 'Curse Woman?'"

"You no have curse?" He tilts his head with a confused look.

"I do. I've just never told anyone about it...except my mom, and you. Why did I tell you?" I facepalm and grimace. "I'm sorry. I have no idea how to—life. See? English isn't always easy. Neither is any of this."

"But you speak it so gently."

The doors open and I throw up my hands. "I just do what I'm told."

"Maybe that is not best way to—life." He giggles.

"Maybe not..." I step out and walk down through the lobby. I see my old friend (ex-friend) James sitting at a round table with just his new friend (not-friend) Aaliyah sitting beside him with her legs crossed as she averts her eyes from my gaze. I nod at them and force a smile before walking off briskly.

He chuckles and shakes his head, she says nothing, before they both go back to their conversation.

"Who is that?" asks Siddiq.

"Why are you still following me?"

"You know why."

"Oh yes, cuz I'm so damn interesting..."

"Where did you born?"

"I was born in LA."

"Where's that?"

"Wait, you don't know LA?"

"No know, no."

"Don't! Use 'don't' or else you're gonna drive me crazier than I already am."

"You're always punching yourself."

"Why are you being so judgmental?"

"I'm not, I'm just being real."

"Well then, you must have a distorted sense of reality."

"Now you're punching me."

"What are you? The narrator? Go away!" I stop and hold my arms out in front of me to block his approach.

He stands still and holds eyes with me. "You don't really want me to go."

"What makes you think that?"

"You are new here. I can tell."

"Okay, Einstein, can you tell I don't wanna talk to you?"

He snorts. "I know him."

"Good for you...look, I just wanna go home."

"And do what?"

"Die? Or the closest thing to it."

"You are much too gloom. It will kill you. Nuke bomb drop and you yawn while sipping cup of coffee on front porch."

I giggle and nod. "That does sound like a good way to go."

"Is that way you want to go?"

"Well, right now, I want to go home."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Right...see you tomorrow." He smiles and walks off toward the left.

I stare at him for a moment, then shrug before turning around and heading off right from the entrance of the building. "I need coffee..." I mutter while I rub my forehead with a worried look. "I might be getting a fever. Just what I need...corona? Hopefully. I deserve it..."