Excerpt from piece titled Kalopsia Pt. 2

Nero walked home sluggishly from the park, the night air embracing him with each step he took. The sidewalk seemingly led into oblivion, just as his thoughts did with Lindsey. She was a beautiful girl, so full of potential, with a heart burning to love. And yet, there was a side of her that he would never be able to reach. A side of her as cold as the dark side of the moon, hidden from view from all of those who merely glanced at her. Yet, it was still there, residing in the darkness. He couldn’t fathom why she allowed herself to be hurt and broken and prodded, time and time again. More importantly he couldn’t understand why he let her get hurt. No, her life was not his business and he does not have the final say. But to sit there every Saturday night under the watchful eye of infinity overhead and hear her woes in life, only to see her elongate her pain.

He opened his phone, momentarily blinded by the brightness of the screen. He sent a quick text to a contact named Anne. It merely said the following:

“On my way home now. Had an interesting talk tonight, I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. Will pick you up in the morning, love you”.

He proofread it to ensure there weren’t any errors, and upon finding none, he hit send. He found his home before long and walked up the long driveway, leading to the front door. His house was a modest, two story suburban home. From the outside it was a cocoa shade of brown, with a white garage door. The shingles on the roof were all there, neatly laid side by side. The windows had a glossy shine, reflecting the starry night in the present moment with their shutters drawn. The lawn was neatly trimmed, with three bushes proudly fixed next to each other. A lone pine tree, isolated, was erected in the center of the front lawn.

Nero passed his car on the way to the door, and paused momentarily, staring at it fondly. It was enticing, the statuesque body painted a glossy black reflected Nero’s face back at him, dimly lit by the moonlight. The Audi logo proudly showcased itself on the front and back of the car, along with “A4” on the trunk. The windows were spotless, the wheels a beautiful shade of silver; their gleam untethered. He patted the hood lightly and made his way into the house. His parents were fast asleep upstairs, confirmed by the occasional snoring. Nero’s footsteps were clearly audible each time the sole of his shoe was acquainted with the hardwood flooring. He slowly removed his shoes and set them beside by the porcelain-painted wall. He then slowly made his way to the stairway, using various items of furniture as guidance. Upon ascending the stairwell, he finally made it to his bedroom, gently closing the door behind him. He removed the black blazer covering him, revealing a white shirt beneath without a tie, which he excised as well. He soon had successfully changed out of his daytime apparel and slipped into his silk pajamas.