The Other Side Of Us: Trilogy

Part 1

I was walking down a dark road. I could not see anything. Only the gravel under my bare feet gave me the slightest hint of direction. I knew from experience that there are deep canals on either side of the road. I recalled the moment I woke up. I was so scared. It was so dark. So, black. The person next to me asked me what my name was. I could not remember my name. The person told me to lie down. He asked me if I had any family members. Then I remembered. I had none. I was alone. I heard a few more talking to each other. Then the one talking to me said that I was free to go. He gave me a stick. He said to be safe.

Many days passed. I took help from many. Finally, I reached this road. I continued to walk down this road, when the sound of the woodpeckers reminded me of the last time I was here. That day, unlike today, I wasn’t alone. I was accompanied by the one who wanted to accompany me my entire life. But that day was unfateful. Now she doesn’t want to talk to me. I tried to talk to her, but she never replies. They say she does not move. They say.......that she still looks as beautiful as ever. But many of them tell me to never come back to her. They say I am the reason why she is as she is. The events of that day distanced us forever. I cannot see her. I haven’t been able to......since that day.

I doubt I ever will.

Part 2

I opened my eyes. Only a sheet of whiteness was in front of me. A drop of sweat rolled into my eye. It burnt. But I could not do anything about it. Suddenly, few black dots emerged from the sheet of whiteness, one of seemingly rushing to me. When it came near to me, it materialized in the face of my mother, who wiped both of my eyes. My vision started to return slowly. I saw the other black dot take the shape of my father. My mother said something to my father as she started crying. I could not hear them. Their voices were muffled. I was at loss. I wanted to call them. I tried. I failed. I was afraid. Then out of nowhere, I could remember. I was with someone, holding hands, walking down a long road, talking about life. Our life. The sound of woodpeckers was still vivid in my memory. Then, by instinct, I felt the need to be with the one with whom I had decided to share my life. But I could not. All I could do was think about it. All I could do was think and wish.

I was forced to spend my life in this thinking box. Forced to be sad with no outlet for it. Then my prayers were accepted. He came. He was right in front of me. But he, not for once looked at me. Some of my family members around him were telling him something that I could not hear. Then he turned around to leave. I wanted to touch him. To let him know that I was here. To tell him to not leave me alone. But he left. He never came back. I wanted to tell him that I still loved him. I wanted to see him again

I doubt I ever will.

Part 3

I was driving quietly. Taking my daily load from the factory. I was driving down a new road. My usual one had constructions going on. But I was quite happy. I never knew that such a beautiful road existed in ou city. My windows were down letting the cool breeze in. I could see many birds and insects flying all around. I thought I could hear woodpeckers. I could see a couple of ways in front of me. The girl’s head was on the boy’s shoulder, walking down the road, holding hands.

Suddenly a bird flew into my truck and started fluttering around. I lost control and started turning the steering wheel to keep myself from falling into the deep canals that were on both sides of the roads. I thought this was it. That I was destined to die today. Then I felt a sudden thump. The bird flew away. My car had stopped and so had my ability to comprehend the situation. I got out of the car. The first thing that I realized was that I had hit them. But I did not see them anywhere. Then it clicked in me. I ran to the canals beside my dented car. And that’s where I found both of them. The girl’s body twisted at an absurd angle. The boy had face-planted in a bush. I hurriedly called 911. As I waited for the ambulance to arrive, I noticed the girl’s ring finger glinting in the afternoon sun. The medics arrived and told me to report to the nearest police station. I got into my car and started for the police station. I realized that I had destroyed a family even before it could grow. I wanted to apologize to them.

I doubt I ever will be able to.