Days Of Our Lives

It was seven in the morning. The sun was looking like a ruby studded in the sapphire sky. Air was filled with lethargy. Egrets were watching people going to their works, resting on a tree by the lake. Uncle Alan's dog was barking to call him out and take on a walk. Mr. Radley was off to his school. Mrs. Cooper, who was watering her plants, wished him as he passed by. A sparrow was sitting on the electric wires in front of Miller's house, as always.

Kyle Miller came down from his room, making tie knot. It was evident he was in hurry. He put on his shoes and grabs a piece of bread from the fridge. "Bye mum, I'm going to school." He sighed. His mother who was still in bed replied with a murmur. Kyle cocked his head and closed the gate.

"You need to get your own food, Alison!" he said while crumbling the bread. "You're old enough." The sparrow flew to Kyle's hand, tilted her head, and started eating the bread pieces. Alison grew up with Kyle after their mum died, leaving her nest with an egg in Miller's garden. Though it left the house after a certain age it would come daily to meet Kyle. Once finished eating, Alison again tilted its head as if saying thank you or goodbye and flew back. Kyle wished Mrs. Cooper who was still in her garden. She would stay there until everyone has left for their respective chores and then she'd start her tour to discuss important gossips.

Kyle brushed his hand over his hair as he realized he had forgotten to comb them and then debouched perfume from his bag and sprayed twice behind his ears. He was in the habit to forget combing his hair; never really loved his hair much. He looked around labors constructing Lance's family's house and avoiding the Greer family that was a part of extended family but was too friendly that even wishing 'good morning' to them would have cost him another ten minutes. After walking through the trail in front of Dawson's house, he finally reached the main road. He stood there, moving his head from one direction to another.

"You're late!" he cried to Francis who parked his bike around the corner.

"And you're out there. I told you I'll pick you from your house." Francis yelped.

"I like walking plus I didn't want to burden you," Kyle replied.

"Come on I love picking up." Francis rattled.

"Get a girlfriend dude!" Kyle joked.

Francis and Kyle, both seventeen, were high school seniors and friends since last year after Jeremy, Kyle's ex-best friend ditched him. Jeremy and Kyle were inseparable, in fact, once there was a rumor that they were a couple which was, of course, a hoax but Kyle considered it a reason for the drop of their amity.

Francis put on his helmet and started the bike. Kyle was sitting behind him; close enough to hear him but far enough not to start another rumor. Running his bike through the main road, Francis took a turn to the road leading to the city court. That way they could talk without the noises of other vehicles disturbing them as that road was usually less crowded and safe. Kyle asked if they had a sports period that day. Francis wasn't sure. "If we do then can we have a rematch of basketball?" Kyle asked. Francis agreed.

After parking the bike, Francis went to the tracks to run. "Sporto!" Kyle joked and went to the library where he was to meet Samantha. She was standing by the newspaper stand, reading the entertainment section. "So have you written anything Sam?" Kyle asked. She frowned and replied, "I couldn't. My silly sister needed my help to complete her project."

"Sibling?! I will never understand." Kyle commented. Sam said that was why he was lucky.

"So did you hear about Amanda? Her parents came to know about his relationship-" Sam smirked. "-ships."

"Which Amanda? Stone or Riley?" Kyle asked.

"Stone of course!" Sam replied.

"what's going on?" Augustine asked as she came out of the library.

"Nothing…….I was just telling him about Amanda," Sam told her.

"Oh which Amanda? Stone or Riley?" Augustine inquired. Kyle smiled and raised his eyebrows.

"Seriously August? You know Riley would never do that," Sam frowned.

"Aw shawty I was kidding," Augustine joked.

They went to their classroom. Kyle presented his play to the drama teacher. Sam and Augustine worked on their song while Francis started a fight due to his weird political beliefs, again. After a few more lectures, the school ended.

"You should try to contain your beliefs," Kyle advised. "You can't be so stiff."

Francis contradicted and replied, "I can. I am."

"You'll have a problem in the future dear," Kyle told him. "Please, at least try."

"I'm weird, even my parents think so," Francis told him.

"Well..…all great people are called weird before they prove themselves." Kyle sighed. "Except few are indeed weird." Francis smiled and said, "You are weirder."

"I know and I'm proud of it," Kyle replied and they both laughed.

Augustine took Samantha to the public library after school where they would finish their homework without getting disturbed by their siblings at home. "I think I'm nothing compared to these writers. Look….I mean look at Emma, she was freaking published at my age." Sam yelped. "What if I never got published?"

"No Sam! You're comparing yourself at age 17 to writers who are probably in their 50s and Emma?! She's not even a writer….All of her stories have the same plot. She doesn't have talent but you do." Augustine explained.

"Yeah maybe you're right," Sam said. "I love over-thinking."

"And that's why you need an over-understanding person," Augustine replied.

Francis dropped Kyle at his house.

Mrs. Cooper was taking a nap under the guava tree in her garden. Mr. Radley was still in school; checking exams. Uncle Alan, who was cleaning his car, asked Kyle about his day. "It was usual," he replied.

Kyle's mum was gone to her mother's house, leaving him a note on the refrigerator that she'd come the next day. So he went to his room and reposed on the floor. Then he jutted his hand and took a book that was hidden under the table. It read 'my epiphanies.' Kyle slowly turned every page; reading a few words from every page until he reached a blank one. He moved his hand in a free motion and then closed his eyes. With the other hand, he was tracing the pencil marks. He opened his eyes and observed what he had drawn and then he wrote 'daisies' and added leaves to the drawing.

While, at Francis's house, he was alone too. His mother was at work and his father was going to another city for a month. He was supposed to go to school to pick his sister in a couple of hours but till then he was free. Francis turned on the television and took off his shirt. He unfurled it on the sofa and sat over it. One of his hands was on remote surfing through channels and the other was over his chest. Slowly, it went down to his abdomen. Oxytocin rushed in as he drew on his body with his fingers. The winds went still and at that time, all Francis knew was himself and his fantasy. Soon guilt took over and Francis had to stop. He took a shower and then went to pick up his sister.

At Augustine's house, things were pretty normal except for her brother who was insisting on the idea that he saw someone, a boy to be precise, in their house. It might have been his protective brotherly attitude towards Augustine or clever spy brain. Their grandmother searched through the house but couldn't find anyone. It made a long dinner conversation that night.

On next day, Francis again went running on tracks while Kyle went to meet Sam but on his way, he ran into Carter. He gestured 'hello' but Carter didn't respond.

"What does think he is?!" Kyle yelped. Sam asked what has happened to him then.

"That Carter.…idk why he hates me," Kyle explained. "You should respect competition that inspires you…….maybe I'm weird."

"That you are but Carter is a jock. Don't stress about him." Sam told him.

As they were talking about their poems, Augustine came hurriedly to them and said, "I wanna talk to you people…..hmm….it's important."

Sam and Kyle sensed something was wrong by her looks. "My school diary went missing yesterday. Well I found it today but the front pages with all of my information are missing," she added. Thus they searched for it but when they couldn't find it, it was made under the knowledge of Miss Green. Though Augustine was a little worried about it she wasn't afraid. She used to handle creepy men hitting on her for ages but this time, it was pretty serious.

Kyle went home after school. That day surprising his father was there. He was relieved to see him alive but also angry for not calling for the last two months after leaving the house due to a fight.

"Did you even care about us? Do you have any idea how we survived last month? No! Because you are a selfish immature crap!" his mother screamed.

"Shut up! You're pathetic. I don't even like you." his father said.

"Then why on earth did you marry me? It was a mistake but you know the biggest mistake was to have a child. If you couldn't handle responsibilities then why did you ruin our lives?" his mother asked.

"Ruin? You're living a life of a queen! So is your son." his father yelped.

"My son? Did I bring him from my house? He's yours too!" his mother explained. "Queen? If I'm living life as a queen then I wish your mother and sister also live life like me."

Kyle couldn't stand more, so he left for his room. Alison was sitting in front of the balcony of his room. He smiled at its innocent face. Alison flew onto Kyle's shoulder as if saying 'it's going to be okay.' He opened 'my epiphanies' and started to draw freehandedly. Alison was looking at curiously. After finishing he observed it and wrote 'getaway' on the page. Then he pushed the book under the table. Alison flew out of the room.

Francis was alone again. He took his shit off and kept it on the sofa. His left hand was tracing every muscle of his body while his right hand was over his the neck.

The next day, Kyle was looking for germinating seeds for his biology practical in the school playground when he found a crumpled paper. He unfolded it and to his surprise, it was missing the front page from Augustine's diary except her photograph was missing. He hurried to return it to her but he found Miss Green on his way.

"Ma'am! I found this in the playground. Under the tree. In the grasses." He told her.

Miss Green took the paper from his hand and tore it into pieces. "Don't tell anyone about it especially Augustine. Do you suspect anyone?" she asked, throwing the pieces into the dustbin. Kyle denied it and walked to the playground again.

He didn't understand why she did so but he didn't question her.

"Kyle! Thank God you're here." Sam screamed as she saw him. Kyle asked her what the problem was.

"August found a letter in her bag. A creepy letter." She told him.

The letter read-

Dear Augustine,

I love you since the very first day I met you. I wanted to tell you this but I was afraid that it would upset you. I was scared, so I tried to get away from you failed every time. Whenever I would be down, you would be there somehow to help me. I heard you like bad boys, so I tried to be one. I joined their group but you know they talk bad about you. I cannot stand it and hence I left them. Hope you won't hate this weak side of me. I think there is a soul family. Like there is a group of souls who stays together in every birth. Just their relations change. I think you are my soul wife.

Love you.

Kyle wanted to tell her about the pages he found but as suggested by Miss Green, he kept quiet. Augustine although was grossed over the letter but was calm and as suggested she left her to reply to the proposal as a 'no' under the laburnum tree as directed in the letter.

Days went by. The graduation ceremony was held. Sam gave a speech and cleverly promoted her book to the school; a copy of which was kept at the school library with her autograph. Kyle's mum and dad were in the audience, watching their son perform a solo-play that he had prepared. Augustine kissed Carter after she won her special prize. They were kin of dating. Kyle asked her but she refused. "He's sweet. Maybe you're just a little over-protective about me." Augustine explained to Kyle. Although Carter and Kyle hated each other they promised to work on their friendship for Augustine.

"Are you going to miss me in college?" Kyle asked Francis.

"Not really. See I believe there is a group of souls who stays together in every birth. You are my soul brother." Francis told her.

Kyle got a kick in his teeth. "Sorry I guess my parents are leaving. Bye!" he said and left.

When he reached home, Kyle took off his tie and pushed it under the table. He then opened the last page of 'my epiphanies' and started to draw freehandedly. After observing the image, he wrote 'days of our life' under it.