Midnight

It was 12 am midnight. My friends and I planned for a night walk at the beach for some time to unwind and relax ourselves. It was clear black sky with beautiful moonlight and stars shining bright. Including me we were five people altogether and were having a good time. We heard a sudden commotion from the waves, we thought it might be common as it was the period of high tide and it was midnight. It was a pleasant weather with a bit of cool breeze providing us peace and serenity. We saw a lonely girl lighting a fire across the seashore. It was odd because usually at midnight the beach was supposed to be lonely and it was odd time even for us to be there.

We decided to help her as we thought she might need something. We went close to her and saw that she was weeping. I was sure that she was a little girl maybe three to four years younger than us who is probably lost. We asked her politely that whether she needs help and that we can provide..I told her we can call her parents or the police to take that girl to her parents or something like that. It was weird because she refused our offer for help. She rather requested us sit with her and give her company along with the dying fire. "Oh poor girl she must be scared to go with anyone and probably wants to warm herself in the fire and have us as her company". This thought was going through my head.

One of my friends offered her a candy bar but it was weird that she refused to have that. Maybe her parents have taught her well not to accept anything from strangers as a kid. I was surprised she was rather having a cup of ice cream, it was weird because it was not past an hour from midnight 12 am and the weather was too cold for ice cream. I asked her "why are you having a cup of ice cream in this odd time". Her reply was more weird and strange. She said "I don't feel anything..warm or cold when I eat , so it doesn't matter". I thought she was just fooling around as she was just a kid. It was 2 am now and one of the beach staff in his night duties was cleaning the beach. Me and my friends were having hot coffee which we had brought from home in a flask just in case the weather took drastic changes.

The cleaner took our cups. I told to take that girl's empty cup as well. The cleaner said "sir there are only five cups including yours, please excuse me now". I took a deep breath but then I thought maybe he overlooked because he seemed to be very old person maybe around mid 70s or like that. I asked that girl "aren't you worrying about going home ? You must go back to your parents. They must be worried". The girl replied with a shrinking voice "my parents are not there anymore...they died in this beach years ago at midnight when it was high tide and they were near the rocks..I am alone and this beach is my home". I felt terrible for her.

One of my friends from my right side pulled my ear and whispered "we came today at the beach exactly at the time when her parents died". I was so sure that it was his classic lame jokes to mess with people at the wrong time. It was now 3 am. We decided to go home but still offered that girl to help for the last time as she was not accepting our assistance. I suddenly saw the waves of the beach were becoming more vigorous and fast along with chilly winds. I was now worried and wanted that girl to take to my home and help her stay for the night.

She said that "You cannot take me home ..I think you forgot what I said earlier..in this cold I was having a cup of ice cream in this cold weather and it did me nothing because I don't feel anything , because I have no hunger , no pain , no happiness , no feelings ..I was just giving company to you guys". I must be honest i was scared now. She was being really strange. She continued "I said my parents died here during high tide at midnight near the rocks what makes you think that i was sitting and watching my parents die...I screamed for help ..I ran against the wave and tried to help them, I had no one except my mom and dad , but eventually I was thrashed by the force of the wave to a big rock and I was bleeding , I became senseless in no time, eventually my body was buried near the east countryside graveyard. I died with them too".

It was at that moment when she looked into my eyes and I almost decided to run away from her. I saw nobody on that beach except for me and that weeping girl. All my friends disappeared and there were actually 2 cups lying in the beach corner. One was mine coffee cup and the other was her ice cream cup.