10| The Murphy's

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My sleep was disturbed with the unpleasant sound echoing of the tiny machine shaking on my study table. With a groan escaping my mouth, I let my hand scan the table for the machine, eyelids regardless shut. Eventually, I found the alarm and pressed the buzzer off, pulling a pillow over my head and dozing off again.

After a while, I felt something furry besides my feet and it was shifting, giving rise to a tingling sensation. Groaning in discomfort, I peeped open my eyes to see Eve sitting on my feet. He was bouncing up and down messing with the bedsheets.

Drowsily, I yanked the covers away and sat, running a hand over my messed up morning hair. I bent down and picked my phone, unlocking it. Meanwhile, Eve was making his own self comfortable on my lap and purring as if begging for my attention.

But all I was seeing was Bree's name. The name which prevailed in my previous night constantly. I needed an answer. Pressing back button, I went on quitting the chat conversation but that's when I saw the message. The same message I received from an unknown person last night. The profile picture was of nature with the deep blue sea casting the blurred appearance of the orange sun setting in the horizon. It made me even more difficult to recognize the person. I wasn't someone who reacts to unknown messages so I didn't acknowledge the message until now.

I wasn't planning on replying even now so I locked my phone and got up from my bed holding Eve.

"You wanna have a bath?" I ask Eve in a slight puppy tone.

He immediately started to wiggle to get out of my embrace so I let him down. Grabbing the opportunity, he ran out of the room. I understood, he wasn't the type of dog who loves baths. Sighing, I picked my towel and went to shower.

An hour later, here I was. Meditating peacefully trying to relax my mind as well as body. Meditating certainly helps to relax our inner soul. It was more than enough for me to make a final decision. I was struggling to find the right answer. However, my mind wasn't ready to face the world.

My train of thoughts was disturbed by the buzz of my phone. Thankfully, it was beside me so I let out a breath and picked it up. It was the call of the same unknown person.

I knew it because I remembered the last three digits, and they matched. I kept my phone aside, it rang for a few seconds and dozed off.

Taking a deep breath, I again continued meditating and the thoughts from where I left them behind.

-

Message sent!

I never realized one person who I knew since the last few months will affect me to this extent. I thought it was easy to close people off but some people did try to let the lock open.

The reply which Bree was expecting from me since yesterday won't make her pleased anymore but I was helpless, I wasn't ready to let people in yet.

I am sorry.

I felt the anxiety rising up in my chest, the anxiety for losing a friend. The only friend.

"Chloe, come downstairs." I quickly wiped the tear strains with the back of my palm and hurried downstairs.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Actually, we ran out of a few things, so I'm going out, you need anything?" He asks while tying the shoelace.

"No, I'm good. Actually, I'll also be going out for a run," I say.

"Okay, but make sure to be home on time," He says and walks out of the house.

I climb the stairs and pick my phone and headphones. Catching a glimpse of Eve sleeping on the couch, I tuck my loose hair strands behind my ears and slowly walk outside locking the door.

Halfway through the run, I was feeling drowsy, the sweat dripping down through my body and the increase in the pulsation of heart was constantly encouraging me to slow down my pace but the flashes of known images ruled again.

The slow beats of the music ceased echoing my ears and I could feel the vibrations in my hand. Halting, I catch my breath, inhaling enough air. I seize a glimpse of the caller ID.

It was the same unknown number.

This time, I decided to answer the call. I understood, this person won't stop until I receive the call. So I pressed the answer button and brought it to my ear, the palpitations still at a rapid pace.

"Hello," I answer and wait for the person to speak but all I heard was dead silence. Slowly, my breathing was going back to normal.

"Hello, who is this?" I say once again wanting to hear the person instead of the silence I was receiving right now.

"Chloe.., How are you? Ch-"

The normal pace of my breathing stepped even low when the familiar sound drowned in my mind, digging all those memories which were kept hidden for a long time. The droplets of tears unknowingly step their way through eyes, moisturising the skin and eventually blending with the sweat. The flashes never ceased moving in front of my eyes. As if they are happening now. Right now, in front of me.

Abruptly, I declined the call. The nightmares, the ones I was running away from indeed never left me.

The feeling was insufferable. It was suffocating.

Slowly, I pushed my legs to move forward but paused when I saw a drunken man passed by stumbling all the way carrying his over drunken self, mumbling incoherent words.

My gaze shifted to the left. That's when I saw the bar. I was standing exactly in front of the bar. I looked over the name.

The Murphy's

Unconsciously, my feet made their way to the building, I walked to the counter in a daze, drowsy condition while my mind was stuck in visiting my past self.

"Hey miss," I look at the figure, the smirk evident on his face. He was indeed the bartender of this bar seeing the outfit he was right now in.

"You need something?" He asks.

Do I need something...

Eventually, I caught my breath tearing apart the memories, I found my voice but it came out as a whisper. I was seconds away from breaking down into pieces. The pieces that had never been held together.

"Yes. A drink. I need a drink...A strong one." I answer.

He smirks leaving. After a while, he walks to me and passes me a few shots. I gazed at the shots, I still wasn't sure if I was making sense, I still wasn't sure if this was right. I still wasn't sure what was happening to me. I should have been at home. I should have been in my room in peace. I shouldn't have walked out of my house. I shouldn't have-

One..two...thre..three..f-four....

Picked up that call.

---

Your thoughts?

We already know who it was. Guess the nightmares are still not ready to leave Chloe yet.

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Thankyou.

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