Chapter 3- The Story of Ray

A Chapter by John

“On this abysmal day we mourn the loss of one
of our own. One who… impacted us all. With a care free
attitude and beaming personality, he made his friends
overjoyed.”
I looked down in apathy as the pastor continued his
speech about my friend. Just the other day we were
laughing together.
          “If one deserved to die, surly it would not
be this way. We pay respects today as one of God’s
children makes way into the almighty heaven above.” I
looked up at the dark sky as it began to sprinkle and
thought about him. Recalling what had happened.
          I was at home…well Lydia ’s home, doin
nothing she was out. The doorbell started to echo in
my ear as I lied on the carpet, it was my pal Ray. I
slowly got up and stared at the door. After a minute
of thought I walked over to the door.
“Hello?” said Ray.
“This is Socko’s, what ya need?”
“Stop it John! Open the door.”
“Hahaa… What’s up man?”
“Not to much, and yourself?”
“Same. How are ya? Haven’t talked to ya in ages…Come
inside” We walked and sat on the sofa
“I’m fine… How are you and Lydia ?”
“We’re good. How’s your love life?”
“It’s… I mean I…” He looked down in shame. “I tried to
ask some one…”
“Who?” I asked cutting him off.
“You know, women are really complex to understand.
Anyway, her name was Marcella. She… I swear…”
“What?”
“She is really starting to annoy me.”
“How so?” I enquired.
“Hmmm… Well…” He paused and looked down. “We are good
friends. We met about 3months ago, she has men
problems. You know how you were there for all of us…
many times before?”
“Yes”
“Well she has difficulties rejecting guys or… she has
issues acting normal when she finds out who likes her.
Well my friend Nate asked her out, but she said no,
but that is for another time. She also has huge
problems making choices too… You know how when you try
and warn a friend they shouldn’t go out with the
person because they are on and off again… and you were
right about that person?”
“Yes” I said
“Don’t worry, they only lasted a week. Then I told
her I liked her, and she normally freaks… but this
time she didn’t. So I gave her a few days to consider
my offer. A week went by and still nothing. I asked
her if she had an answer, and she told me to wait till
tomorrow… but never did.”
“That’s odd.”
“What’s more odd is she stopped greeting me and acted
like I wasn’t even there. So I confronted her about
it, and that didn’t go so well. See, her first
question threw me off… she asked… “Why didn’t you tell
me you liked me?” That just confused me…”
“What’d you say to that?”
“I told her that I was comfortable with her, and that
I didn’t want to regret not telling her. The whole
ignoring part happened to Nate as well. She also told
me she was moving.”
“Ok… Well, that doesn’t explain the lack of greeting.
Why’d she go and do that? Why the distance?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. It’s all because I
asked her out… In my opinion anyway.”
“Well at least you did it. It’s always to have done
it.”
“You know I’m not afraid of rejection.”
“Were you face to face?”
“Yes I was.”
I laughed, “No more middle man.”
“What middle man?” asked Ray.
“That f****n Ranen, Rahel.”
“Oh… that b*****d.” He said angrily. I laughed at Ray.
“You still hate him… that was years ago.”
“Well anyway, I figured she’d say no but I wanted her
to be honest on how she feels… you know, tell it to me
straightforward.”
“Well, don’t be like I was.”
“What do you mean?”
“With Anel.”
“With Anel…?”
“I never told her.” I sighed. “At least you don’t have
to ponder what might’ve happened if you told her…”
“Yea…I was the middle man…” said Ray. I laughed at him
and sighed.
“Ahhh! Evil!!!” he yelled.
“That was funny though.”
“You know to tell you the truth; she hurt me more as a
friend… than a person.”
“Why?”
“She ignored me for about a month. If you’re a friend,
then you should be even more honest to other friends”
“True”
“She kind of blew it out of proportion though.”
“Maybe she liked you and was afraid to get into a
relationship… ya know, didn’t wanna hurt you and all.”
“I don’t know… could very well be, but I heard from a
girl’s opinion…”
“I had that happen before.” I blurted out.
“That is true.”
“What’d you hear?”
“It doesn’t matter because all I wanted to be here
friend even after what she did to me. Like you, she is
an important friend.”
“You were the adult in that. AHAHA… I’ve always wanted
to say that.”
“Despite everything that had happened, I still tried
to act like everything was normal like we’d usually
do. I was the one trying to meet her half way… but
still, you know, I was like, damn girl, god I wanna
yell at you… badly. I didn’t though, but still, what
she said to me during the whole encounter. She told me
she didn’t know, when I asked her yes or no. That was
her reply, ‘I don’t know…’”
“I’ve had that happen too.”
“John, is it true? Is it true that not knowing the
answer to the question is worse than death?”
“It will drive you insane…”
“I know… there was… a void.”
“I couldn’t sleep at night sometimes and stay up
wondering how it could’ve been. I can sleep at night
with death. It is gonna happen, no way around it. Face
it, you’re gonna have to die. I didn’t have to hold my
tongue, I could have said something… never did
though.”
“Women, I swear are so complex, even though they say
they’re not.”
“Ah, I know all to well.”
“John, you know love is half life?”
“Like Carbon Dating?”
“What I mean is it doesn’t go away.”
“Or it’s half of life…”
“It turns into something else…”
“Carbon Dating.” I said reassuringly.
“HATE!” he said angrily.
“Not always hate. Apathy, anger, depression, hate,
amongst others. It can also make you paranoid and
insane. I got depressed and desperate.”
“Positive and negative.”
“Why?”
“Why I would feel that way I don’t know. I was going
through it almost alone. A few people… they were
getting me through in each passing day.”
“Why didn’t you call?!?” I said urgently.
“Call her?”
“No, me.”
“You… well… you were never around. They said you’ve
been in a hospital for months.”
“Oh…right. I forgot about all that. Man I hated that
place.”
“I helped her with every problem that she had. I
thought she would be nice about it, but wasn’t. When I
confronted her about it I couldn’t give her a proper
response to her questions. So like I said, it went
bad.”
“Poor Ray…”
“I went into hiding for two weeks avoiding everyone.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you my friend…”
“I hid from everyone because of her. What made me mad
was we were playing around I don’t know why, but she
smacked me with her hat. I was chasing her for revenge
because she hurt one of my ‘daughters’ so I tried to
get her back for it. The same time I was in hiding I
got a haircut. I’d always wear a jacket with the hood
up.”
“Ray the gangsta!” I laughed.
“I don’t know why I did those things, but it was
because of her. Everyone was concerned because I
wasn’t around. They all thought it was because of the
haircut, but it was secretly because of her. I didn’t
want to be near her for two weeks. After spending time
by myself that’s when I thought of the former. The
stuff…”
“I’m aware Ray.” I interrupted.
“I found my resolve… I wanted one last conversation
with her, which had already happened. John, I had a
ring… and I gave it to her.”
“What’d she do with it?”
“She still has it. What was special about the ring
was… I had gone to the friends we knew and asked if
they could bless the ring, which they did. I even
asked my parents to bless it, which they did too. Also
Becca.”
“I miss her.” said I.
“I also had Tanya bless it. I had a friend bless it,
but he did it in a special way… he kissed it. But then
again, everyone blessed it in their own special way.
It was weird and awkward for me because I’m the one
asking them to do it for me. Anyways, she… I had the
courage to go up to her and talk to her. She hates
excessively long talks. I grabbed her hand but she
pulled away thinking I might do something with it. I
was only gonna give her the ring. I told her why I was
giving it to her, she was moving… I was trying to make
up with her. I said all that and despite how you’ve
treated me… She felt bad for what she did. She, she
wanted a hug from me. Do you know what I said?”
“No?”
“Correct. I said instead of giving a hug… give me a
smile. She isn’t good at smiling by the way. She did
it regardless. Then Nate came up and said, ’If he
doesn’t want his hug, then I’ll take it.’ I said to
myself, ‘That b*****d.’ She said no, it’s his hug, she
wanted it for me. I said again to smile, it’s worth
more than ten of your hugs. So yea, I basically denied
her hugs.”
“Interesting…”
“I wanted to share this with you. Love can be
renewed.”
“True, but it will never be forgotten. When you love
someone there will always be a part in your heart
devoted to only that person.”
“But I’m not in love.”
“Never said you were.” I retorted.
“I asked another out a short time after. She is quiet,
she doesn’t talk much to anyone. I wrote her a letter
one day in which I wanted to ask her out because she
looked like and interesting person. I don’t remember
the rest. Her reply was not interested, because she
was with someone else. She said she’d like to be
friends though. I gave her the note before I left
work, meaning I left before she could read it. The
next day it was on my desk, the same paper. I replied
by saying I’d like to be friends as well. I guess from
there we became friends. We started hanging out more,
but for some odd reason I have to thank Marcella. She
helped me gain a new friend, one that I get along with
so easily. So I basically want to spend my last days
of work with her. To make up for time we could’ve been
spending. If only I knew… that’s my regret. She and I
talk a lot it seems, whatever.”
          “Ok. At least something came out of it,
right?”
“I guess, but back to denying the hug…”
“Continue.”
“Marcella finally started talking to me again. When
she and I went our separate ways for home, she was
still looking for that hug. I told her straight up
that a stranger is more honest, straightforward, and
decent than you are which is ironic because you are
supposed to be my friend. She admitted to that and
what not. I told her the same thing again, ‘Smile for
me because it is worth more than ten of your hugs.’ I
knew she wanted a hug… instead of doing what I asked
her to do. She did and began to walk in the other
direction. I walked away, but Goddamn it! Women can
make you feel so guilty. While she was walking away, I
ran back to her, grabbed her arms, turned her around
and hugged her. She replied, ‘yay! Hug!’ So I left for
my home. It seemed like we were on good terms…”
“But what?”
“Well, her and Nate had another fling. She was all
over him this time. She said it would never work
between us, but I didn’t care anymore… I just wanted
her friendship. Then the girl that I became friends
with…”
“What was her name?”
“Oh yea… I never told you. Her name is Monica. Well,
her boyfriend left her and she grew attached to me.
After a while we became an item… Marcella found out
and started flippin. She had Nate on his last nerve
and he beat her hard. She was hospitalized and
diagnosed with schizophrenia. Then one day I got in a
car accident. The person behind me was drunk and he
slammed into the back of my car causing it to slide in
the car next to me.”
“Did the guy you hit make it?”
“No, he died several hours later… The man was Nate. I
killed my friend… Marcella heard and she about died
they say. She’s been missing for a couple of days. I
feel a presence… like I’m being watched.”
“You’re probably still shaken up from Nate… Maybe
you’re feeling guilty and that’s causing this ghost.”
“Yea I suppose. Hey, well I’m to meet Monica in about
a half hour, so I’ll be seeing around. Call sometime…
and no more hospitals.” Ray laughed as he got up from
the sofa.
“You make it seem like I’m infatuated with them.” I
chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll call sometime.” He walked
out of the door.

A loud boom woke me from the trance I was in. How long
had I been dazed? I wondered. The pastor’s speech was
still going. It seemed to be hours since this began. I
looked around at the faces. Everybody was a wreck. A
sea of mourning, black clothed beings surrounded me.
The pastor was even in all black. The only white
visible was his traveled face, filled with deep
grooves overlapping his solemn expression. His lanky
hands closed the book he was reading from as he turned
his attention to the casket.
          “If anyone,” His shaky, barrel-chested voice
bellowed, “If anyone has a word to say then let it be
heard now!” Everyone one silent as his grave eyes
surveyed us all.
          “So be it! Lower the casket into the
ground…” he paused. He began to wobble slightly and
placed his hand upon his chest. “God…” he muttered as
his body plunged into the Earth. After the workers had
a chance to take in what happened, they leapt to
collect the body of the pastor. We all were in shock.
I was getting nervous; I’m not one for funerals, so I
left the grave and walked over to a hill area. The
rain felt good. It felt pure on my skin. I saw someone
make a slow walk up to the hill.
          “Who are you? I asked politely.”
          “My name is Marcella… I was…”
          “You’re the one who betrayed my friend. He
gives you his heart and you throw it away.”
          “Listen… there is something I have to tell
you… Please listen to me.”
          “What? You gonna tell me you loved him?”
          “Well I did love him. I still do.”
          “Sure.”
          “I sat inside a desperate illusion. Waiting
for an answer… but it never came to me. Ray didn’t
want me anymore and Nate just died. I had nothing
left. I grew… hostile and paranoid. Maybe some b***h
would think she could take Ray away.”
          “And if she did I’m sure he would’ve been
fine with it.” I said angrily.
          “Looking back my reasoning was stupid, but
at that time it comforted me. If I couldn’t have Ray,
then no one could. I always suspected him of flirting
with other women. He was cheating… I began to stalk
him. He was with this Monica girl the other day. I
followed them. He dropped her off and I had to do
something. While she was sleeping I sliced her head
off with an axe… I was in a blind rage. I was mad at
him for betraying me… He should have never betrayed
me.”
          “He betrayed you?” I interrupted, “You’re
the a*****e who broke him! He gave you trust and you
didn’t give two s***s! He moved on after you went back
to Nate. Doesn’t give you any right to stalk and kill
anyone!”
          “Last night… I went to his home and murdered
him…as I said, NO ONE COULD HAVE HIM! As he was dying
I stripped him and had my way with him. Pleased him to
his dying breath and then some.” She smiled as she
began to salivate. “It was sooo f*****g good.”
          “You sick F**K! He moves on and you F****N
KILL HIM? WHAT THE F**K IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU SICK
W***E! YOU STOLE MY FRIEND AND DESECRATED HIM!” My
hands beamed for her throat, I couldn’t control them
anymore. She murdered Ray! She deserved to be sent to
hell! I began to squeeze tighter as she slowly began
to fade.
          “Hahaha… You’re… no b…etter… than me. ” She
said through painful coughs. My hands lost the grip
and she took a short fall. My grip gone but the hatred
and anger ignited in my soul. She backed away from me.
Barely standing she said:
          “I loved him. I am happy that I get to see
him in heaven. We will finally be able to express our
love for each other with no other w***e to get between
us. We can be together the way we both wanted. I just
had to come so I could tell him goodbye and to wait
for me up there. This is just like a fairy tale. I had
to tell him sorry for over-reacting.”
          “Heaven? Marcella, when your soul… Do you
even have one? If you do, then when it leaves your
putrid body, it will go straight to the lowest level
of Hell. You will be Satan’s a*s toy. You sick W***E!
You conceited b***h! If you make it to Heaven, then
there is no God!” She reached from her back and pulled
out a knife.
          “Put that away Marcella!”
          “Sorry,” Her eyes glistened with bloodlust
and insanity. “one of us has to die today!” She thrust
the knife and it was all over. “Ray…” she said as she
fell in the dirt. The knife went through her jugular.
In irregular spasms the blood shot out to me until she
was dry.
          “Marcella… You piece of s**t!” I spat on her
body and walked away from her. One funeral and two
extra deaths. My friend is dead, his stalker knifed to
death… but I’m still here. The thought that really
pissed me off was her raping him until death, and
continuing afterward. That sick b***h! Stabs him and
rapes him into the afterlife. He deserved a more
glorious death than that. I walked over to his final
resting place, and spoke my last word while roaming in
this world. The rain began to pick up and now there
was lightning striking very close. Lydia came and
found me and we walked back to the car. I was mad…