Discovery

          I'm standing on Julianne's porch. It took me almost forever just to get here. My mom wouldn't let me leave my house without an explanation on where I was going. I told her I was going to take a walk-I left out a crucial part though: I never said I was taking a walk to my dead best friend's house. 

        I'm surprised I even made it, now I just have to find the strength to knock. It's Saturday though, are her parents even home? There isn't a car on the driveway but there might be one in the garage, I can't see though. Whatever, just knock already Alexander.

*Knock, knock*

D****t. I should have used the doorbell, it would have made this situation seem a little less awkward. 

           Before I can act on the doorbell, the front door swings open. Now I'm standing face to face with Mrs. Potters. She's holding an empty navy blue mug by her side and is wrapped in a tight white robe. Her thin brown hair is dripping wet as well which means she was just in the shower. Wow, good going Alexander. 

Her eyes brighten slightly when she notices it's me on her porch and not some reporter or something. Julianne's death made the news; our town became pretty important after that. 

"Oh, Alexander." She smiles weakly. 

       I shove my hands into my pockets. I feel some coins in there, maybe I can buy some candy at Roy's Convenience after I find my sweater. "Hi Mrs. Potters, long time no see," I speak up awkwardly after the thought. 

       "Yeah." Her dead eyes wander curiously behind me; she probably thinks this is a joke. When she doesn't see anything out of the question, her eyes roll back to me. "So Alexander, what brings you to my house today?" 

          I rub my fingers across the cool metal surface of one of the coins. "A while ago, I gave Julianne one of my favorite sweaters to borrow and I never got it back. So I was just wondering if I could go up into her room and see if I could find it? But only if you want me to of course," 

         Mrs. Potters immediately turns uncomfortable. I can tell she doesn't want me snooping around Julianne's room because she probably hasn't been in there herself since her death. Apparently the police had marked it off as part of the crime scene, but when they figured out the real cause of her death, they decided to discontinue sealing it off. That means most of her belongings haven't been touched, that also means I have a better chance of finding my sweater. 

"I guess so. I'm sure Julianne has more things other than just your sweater up in there. That girl just about loved your stuff." She laughs nervously, pulling the door open wider so that I can step inside. 

        I step into the house slowly and cautiously. Wow, this place got a whole lot more dirty than from when I was here before. Oh, and usually Mr. Potters would be sitting in his private library flipping through historical books around this time of day; and almost every day. That library used to be the messiest place in the house, everyone used it but it was his favorite place. Now it's so clean that I think I just saw a sparkle on the shiny wooden floor. Kinda weird that that's the only clean room in the entire house.

Come to think of it; where is Julianne's dad? He's always in there, so where is he now? 

          I walk towards the base of the stairs deciding to ignore my question. I can feel Mrs. Potters' eyes on my back. Maybe I shouldn't have come, I mean, it's only been two months, I shouldn't be invading their privacy so quickly. But I really want that sweater; or do I? Maybe I just really want to see Julianne's room again. It was where we used to spend most of our time together after all. 

"Your room is so relaxing." 

"Yeah, I know. I like my room to feel this way; it makes me feel safe." 

"Safe from what?" 

"Huh? Oh nothing, just um, safe." 

"I'll be down in a second." I say distractedly to her as I start climbing the steps. 

"I can bring up a bag for you to put all of your stuff in if you would like." She replies politely. 

        "Uh, it's fine. I'm sure it's not that much." I state unsurely as I take a few more steps up. Every step I take makes me more and more anxious. I'm actually going back into Julianne's room; the last place she was before she died.

By the time I know it, I'm at the top of the stairs. That felt like an honest eternity, but I made it, I made it into the hallway.

"Hurry up Alexander." I whisper to myself as I start to move my legs again. I feel as if I'm a puppet being controlled by a puppeteer, my movements are no longer my own. 

        I'm in front of her door now. It's closed and I have to open it, so why the hell can't I move my arm? I hear Mrs. Potters shuffling around downstairs. God, just go in already! I place my hand on the cold metal handle of the door, twist, and push it open as quickly as I can.

        I immediately smell her scent. God, I haven't smelled that in so long. I remember she always used to use so much lemon laundry soap on her clothes that she honestly started to reek of it. Some people said it made their noses itch, but I liked it; a lot. It made her unique and that was exactly what she needed after what had happened. 

I close the door about halfway behind me and just stand there looking around. It's exactly the same way it was before. Everything somehow looks the same. 

        "Just look for your sweater and get out." But where would she have even put my sweater? I think it would be smart to check her closet first. OK, well there's nothing in there. Maybe in her drawers; but do I want to rummage through her clothes? No, I'll just try and look thoroughly with my eyes instead. Hm, I don't see anything. I should look again. D****t, still nothing. 

         What about on her floor? I crouch down onto the dusty hardwood and search carefully through the pieces of clothing and items down there. Of course I come up empty handed. Where the hell would she have put this thing?  

        Hey, you didn't look underneath her bed. I glance towards it. As I bend down, I notice a medium sized shoe box placed near the far wall. The cover of the box isn't placed on it properly though; I think there's something underneath that's stopping it from going down all the way. 

        I reach my hand in as far as I can to grab hold of the box. When my fingers get a good grip around it, I pull it towards me. The cover tumbles off and I immediately notice my sweater stuffed inside. 

"Why the hell would you put my sweater in a box Julianne?" I ask softly to no-one in particular as I slowly lift  it out. 

What I see next surprises me. Underneath my sweater is a small collection of patterned and multicolored envelopes. Just by looking at them, I think there are about 19. 

Why are there 19 envelopes underneath her bed?

 

Reviews

[Philip Muls]

Discovery is a good title for this intriguing chapter. Well written with a nice flow and a classy style.

Strong main character Alexander (which happens to be the name of my son). I am sure he did not go back only for the sweater and she knew he would come...

I will come back for more. Could you read my story Catharsis when you have the time.