lifted the envelope to open it, I heard a distinct set of footsteps behind me. Pad-pad, pad-pad.
Jerking around, I saw no one. The street was empty, except for a few cars and a couple on the other side. Turning back around, I continued to the shop and lifted the package again. Pad-pad, pad-pad. I stopped. The padding ended. I stepped forward until I reached the point where the street hugged a curb. Pad-pad, pad-pad. Now my nerves were on end and I was beginning to panic, but when I turned around again, I saw no one. A car whizzed around the curb. I maintained my course with a careful ear to the sidewalk all the way to the shop. Who followed me? How come I didn’t see anyone? I began to doubt my own ears.
Inside the shop felt safe, warm. I didn’t usually feel cold in New York, having grown up there. But for some reason I felt cold walking to the shop, stinking more of fear really. But still, I’d never experienced something like that before.
“ Welcome to Sara’s Boutique. Could I help you find anything?” A short Asian lady asked and I nodded.
“ Yes, candles.”
“ For anything special?” Her raising brows expected a romantic evening.
“ For the memorial,” I said plainly as I walked behind her up to the candle section, a revolving mechanism in the corner of the shop.
“ I heard about that. Real sad. Did you know him well?”
I shrugged. “A bit.”
“ Let me know when you decide. I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”
“ Thanks.” I tilted my head at the gold-yellow candle. Smelled like cookies.
As she wrapped my candle in the bag, Sara looked only a few years older than me. “Here you go. My prayers are with him.”
I half-smiled, as if that meant something to me. I’m not sure if it did or not. I mean, I didn’t really know him, but he was my age and went to my school. I didn’t exactly see him fall, but I’d never get over that image of his body like a lump on the ground. And all this investigating, this package in my hands...I squeezed again...had to do with him. I was connected to him whether I wanted to be or not.
As I raced down the sidewalk, the air felt tighter as the afternoon slipped into evening. I just wanted to make it to the park across the street. When traffic eased, I made my move, and my coat brushed back and forth across my body. An empty park bench looked perfect. I wiggled in my coat until I got comfortable, curled my right leg under the other, and placed the candle bag to my left before I lifted the package.
As I ripped the envelope open, an iPhone slid into my hands. I furrowed my brows and studied the screen, surfing the messages. Mom. Dad. (God, his parents must have dreaded that news the day he died!). Clark. Mom. There wasn’t really much. I listened to the messages one by one carefully.
“ Beep...Tommy, please don’t be late today. We have to talk. We’re worried about you.”
“ Beep...This is Dad. Looking forward to seeing you, son.”
“ Beep...Hey man, sorry about the other day. I didn’t mean to hit you. You know my temper. Anyway, see you tomorrow.”
“ Beep...Love you. Have a good day.”
So his mom knew something was wrong, enough so that she wanted to sit him down for a talk. And Clark, God...how many did he bully around here anyway?
When I scrolled the apps, a flash flickered on the recorder button and I swiped it. Suddenly, a scene from an alleyway somewhere opened and I watched, my face pressing closer and closer. An unknown man scrambled down the alley, turning the corner. The look on his face was one of terror. This was followed by a flash of light so bright it could have blinded anyone there in person, and then a set of magnificently carved wings appeared. Feathered black wings swooshing up and down like heaven itself. They swirled toward the corner and vanished around the bend. I blinked, keeping my eyes shut for seconds before opening them again. Replaying the recorded scene, I watched again and again until I lost myself in
Jerking around, I saw no one. The street was empty, except for a few cars and a couple on the other side. Turning back around, I continued to the shop and lifted the package again. Pad-pad, pad-pad. I stopped. The padding ended. I stepped forward until I reached the point where the street hugged a curb. Pad-pad, pad-pad. Now my nerves were on end and I was beginning to panic, but when I turned around again, I saw no one. A car whizzed around the curb. I maintained my course with a careful ear to the sidewalk all the way to the shop. Who followed me? How come I didn’t see anyone? I began to doubt my own ears.
Inside the shop felt safe, warm. I didn’t usually feel cold in New York, having grown up there. But for some reason I felt cold walking to the shop, stinking more of fear really. But still, I’d never experienced something like that before.
“ Welcome to Sara’s Boutique. Could I help you find anything?” A short Asian lady asked and I nodded.
“ Yes, candles.”
“ For anything special?” Her raising brows expected a romantic evening.
“ For the memorial,” I said plainly as I walked behind her up to the candle section, a revolving mechanism in the corner of the shop.
“ I heard about that. Real sad. Did you know him well?”
I shrugged. “A bit.”
“ Let me know when you decide. I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”
“ Thanks.” I tilted my head at the gold-yellow candle. Smelled like cookies.
As she wrapped my candle in the bag, Sara looked only a few years older than me. “Here you go. My prayers are with him.”
I half-smiled, as if that meant something to me. I’m not sure if it did or not. I mean, I didn’t really know him, but he was my age and went to my school. I didn’t exactly see him fall, but I’d never get over that image of his body like a lump on the ground. And all this investigating, this package in my hands...I squeezed again...had to do with him. I was connected to him whether I wanted to be or not.
As I raced down the sidewalk, the air felt tighter as the afternoon slipped into evening. I just wanted to make it to the park across the street. When traffic eased, I made my move, and my coat brushed back and forth across my body. An empty park bench looked perfect. I wiggled in my coat until I got comfortable, curled my right leg under the other, and placed the candle bag to my left before I lifted the package.
As I ripped the envelope open, an iPhone slid into my hands. I furrowed my brows and studied the screen, surfing the messages. Mom. Dad. (God, his parents must have dreaded that news the day he died!). Clark. Mom. There wasn’t really much. I listened to the messages one by one carefully.
“ Beep...Tommy, please don’t be late today. We have to talk. We’re worried about you.”
“ Beep...This is Dad. Looking forward to seeing you, son.”
“ Beep...Hey man, sorry about the other day. I didn’t mean to hit you. You know my temper. Anyway, see you tomorrow.”
“ Beep...Love you. Have a good day.”
So his mom knew something was wrong, enough so that she wanted to sit him down for a talk. And Clark, God...how many did he bully around here anyway?
When I scrolled the apps, a flash flickered on the recorder button and I swiped it. Suddenly, a scene from an alleyway somewhere opened and I watched, my face pressing closer and closer. An unknown man scrambled down the alley, turning the corner. The look on his face was one of terror. This was followed by a flash of light so bright it could have blinded anyone there in person, and then a set of magnificently carved wings appeared. Feathered black wings swooshing up and down like heaven itself. They swirled toward the corner and vanished around the bend. I blinked, keeping my eyes shut for seconds before opening them again. Replaying the recorded scene, I watched again and again until I lost myself in
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