The Familiar Soul

When I was seven years old, my grandmother died because of an unknown disease. I was one of the nearest in my grandma's heart. When she was still alive, she loved to read books and sing lullabies for me whenever I was going to sleep.

Yesterday was my 18th birthday and the party went well. It was 11 years ago when my grandma died and I remembered grandma's care that led me to cry in my room but my crying moments stopped when I started to feel I am not alone in my room. I could feel someone else in my room, something unfamiliar.

An unfamiliar noise broke the silence in my room because I heard something fall into the ground and I hurriedly checked what was wrong then I saw my picture with my grandma into the ground. I picked it up and cleaned the broken pieces of the frame.

But then I heard some unfamiliar noise again but this time it was from my bathroom. I was afraid because I was alone in the house that time. My parents were at work and I had to wait until the next day for them. I calmed myself and slowly went to the bathroom.

Opening the door of the bathroom slowly...

The following event left me in a shock and left me standing because the person inside the bathroom was the person I missed for 11 years...

I choked and murmured...

Gggrrrandma?! 

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Linger

Nothing can be heard. Nothing except for Luna's labored breathing. She is brisk walking and she knows her neck might snap from the moment to moment of looking sideways just to see if someone might be watching her. It is rather unethical and illegal for someone like her to scamper in a bright day in which everyone is expected to be in their deepest slumber. She doesn't care about her violations but any witness might spot her lawlessness.


Ten more steps and she is at her destination—her haven. It was nothing compared to the big houses in their town with their big windows and cascading curtains or the spectacular chandeliers. Instead, it was just a tiny shack already crumbling to ruins set in the brightest forest many miles from the town. With a last look back, she slowly pulled the unaligned door and tiptoed inside. She was not scared of the light; she came to love it when she started visiting the shack.

She loves staring at the beautiful pictures hanging on the wall. She never knew that they were called paintings until she came across that word in one of her readings. Though as much as she loves them, she could not find the courage to feel their texture because all of the expressions they wear were unfamiliar to her and were inexistent in their town. It was the look with a sparkle in their eyes and the slight upturn in their lips—it was as if they were seeing something so great, so magical in front of them. She always tried copying their looks on her mirror but whenever she feels the moment, it always caused her great pain.


She would spend all the 12 sleeping hours staring at the paintings then she would go home for the night and witness the town go back to life. It was the usual night for them to roam, be around and be gloomy—visit the dead, hear about pleasant nightmares and watch typical movies like Saw, Wrong Turn, The Conjuring and many more. All the things done in the town must align with the word gloominess. She does not know why but it was like that ever since she could remember. It is all too dark, too lamenting and too serious that pushed her to roam to the light and discover the shack in serendipity. Tonight was no ordinary—another happiness-seeker has been caught and they were going to watch banishing from the town.


She could be the one who was sitting there, she thought, sitting at that lonesome chair but she guessed her time has not yet come and she must be one of the million eyes peering at that show tonight.


No one must know, not even the elders or the cameras around the vicinity. No one must know about the burning desire in her, not with that impeccable wooden chair and all those curious eyes boring on her. If someone will get a whiff of her uncontrollable dream, about her secretive visits to the shack, she would soon sit on that chair, which she was not yet ready for. So slowly, she just stared at that dark-haired kid who stared steadily at her, too. She quite knows him. They told her the kid's mother died when she gave birth to him. Manacled on the chair, he had a rag for a dress and nothing more yet he kept still and looked very serene. He has sinned according to their law. He had sinned by looking for happiness.


Their greatest elder came forward in her usual attire—an emerald silk dress that snugged her fats too tightly making her seem ready to burst at any moment. Well, no one except herself, she guessed, thinks that way about the old woman or maybe that kid thinks the same way, too. She poured a concoction into a cup and with brisk face and speed, she managed to open the kid's mouth and pour in the liquid.


Not a tiny sound escaped from the crowd. Not even Luna made a sound. The other elders stood from their chairs and started to leave when the kid on the chair slowly vanished, like wisp of smoke he slowly floated away. She could feel the relief of the people around her. She knew what they were thinking, and it would be, ''At last! Another happiness contaminated person has left the area.'' It was what they were tought to think.


She stood there in the silence while everyone left to resume the events of the night. She stood there and with great pain, she visited a special friend's house—his family's mansion. She felt so empty entering the bleak mahogany door, then she stared at the food mounted on the dining table and yet, there was no desire for her to sit and devour the prepared supper. She closed her eyes and felt the burning of the hot liquid form her eyes, ''Why? Why couldn't we cry for the banished? Why are we not allowed to cry nor even smile?'' She kept on screaming in the back of her mind.


Muttering the same words she walked bitterly upstairs to his friend's room, she could not control her tears for they kept on flowing. Just midway on the staircase, she saw his father coldly staring at her, just staring at her and nothing more. Luna knows he saw her tears and he did what was needed to be done. Luna was next on that chair.


What an irony! Just minutes ago she was one of those spectators. She, too, like the kid just a moment ago, was manacled in the impeccable chair. She, too, was wearing ragged cloth as pants and nothing for her upper body. It was unbearably cold. She can feel their eyes on her; She can feel their loathing and torching desire to see her vanish. The next events were like a deja vu—the greatest elder with gut wrenching dress and that concoction creeping into her mouth. It did not taste like anything but she felt its coldness flowing into the deepest part of her. She sees herself, she sees herself being blown into the wind. It was her turn.


She woke up with the sound she never heard of. They were human sounds but very macabre to her. She opened her eyes and gently rose, she feels amazingly light and energetic. The place was flooded with sunlight. There were so many people around. People in their bright clothes, which seemed to be a swarm of different colors. They are all wearing the expressions she haы only seen on the paintings. It was awkward staring at their faces with their open mouths emitting the sounds she kept on hearing—the sounds that make her feel light and heavenly. She stood there with shock. She just froze.


Amidst the flood of people, she can see the kid from the night before approaching her. The kid looked different. He was wearing a shirt with the color like the brightness of the sun and wearing open-toed sandals and he... he was smiling at her. He looked purely heavenly and said, ''come, join us'' with that, he pulled her hand and they started to jog then the pace started and they were running.


They ran so fast. Amazingly, the flood of sunlight grew more intense and the smell of lemon filled the place so they kept on running. The wind was against her face and she felt her lips curve with ease and make the smile she always wanted. ''Am I smiling? Am I smiling?! I cannot believe it!'' She halted forcefully. The dusted rose around her and lingered but she kept on smiling like she feared that it would soon fade away. The kid froze too but he still held her hand and saw her trying to plaster her smile on her lip. With lips apart and eyes sparkling, the kid was producing that pleasant sound, the sound she cannot define nor give a name to. She just uttered, ''You are... you are.'' He intervened immediately and said, ''I am laughing, I am laughing because I am happy that you are learning to be happy.'' Like a toddler, Luna repeated his words, ''laughing, and laughing'' as she held the kid's hand tightly and looked at his sparkling eyes. She felt her heartbeat drum very fast and loudly as she held his gaze and with a smile she repeated, ''laughing because I am happy.'' It is like a bursting of hypnotizing emotions in her chest, she couldn't help it. She kept on smiling and half-laughing as she looked into the swirl of the mesmerizing twirl and shine of the kid's dark brown eyes.


Her happiness was born. Her happiness now lingers.

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The Bone

The story I will tell is based on a fact very commented in a city next to mine, the names that will be used are fictitious to preserve the identity of the protagonist of the story; photos will also not be used.

An old woman called Joanne, a widow, retired, around 60, was interested in moving home because her old house brought him unhappy memories from the recent loss of her husband, her sons are adults and live in another city, and continued alone and had to face a depression after the loss.


Joanne for help to move out and finally found a house not very large but larger than the old house she lived and comfortable, with garden, large windows and well ventilated. The price of the house also impressed her, cheaper than she imagined and she did not hesitate to acquire the property.

The house was very good, Joanne was adjusting very well, but she did not feel comfortable because the house is a bit away from the neighborhood. In order to do not feel alone, Joanne began to take care of a dog. A few months later, at the beginning of November, something unexpected happened. Her dog was barking very loud in the garden, Joanne went to see the dog is barking motive.

The dog found a big bone, Joanne noticed that the bone was big to be from an animal and been scared, she throws the bone in the trash. On the following day on waking, the bone was beside her bed. Terrified, Joanne decided to bury the bone in the backyard of his home. At nightfall, Joanne saw in her garden more bones in a large amount. Very similar to the previous one, but of different sizes.

Not knowing what to do, Joanne moved to a retirement home, talking to her new companions Joanne heard that the house had been built upon an old cemetery and that all the ancient inhabitants of the house had the same problem, bones always reappeared at the eve of day of the dead (Second day of November, here in my country) and only disappearing when candles were lit inside the house.

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Strange Encounter

We carbon based life forms or better known as humans often think we are most intelligent, smart and epitome of evolution. We are the only species capable of stirring the earth.

But we live in a small planet in comparison to our grand solar system and have you ever thought there are so many other galaxies in this oblivion. Most of all we don't even discovered all the mysterious of out beloved planet yet. It's no wonder most of people believe it and this boy was no exception.

One day when Billy was returning home late from his soccer practice as usual, he does on every Tuesday.

He felt something is different in the atmosphere. The path he took today is rather short and passes in between the woods. Indeed the woods are lovely but that day it seemed everything became silent.

The chirping of crickets, the liveliness of trees all were missing. Something is off he thought casually as he was having a hard time not to trip in the dark from all those twigs and stuffs scattered on the ground.

When he was almost close to his house he heard something. A sharp noise was invading his eardrums. Something like beeeeeeeeeeep. He followed the noise for its source and stopped in front of a small ditch.

Then he saw it the whole water body had an pink aura which was emerging from a strange think. It looked like was made of glass, apparently if you put a large glass bowl upside down the thing was exactly same, the only difference was the size. There was movement coming from that large object, it was pumping very faintly but it was, just like a human heart.

As he was about to proceed further when a shocking sensation went through his body, the result made him immobile. After some time a creature started to getting out of the glass looking ship. First it took out one of its slimy tentacles then the whole body covered in some sort of sticky liquid. It then glided towards his direction and stopped one feet away.

Then the next actions of the creature were most astonishing. The creature was running all its tentacles all over him and occasionally pressing a certain part of fingers and palms of Billy.

And Billy to say he was dumbfounded would be an understatement. Abruptly the creature ceased all its movements. Before Billy could think what its nest actions would be the creature said,"Greetings Billy."

"Greetings to Billy."

The sound was ringing in his ear like an alarm. It had an quaint edge into it, clear but sharp at the same time. He had never heard such sound in his short span of life. Wondering if this is a dream Billy rubbed his eyes, pinched his arm.

Next when he opened his eyes again, excepting to find him in his room or even in his way back to home he gasped. The creature was indeed real. As much real as he is, if not more.

Sensing his confusion the strange creature spoke again, this time with an ear to ear grin.
"I expected such reaction from you. It's normal to be surprised if you encountered an alien. That's the term your species use for us. But I would be glad if you refer me as Ang."

The creature or Ang extended a tentacle which changed its shape in some sort of hand. Blank Billy stood there like an idiot and then assuming the creature's motives he took his hand out of his jeans pockets. Their skin touched in a handshake and for some reason Billy's fear was evaporating.

"You must have so many questions like who am I? From where I came? Sorts."

Billy finally found himself brave enough to speak.
"You're an alien?" Though it was a question but one of this rare occasions Billy was fully sure of himself, that the creature there is undoubtedly one.

"As I said I would appreciate it much if you just call me Ang", Ang said, annoyance evident in voice.

Billy: Ookay. ...so Mr.Ang if you don't mind ..I'm just curious what are you doing on Earth?

Ang: Oh sure! Actually It happens sometimes. You know the machines are not reliable in every case. I remember one time I was supposed to go on Mars but ended up in Venus. Haha...

Billy: That's bad.

Ang was continuing but the words were not imprinting in Billy.

Billy's mind was preoccupied with so many questions that it was becoming difficult to process everything in his human brain. It was a whole new experience to him, and possibly the one and only person who came to the knowledge about existence of a new species, like this.

He though, luckily, after some time recovered from his inner thoughts to hear the last part of Ang's self introduction,"...I had good journey of some thousand light years to reach Pluto, before the machines developed a problem with this solar system's magnactic force and my ship crashed here. My planet known as Kranius, and we're a far more intelligent species in every way than you humans."

That sounded unbelievable. Billy thought how this dwarf sized slimy creature, with shape changing tentacles and an odd ship can be intelligent than humans.

As if Ang was reading his mind he smiled, a faint smile. And then asked, "So tell me Billy how many languages do you know?"
Billy's native language was English and he recently started taking French classes for additional, so he gingerly replied one and half.

Ang: I know more than 35,000 different languages, and there is not a language in your solar system which I'm not able to speak. Besides I know other 5023 languages of other Galaxies.

Billy: Thhats greeat-

Ang: Are you a vegetarian?

Billy: No, I also eat meats of some animals like lamb, chicken, turkey and a few.

Ang: I used to eat animals you know, maybe I would have eaten you back then.

Billy: *swallows dryly* What are.. the other... things you do Mr.Ang?

Ang: I'm capable of some abilities like levitation of objects, fast healing, mind reading If I want, the list is rather long.

Billy: Amazing!

Ang: Cool, isn't it. How old are you boy?

Billy: 17 sir...you?

Ang: I'm just 839, but compared to our race I'm young. So don't be amazed.

To say the least Billy already was.

Suddenly Billy heard another beep sound from a watch looking device on the creatures wrists, and Ang frowned. "Seems like I stayed here too long, this forgetfulness will get me in trouble one day. It's time."

Ang then smoothly Ang made way back to the ship, but not before bidding Billy goodbye. He turned and smiled warmly at him, "It was nice to meeting you Billy, see you around. And keep playing your soccer, you're good."

With the the ship lifted up from the ground and hovered for a moment. Then faster then Billy could even blink it was gone. Disappeared into the night sky, like it was never there. But our Billy knew better.

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Love Latters

There was a young man named Bami. He was on his way to the supermarket, when he saw a lovely beauty passing by. He could not take his eyes off of her. He said to himself, 'Wow, what a gorgeous lady! I will surely one day make her mine forever'. The lady entered her car and drove off from the supermarket to her home.

Unknown to her she was followed by Bami and finally she got out of the car and entered her home. Bami having traced her noticed that there was a mail box in front of her house, he thought 'What a golden opportunity'.

Bami went back to his home plotting a way to get her. Then he thought to himself 'Since she has a mail box and my house is far away from hers... sending love letters won't be a bad idea'. Quickly he put his pen to paper and started writing amazing love letters. Each day, after writing a letter he would call a postman to help him send it to her.

This continued for four months and to his surprised the lady married the postman.

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