The voices seemed distant, but they swiftly pulled Harold from his sleep. From outside his bedroom he heard Lisa and Frank conversing. Although it was late at night, it wasn’t weird for his best friend, Frank, to be in his house. Leaning to his side, Harold quietly listened in on their conversation as Lisa chuckled.

“But thank god we won’t see that kind of weather here in Seattle,” said Lisa and they both laughed.

“More tea, Frank?”

“Sounds good.”

Harold enjoyed listening to the jovial companionship between his best friends and was even half tempted to get out and join them if their laughter hadn’t felt so soothing. Frank had been gone for long spouts this last month but Harold didn’t miss him much while he had the love of Lisa.

“I’ve noticed you’ve started pulling yourself away from Harold,” Frank stated. Suddenly, Harold was fully alert to their conversation. Lisa took her time before answering. The silence was unnerving.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Frank.”

Harold tried to let her response ease his concern, but her hesitation in answering still laid heavily on his thoughts.

“I think you should probably leave,” Lisa suggested.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Just … you know, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.”

“Sure Frank, of course.”

Harold lay in bed, stiff with worry, but what was he thinking, they loved each other, right? With the movement in the kitchen he knew they were saying their goodbyes. Lisa’s cat found his way onto the bed and under the covers, rubbing against Harold’s feet. It was a sure sign that Lisa was returning.

Pulling the covers back up and rolling on his side, Harold feigned sleep. When Lisa entered the room she came into bed and wrapped her arms around him, holding him. Almost as if she were intentionally comforting him, but when he woke in the morning she had already left.

***

Harold kept quiet most of his life, but even those with the most reclusive personalities have friends. Harold had two who were also his best friends since his youth and that was more than enough for him. He lived quite simply, as most people do; going to work day after day, taking care of daily chores, and maintaining a healthy composure. All the same, he didn't have a TV in his home and kept a minimal social life.

There was Frank, a tough guy and protector of sorts. As a kid Harold had always been beaten up and picked on by the other kids. Harold met Frank when he was in the fourth grade. During recess Harold had been attacked by three older girls from the sixth grade and shoved into the girl’s locker room. Frank, a sixth grader as well, was there when Harold had been dragged in. He had been sneaking around, cool as usual, and everything Harold wanted to be. Frank was always relaxed, always doing what he wanted to do, and well liked by everyone. At least, he seemed to be from Harold's point of view.

When Frank saw Harold he came to his rescue. He pushed the girls down and even hit the bigger girl with his fist. They had yelled and complained that boys shouldn’t hit girls, but Frank knew when people were just being bad people. Frank fought for justice and both boys quickly formed a tight relationship.

Lisa came later in Harold’s life. She was beautiful and both boys took quite an interest. Unfortunately for Frank, he was never in the same league as them even after he was held back a couple years. As it was, Harold and Lisa were both in the same science classes and together they joined the high school band. Surprisingly, as beautiful as Lisa was, she was very much a loner as well.

They also both shared the experience of being picked on by the other kids. It was because they shared so much that she chose Harold. Frank was always there to protect both of them, whenever he could be. Since Frank tended to ditch class, the three of them would become inseparable.

Tonight, Harold was waiting for Lisa in his home. She was late again, as had consistently been the case this entire month. He had his job and she had hers. At six o'clock in the evening they would usually meet up and spend time together, but as of this last month she was no longer around. The clocked ticked while he waited and her fat tabby stretched and purred on the couch, saving Lisa’s favorite spot.

The cat was outrageously large and it always seemed to stare and follow Harold with its black beady eyes, threatening him.

“I own this house,” it seemed to say, “and I own you.”

The cat was a menace and gained weight like a pig. Harold could not understand Lisa’s love for it and was disgusted by its intrusion into his world. It reminded him of the bullies from his school years. The tabby was Lisa’s love, though, and due to Harold’s love for Lisa he helped her take care of the cat. She may not have been home but as the clock struck six he stood up and did what he always did, feed the cat. It was his way to show Lisa he still loved her.

***

While taking a shower he heard the front door open and close. Lisa’s home! He immediately turned off his shower and walked to the bedroom. She wasn’t in here and he was about to head back when he saw movement in the mirror across from the bed.

“Frank,” Harold said, surprised to see Frank's reflection in the mirror standing in the doorway.

“Hi Harold, you still haven’t seen Lisa?”

“No, have you?”

Frank stood there refusing to answer.

“That’s fine Frank, you’re my best friend and I could never hate you…”

“You know that, don’t you, Frank?”

Frank blankly stared at Harold.

“I know, Harold. Lisa’s just,” he hesitated, “you know she loves you. Look, Harold, I can only take care of you as much as you will let me.”

Finishing with that, Frank turned away and left. Eventually, Harold walked from the mirror, put on his pajamas and went to bed.

***

It was two in the morning and from within the grogginess of sleep Harold heard an unsettling sound reverberating in the distance. Lisa was here. The room was pitch black, but he could smell her perfume. It was this smell which drove him to wake up. He could follow the scent from a mile away. His mother had also worn that perfume and the fragrance brought with it many memories. It awakened his senses and he focused on the shadowy figure.

She was rummaging through the dresser.

“Lisa,” he said, “Lisa, it’s so good to see you…” hesitating, “I’m just so glad you’re home.”

She refused to stop. As his eyes adjusted he saw she was loading up a bag.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t respond.

“Look Lisa, I don’t know what’s happening here, I don’t know why you never speak with me or why we never see each other anymore, but you should know,” he took a deep breath, “you should always know, I love you Lisa.”

She halted, but for only an instant, shut her bag, then whispered, “I’ll see you later Harold,” and rushed out of the bedroom. He thrust aside the blankets and ran to catch Lisa before she left.

“Wait!”

Harold shouted at her but she was already making her way out the front door. By the time he got there and stepped outside, she was already gone. Harold stayed awake the rest of the night. That following morning he found the tabby sleeping at the edge of the bed.

“Shoo! You lousy animal,” he shouted as he kicked the cat off.

It stumbled awake, crawled down off the bed and stretched its body. Harold watched the entire movement. Wicked creature, he thought. With the morning sun shining through the window he decided it was time to get ready for work. Fumbling through the dresser, piece by piece, everything appeared to mostly be in its original spot. Only one thing seemed to have disappeared, her black skirt.

***

It had been two days since Harold last saw Lisa and every evening he sat in the kitchen, waiting while the clock chimed. On the third day it had grown windy outside, winter was coming strong this year. He stared out the window, mesmerized by the tick tick of the wall clock and the swirling of the windmill. The evening seemed to pass quite silently as usual. Sighing, he looked up from the window and turned to look into the hallway.

The hallway created a bridge between the living room and the kitchen. It had become an area of convenience. The corner wall, which connected to both end walls from the kitchen and the living room, had become a bit of a pocket for miscellaneous items. A littering of shoes used by Harold and Lisa, the cat’s food and water bowl (which, Harold noted was out of food and promptly reminded himself to feed that darn Tabby, When was the last time?), and a long stand alone mirror catty-corner to the living room and kitchen.

Frank! He could see Frank sitting on a chair hidden behind the wall in the hallway, looking straight at Harold via the mirror.

“How long have you been there?” Harold asked and as normal, Frank didn’t react. After a moment's silence he finally responded.

“I’ve been here every night Harold, watching over you, making sure that you didn’t do anything stupid.”

Frank had always been very stealthy. Sneaking up on Harold had been one of their past times, however, right now Harold wasn’t up for playing games.

“What do you want, Frank? I don’t need you protecting me all the time.”

Frank shrugged, “I’ve talked with Lisa.”

Harold slumped into his chair and said, “I should tell you I saw her a few nights ago, as well.”

Frank nodded his understanding, “I think it’s time to say goodbye to her Harold. I think you need to let her go.”

This only infuriated Harold, “You know nothing about love. You don’t know her and you certainly don’t know me!”

He yelled as he pounded his fist onto the table. Refusing to leave the window, Harold bore his head against it.

“You want to know what I think, Frank? I think it’s time you leave. I think it’s time you get on outta my life. Lisa will be back, she…” breathing raggedly, “she’ll be back, Frank, she loves me and she just needs a break. She’ll be back.”

He continued to stare out the window and watched the windmill spin. When he turned around and looked back, Frank had already stepped out. That was fine with him, Frank was no longer wanted.

***

It was two in the morning and there was a banging noise outside the house, startling Harold awake. He jumped out of bed and looked out his window. It sure is windy outside, he thought. The banging seemed to get louder causing goose bumps to shiver down his spine.

He was about to look away when he saw the black shadow swing across the yard. Placing his hand on the window, he strained to see more. Silent and somber, the world seemed to come to a halt, then he saw it again. Something or someone was definitely out there. He threw on his jacket and ran out the back door. Where did it go?

Grabbing a wooden board, he ran out to the middle of the yard. The banging seemed to come from all over. Turning round and round, he didn’t spot anything. Then she appeared. Lisa ran out and away to the neighboring labyrinth of houses. Harold tried to give chase, catching sight of her here and there screaming, “Lisa! LISA come back! Lisa!”

The neighbors were starting to come out of their homes, “Have any of you seen a woman, please, I need her! Have you? Please, help?”

It was then he saw the red and blue lights. The police had never been friendly with Harold and he knew he had lost Lisa. Hiding back into the shadows, he left the area. Back at home, Harold began preparation for her return and the fat tabby circled around his feet following every step he took, growling and crying.

***

Harold turned off his phone in order to stop his work from calling, Lisa never called it anyway. Refusing to leave his home in case of her return, the day progressed slowly. Harold had not slept a minute and had not showered. He knew Lisa would come home tonight and every minute was spent waiting for her. The only sound was coming from the ticking clock. As the evening began to settle, a light flurry of snowflakes started falling to the Earth. Each hour, at the sound of the chimes, Harold did rounds throughout the house and inspected the yard out all the windows.

At the six o’clock chime, Harold got from his chair and saw the tabby sitting on the mantel piece directly under the old wooden clock. It stared at Harold offering up what appeared to be a Cheshire Grin in his imagination. Shrugging off the ominous feeling, he continued forward through his rounds. Again he found nothing, but in coming back to the front of the house he heard a noise in the kitchen.

His heart hammered in anticipation. Taking little tiny steps, he found his way to the hallway where he noticed Lisa’s black pumps were missing. She was here and upon reaching the kitchen he saw she stood next to the counter, drinking red wine.

“Hello, Harold,” she said and turned to look him directly in the eyes.

He just wanted to grab her, to hold her, but now there was so much distance between them. He walked to the counter and said her name, “Lisa,” and choked on his own words.

“Harold,” Lisa began and he noticed she was wearing the missing black skirt.

“Listen sweetie, I have important things to tell you,” she said.

“Shhh. There’s no need to say anything,” Harold replied with a high pitched whine.

“No, you’re wrong Harold there is,”

“Hush, hush, now if you wait you’ll see everything is perfect, we’re perfect, just wait with me.”

Harold was beginning to feel panicky, but he had planned for this moment.

“No! Harold, now listen to me!” Lisa shouted, “Listen, I’m leaving you!”

Harold grabbed his steak knife and stabbed her in the gut. She gasped at his reaction to her statement.

“You should have just loved me Lisa, that’s all I ever asked from you,” Harold sobbed, “why wouldn’t you wait?”

She began to wobble, “Harold,” she said, “what did you do?”

Her knees buckled and she fell to the kitchen floor. Harold then felt a soreness down his spine, perhaps twisted in the process, but determined to finish his plan he turned around and walked straight out to the back yard.

***

The chimes rang seven o’clock and Harold found that waiting for Lisa had become tiresome, after drinking some alcohol he found himself lying on the kitchen floor. Getting up he felt his stomach cramping. Grunting and struggling, he forced himself to stand up, the alcohol is getting to me, he thought. Feeling parched he opened his cupboard doors, got a glass for water and forced himself to drink it.

Instantly, pain shot up from his stomach and, screaming out, he dropped the glass in the sink causing it to shatter. Looking down he saw the knife in his gut and, with his legs growing weak, he lowered himself back to the floor. Oh my god, how did she do it, how did she stab me? My God she stabbed me!

Looking down at the wound, Harold saw that he was also wearing the little black skirt, My god I’m the one who’s gone crazy, Lisa thought, I am Lisa, Harold stabbed me! I am Lisa. I…I must be dreaming…I must be trying to escape from myself. Oh God this is horrible! I’m DYING!

Lisa sobbed loudly then gasped and covered her mouth, Where’s Harold now? She wondered, he must be digging my grave or something. Jesus I need help.

Pushing herself up on her elbows, Lisa began slowly edging over to the hallway. As she neared the hallway she heard the front door open and close.

Oh God, I slept for too long, he’s here!

Covering her face, Lisa silently sobbed and prayed for her dying life. When nothing seemed to happen she opened her eyes and in the mirror she saw Frank.

“Oh thank god, Frank, it’s you,” she whispered to him, “You gotta help me, call 911, get me outta here.”

Frank was lying on the ground and simply continued to stare right back at her.

“Frank why, why are you on the ground like that, please,” sobbing now, “please I don’t want to die, Harold he, please you must understand Harold is crazy!”

Lisa was beginning to feel frantic. Slowly, she recognized a soft chuckle coming from Frank’s gruff voice.

“Look at you, you finally killed yourself didn’t you.”

“What?!!?” Lisa whispered, “Frank you’ve gone mad, please help.”

Laughing louder Frank continued, “All these years I spent helping you two, all these years. I’m tired of you two loving each other, but never me. Always there, but ignored. You never loved me, Lisa.”

“Frank, no, I always loved you.”

“I’m just the man, alone, in the mirror.”

“Frank, get up please, why do you lie there like that, mocking me, please, I don’t want to die.”

“I’m ready to die as well. At least we’ll all die together, the three of us.”

Raising her voice in panic, Lisa spoke, “Frank, you’ve gone mad, you need to call for help! Harold isn’t even here!”

Laughing maniacally, Frank yelled back to her, “But you are Harold!”

“What!” screamed Lisa and looking in the mirror she saw his face, she saw Harold rather than her own.

“Frank,” Harold began, “oh god man, I think that bitch stabbed me! You gotta get help! She left me, then stabbed me.”

“Harold,” Frank interrupted, “I love Lisa, but you wanted her more didn’t you. You couldn’t let me have her, could you? You just kept me locked up, always, silently watching from the mirror.”

Harold looked down at the knife in his stomach and then Lisa spoke, “Frank, please you aren’t making any sense, please, I love you. I always have. Please, help me, we can leave Harold behind.”

“What! Don’t listen to her, Frank!”

Laughing, Frank responded, “Neither of you ever listen, do you.”

Harold sat up and pulled himself closer to the mirror, the pain pushing back even more, “Arrggh,” Harold screamed, then yelled at the mirror, “Harold you are me! You are Frank! You are Lisa!”

Face to face with the mirror, Harold stared into Frank's eyes. He knew that look, Frank was telling the truth, he knew because those eyes were his eyes. He looked down at the stab wound and saw Lisa’s missing black skirt. He knew then, it was Lisa’s black skirt but his legs underneath it.

They all three began to laugh. Both Frank and Harold laughed, even Lisa was laughing.

“What a trifecta we make. Look at us,” Lisa said, “Two of us are dying, but the only one who can walk for help is stuck in the mirror.”

Harold continued to laugh when the fat tabby walked up to him. Starting to feel tired he thought, when was the last time I fed that fat cat? The world began to fade in and out and he had lost a lot of blood. Looking down at the cat, the tabby began licking at Harold’s stomach wound.

“Damn it, Harold! You said you’d take time to care for my cat.”

Harold looked over at the empty bowl under the mirror.

“That’s always been the problem hasn’t it,” he started, “we were all feeding the cat.”

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.05.2010

Alle Rechte vorbehalten