Delilah

Rejection. Is it another form of failure? In its purest form, it is a simple no. Why is it so hard to hear the word no? Maybe because you were expecting to hear yes. Or maybe you are denied something you wanted. But ultimately, it is a difficult feeling to sit with.

“You blew it” Sean grinned. “You blew your chance”

“I know. I did everything right. Liquid courage, semi-romantic holiday party setting, and I still couldn’t ask Delilah out” Kevin groaned as he tossed his keys on to the coffee table.

“Well, it could have been worse.” Sean said sympathetically.

“Yeah, but it is worse. She lives right next door. Do you think she was sloshed enough to forget about the whole thing in the morning?” Kevin voiced hopefully.

“Sorry bro, that borders on supreme optimism” Sean barely concealing his laughter but sobered up enough for his friend and roommate. “Hey, listen, tonight was hard, but I swear this will blow over soon. How about I take out the good stuff? Might as well have a party of the pity, eh? C’mon Kevin, I gotta go home tomorrow and it’s going to be a snooze fest there.”

Kevin sighed “Sure why the hell not..”

The rest of the evening was drowned in a rabbit hole of recreational substances, courtesy of Sean. Chasing after that first high, chasing after smoke and nothingness, a flimsy excuse to forget a faux heartbreak.

The pale rays of the sun caressed Kevin’s face and his eyes fluttered open- bloodshot and pupils still dilated, waking up to the unwelcome stink of half-eaten food and a mess of a living room. He got up from a ketchup strewn carpet and a soggy couch cushion. He groaned and grumbled as he glanced Sean’s closed door and thought it was a wonder he even made it out this early. But then again, Sean is usually in control of himself especially when he has to get home but Kevin wished he’d take care of the mess a little bit before leaving.

“Typical Sean behaviour.” Kevin muttered as he half-heartedly tried to restore the living space to some semblance of its former glory. The carpet and the pillow cushions were a goner, but he figured he could take it out for dry cleaning.

As he parked the car after dropping off the dry cleaning, memories of the previous night came flooding back and he winced. He never did handle rejection that well to begin with. He sneaked a peek at Delilah’s house and saw her brushing her hair by the window, he sighed wistfully, and he saw her stiffen slightly as if she almost heard his brooding sigh, he held his breath waiting for her to turn, he felt her movements oddly rigid, and she turned and held up a hand in a wave hello which Kevin couldn’t return as he stood transfixed, unable to look away but not meeting the eyes which he adored. Her eye sockets were empty, and a bloody smile cut from the corners of her mouth to her ears.

Kevin staggered back, the gruesome image was etched in his mind as he stumbled in to the comfort of his home. What in seven hells did he just see! He tried his best to understand, but his senses were still slow and he wanted to believe it was the vestiges of whatever was consumed last night. He took long deep breaths and regulated his breathing. The house remained a mess and the stink still lingered, he decided to step outside, fresh air was much needed.

Though the house was littered with food, he realised he may not have eaten enough and decided to ease himself into a coffee and a sandwich. He ventured out once more to the local coffee shop, a bit tentative, as he stood in line and processed whatever he thought he saw. The cute barista behind the counter seemed normal enough. No ghoulish smile. He smiled at his silliness in the morning and thanked the girl as he collected his food and settled in the corner table. He texted Sean smiling to himself imagining his reaction at the whole folly.

The ominous chime of the bell above the door reverberated, and his eyes made out the all too familiar silhouette of his favourite neighbour.

Delilah walked in.

Her empty eyes focused on Kevin; her bloody smile stretched to reveal the repugnant remains of her broken teeth.

Kevin wanted to scream but all he could think of was trying to get out of there. He scrambled out of the shop, leaving his half-finished cup of coffee and sandwich behind. He slammed the door and locked himself in his car. He rested his head on the steering wheel, trying to remember the breathing techniques he learned when he heard a sharp rap on the window. Delilah.

He didn’t have to think twice as he revved the car. His thoughts were still unfocused as he drove, but one detail popped out. The carpet. What if it wasn’t ketchup, he thought he saw in his morning daze. He remembered something else as well, a bloodstained knife.

He needed to know if this is a figment of his imagination or if something truly happened. He forced himself not to think along these lines, but a horrifying thought entered his mind – what if he is haunted by Delilah and on an even worse note, what if it is because he had murdered her?

He rushed to the dry cleaners, but it was too late, and the carpet was already in the washer. Kevin was too afraid to ask about the stain. Left with no choice, he slinked back home, dreading what he will encounter.

He heaved a sigh and locked up the car in the driveway only to see Delilah in the porch her arms outstretched as he let out the bloodcurdling scream he held in all morning and fell on the hard concrete.

Kevin opened his eyes and saw the familiar grey of Delilah’s eyes as she shook him awake. He was still too stunned to speak but a warm relief spread through him. He couldn’t make out most of what she said but Kevin understood that she was more concerned than upset.

“Kevin, I really like you. It’s just that I am not ready to date and it’s not an excuse to brush you off.” Delilah said. “But I sure wish you wouldn’t overreact like this” she laughed throwing her head back.

Kevin got up, bemused at the bizarre turn of events and promised himself not to jump the gun and more importantly not to go overboard on Sean’s stash next time.

All is well that ends well.

He sneaked a look at Delilah once more as she walked back to her home, but she didn’t look back. Not that he could blame her. It did look a whole lot crazy, and he was secretly glad she didn’t know the entire story of it. He chuckled as he opened the door, and he felt a bit more sober now and his phone chimed a text from Delilah “Hope you are feeling better :-) “

There is still hope in the air Kevin grinned as he texted Sean and somewhere he heard the muffled sound of Sean’s text tone. He rolled his eyes thinking how the idiot forgot his phone and frowning at the unfinished mess left behind.

He scavenged underneath the couch and found Sean’s phone and realised it was not ketchup after all. His heart turned cold, and the stench turned sharp in his nose and his eyes unwittingly followed to the door to Sean’s bedroom.

Suddenly, he got flashbacks from last night, a blade glinting in Sean’s hand, his own distorted voice “Just do it, man! Pretend that you are Delilah. Poor, heartbroken Delilah ” and Sean giggling uncontrollably.

He knew what he would find as he opened the door.

Sean lay sprawled across the floor with a bloodstained knife in his hand and his face cut from mouth to ears.

Kevin slumped on the floor and shut his eyes in disbelief and fear; just as Sean opened his, revealing two empty eye sockets and his bloody smile stretched more sinister than ever.

THE END