Answering the Mystery

Again and again you appear, standing, watching silently in the night outside of my window.

Again and again you stare up at my home, taking shelter beneath a canopy of leaves as the cold winds guide a heavy rain. Illuminated in the streetlight, your features darkened in the shadow of a tasteless hat, a thick coat clouding you from view.

I've found myself scared to approach the glass panels, hiding behind the curtains with the lights off as your presence looms just in view, my fingers gripping the fabric as I feel your intrusive eyes glaring through me, straight to my soul though I do not want you there.

What is it you wish to see? To know or understand? I am nothing, worthless and far from interesting. There is no importance to my existence and yet every night you return!

It scares me to see you but it angers me so much too, I feel my blood boiling, my heart racing as you continue your harassment. Why won't you leave me alone?

I sit, against the wall as the fear takes over, abusing my lip between clenched teeth as my breathing grows rapid.

A slow rock, back and forth as my knees hug against my chest, only one thought running through a broken mind. Why, why why why why why why why... Why won't you leave me alone?

An hour goes by and I can't stand it anymore. As I pull on a coat, slip on some shoes and make my way down the stairs of the building. The race of my heart still hurts but it has become the thing that pushes me and as the cold air hits my cheeks, I try to calm my mind as I look across to you, still standing, still staring. I walk over, the silence destroyed by the sound of my feet in the puddles around us.

The sound catches your attention, your eyes shifting towards me again and once more, I shake in hatred, fear and anger, I grit my teeth and take in broken breaths before finally approaching you.

My mouth opens, ready to scold, to confront and question but nothing, no voice, no words manage to stutter from my lips as my eyes fall onto your features, your eyes, the way your lips curl ever so slightly as you see me.

My heart stops. The fear increases as I see you, shifting to confusion and pain as our eyes lock.

"Dad?" I ask, hot tears running down my face, the cold winds bite at my cheeks.

I see the father I lost, the man I buried once before and the confusion only continues to grow, the fear and memories of pain as my body freezes upon the now dark road.

The mystery of the figure only grows more impossible and strange but remains unanswered as I stand, watching the man who's death I caused, the smile that haunted my childhood.

I step back as he continues to stand there, my foot slips on the wet floor and before an answer could even be considered, I am greeted by the bright light of a car as it tries to swerve around me, it tries but it fails.

"You've come to join me finally?" The voice so dark and yet playful, the words were expectant and mocking as his words are the last I hear in my life. His figure fades as my last breath escapes me.