Shattered and Scattered

Dark Coffee - Episode 2

It has been so long since Dave has confined himself to just a room and have not stepped out even for a while. All this had started making him feel homesick. It has been a month since he even sat by the window and took a fresh breath.

Halloween just got over yesterday, and it was 1.00 am on Tuesday night when Hannah came back home late. She straightaway went upstairs and wanted to collapse on the bed; having overworked. As Hannah turned the lights on, she found the bed empty. Dave was not there. Hannah started calling out, “Dave, where are you? Where are you, Dave?”, and she ran up and down, all over the house thrice. Hannah took a round in her backyard too, but could not find Dave. She was worried now. Hannah quickly ran towards the front door and stepped out of the house. She was walking on the freezing driveway, barefoot, while scanning the street. It was a cold night, but the feeling of losing Dave had overpowered all her physical pains. Horrific thoughts had occupied Hannah’s mind now and she was constantly thinking about what could have happened to Dave.

Hannah went to the neighbors on her left, she was about to ring the doorbell, but stopped herself, as it was midnight and she did not want to wake up anyone. Hannah ran frantically towards the next street but did not see Dave anywhere. She stopped by the park too, but there were no traces of human, all she could find was a raccoon wandering around in search of food. Hannah did not see anybody to whom she could ask if he saw Dave. Hannah never felt that helpless before.

After half an hour, Hannah came back home looking for her phone, so she could call up emergency. As she was climbing stairs, there was a loud shattering sound. Hannah quickly ran towards the study room. As Hannah turned the lights on, she found Dave sitting in the rocking chair, both his palms had covered the eyes and he was continuously moving his neck from side to side. Hannah, cried out, “Where were you; why do you do this to me? Why do you do this to me, Dave? It is getting difficult for me to live with you. Please stop all this”.

To this, Dave was silent, and Hannah could see Dave’s palms were wet, as she held his hands while Dave was rubbing his eyes. Dave was crying, he was depressed and it is hard for him to keep calm and control his emotions.

Hannah: “O Dave”, always remember, I will be there with you for life. Things will be better for us. Don’t you worry.

Dave, with his frozen posture, yelled, “Go Hannah, just go…. Don’t you pity on me again. Why don’t you just leave me?”

Hannah was in tears too, she took a while to compose herself and said, “I will leave you, Dave; if that is all you want, but; only when you are capable enough of looking after yourself”.

Hannah was heartbroken with Dave’s statement and the thought of leaving Dave; tears her apart. They have grown up together and have seen the world together. How could Hannah leave her friend, her soulmate just because life has been cruel on him?

Despite looking after Dave, Hannah had to keep herself positive too; and there have been times when she too feels left out and needs support. Dave feels lonely, but Hannah is alone too, and she feels lonelier with each passing day; where Dave’s harsh words make her feel even worse. Both Hannah and Dave could not sleep that night.

All this thinking and a sleepless night made Hannah sick. Her head was bursting out of pain now, and eyes were dry too. She needed to sleep, but could not.

Hannah went to the study room to grab some painkillers, while she found the shattered glass on the floor. Holy crap, who broke this? It took a while for her to recall that it was the shattering sound of the glass window that drew her to the room last night. Must be the storm last night, said Hannah.

Hannah got down on her knees and started picking all the pieces with bare hands. “Bitch, you are still there? Why haven’t you left? Just leave this useless man alone. Go…”

This made Hannah mad at herself and she clenched her fists hard that had shattered pieces in them. Hannah yelled, “Not anymore”, blood was dripping out of her fists. It is hard to say who was hurt more, Dave or Hannah. The painful situation in their lives left both of them shattered, scattered, and hurt….