A Return

Mila doesn’t recall most of that day. She remembers running away from Peter. Mila remembers the cracking noise of the gate when it opened violently. She has fallen somewhere. And tired and sweaty when she reached her home. Daisy asked something. She ignored her. Mila fell towards her bed and she doesn’t know whether she has fainted or slept.

She had a dream. The villagers, including Peter, all soaked in blood and were holding a weapon which is also covered in blood. Peter had a pickaxe, Irvin had the knife, he used to chop grass, Daisy had her scissors. Everyone was moving towards Mila, they were saying something Mila couldn’t understand. Mila tried to run away. She finally found someone and hid behind him. She said desperately to the person to save her. He turned back. It was Luke, but he has been just like the villagers, covered with blood and looked like a corpse. “You made me a fool”. He muttered.

Mila woke up startled from her sleep. It was evening. The crimson light has filtered into her bedroom, reminding her of the nightmare she had. Mila took her phone and started messaging Luke.

“Luke, please save me. Everything is creepy in here. I cannot get out. They are”. Mila stopped suddenly. Luke won’t be there. He doesn’t want her to text him anymore. Mila, confused about their relationship, put the phone down.

Mila stared at the blank white walls of her room for a long time. She was not thinking about anything. There is no way out. Her life has changed a lot. The girl who loved her place so much, she cannot return ever. Her boyfriend and her best friend are in a relationship and even if she goes back, they won’t be the same. Her only living relation is worse than she expected. It frightens her now, whether she is a human or a ghost or something else. Her thick black hair and large black eyes and her kind face. There is something inside it. A devil, a vicious witch. Mila was afraid. Even Irvin’s visit terrified her. He was calm and kind. But he is also a devil. Here nobody is human, nobody is normal. Mila wished at some rare moments that she is dead. If dead people live in a different world, she can live there and all her companions will be dead. But it is not with Flovalwood, she is the only human here and others are ‘different’, a scary different. But it is not true, Mila is also like them. She also has escaped death, she always healed herself. But Mila never needed that. She wants to be like Luke, Ella, and everyone else in the actual world. She doesn’t want to be a witch or devil or a ghost.

When Daisy entered the room with a cup of hot soup, Mila was sitting like that. Daisy hesitated for a moment. Then she talked.

“You are not like Mila, my daughter”.

Mila was silent.

“I feel like, you can never be like her. At least she should have talked everything with you before sending you here”

“She talked with me. Flovalwood is a good place, people are kind there. I will love that place and everything. She was lying and I hate her for that.” Mila opened her mouth after so many days.

“Only that much she told you. Then there is a reason for you to hate her. But when you know that, you’ll hate her more”.

“Not as much I hate you. My mom was suffering from a terrible illness and you never even once came to see her. I knew Peter knew about us. If he knows, then you also know about her. Then why you made her alone. I lived looking after her for 17 years. I never had a proper childhood. I lived with the kindness of others like an orphan, and now you are telling me I have to live with you forever. There were times I need you. The most desperate days in my life. There was nobody. And I grew up. For 17 years I was taking care of her and now she is gone and I want to find someone for me. I want to find my space in this world and now you are holding me back. You want me to take care of you for the rest of my life. Why my life is like this?” Mila put down her head. Tears made her face wet. She wiped it with the bedsheet. Daisy was sitting on the stool like a statue. When she talked after a long time, her voice was steady.

“I will make arrangements for you, to leave Flovalwood.” Mila was shocked, she looked at Daisy hopefully.

“Yes, it is against the rules and they will punish me and Peter. But that’s fine. You can return, if you want, but don’t be late. Or you won’t return, ever”.

Daisy left the room. Mila saw her wiping her eyes. Mila, surprised at her sudden luck, remained silent throughout the night. She is going out. She just wanted to reach the city somehow. She will reach the police first, or Luke, he will help her. Or she will run inside their house, lock herself and stay there. She still got the keys. And one thing was sure, she will not return to this village ever.

Mila slept well that night. Peter arrived in the morning. Mila wondered why Irvin or others are not there. She wished to say thanks for everything and a last goodbye to him, but that’s fine and he will understand her more than anyone.

Peter’s face was dull, and he said nothing. Mila put her backpack on the seat. She thought anyone will ask her why she is taking all her belongings. But they didn’t. Mila turned to her grandma before leaving.

“Sorry. I know I am leaving you alone. But I have no other choice. I must go”.

“I hope you will come back soon”. When she said that, Daisy was looking into her eyes and Mila was confused again. Finally, the car started. Mila stared at the village through the windows. It was the same as always. She found Irvin on his way to the fields and Lola on the ground with her friends. She wished to stop the car and talk to them, but she couldn’t as Peter was not talking to her and he had reason to be like that.

Mila identified the path she has crossed alone to leave the village alone, and she was afraid for a moment. What happens if the road doesn’t end as before? Her doubt didn’t last long. Peter crossed the wooden board with Flovalwood written on it within a few minutes. Mila wondered how he did that. She was watching everything but still couldn’t get the way Peter turned. They crossed the rocky path. Mila will reach the city probably by evening. Her city, her street, her home, Luke. Mila smiled and slowly closed her eyes.

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When Mila woke up, they were already in the city. Mila wondered. She couldn’t recognize most of the buildings. The city has changed a lot within 3 months and Mila felt strange. Her city is no more a familiar place now.

“You have reached. You can go now”. Peter said. His face was blank.

“Can you drop me at my home?”.

Peter nodded and started the car again. People on the way were watching them closely. Probably because the car was an ancient one and Mila didn’t care. She worships the vehicle now.

“Peter, I am sorry. I was helpless and foolish. It will embarrass me my whole life, what I did to you”.

“Mila, I don’t think you will listen to me. But call me soon. Don’t commit the same mistake as your mother. There is no life for you outside the village and no future for you.” He handed her some money.

Mila tried to correct him and refused to take the money as she already had some, but he insisted.

“I am sorry that you have to know everything like this. I would have said before, but you will never listen to us. Whenever you need help, call me”. Peter passed a paper with his number on it. Mila remembered it was the same thing her mother showed her once. Peter has already stopped the vehicle.

“Peter, this is not my street”.

“It is. Look, house number 16, the same house Mila used to live in”. Mila stepped out with her luggage. Peter left without a word. The street looked very different. The houses are larger and every house has a compound wall now. Earlier it was painted yellow, and the roofing had a crimson red color. Now it’s all painted white, and the roofing has some royal blue color. Mila stood desperately before her house. It looked occupied. A few minutes later, a little girl with her bicycle appeared in the attic. Her mother followed her.

She saw Mila and looked at her curiously.

“Hi, I am Mila. I used to leave here and nobody told me they gave this house to someone else”.

“I am sorry. You must be in the wrong house. We have been staying here for years.” The lady was talking in a calm tone, which made Mila frustrated.

“No, I am not wrong. This house belongs to me. I left for only a few months. Why are you lying?”

“No, I am not”.

A pedestrian stopped before Mila. He had the fresh copy of an evening newspaper with him.

“What is the problem? What do you want?” He asked Mila.

“Who are you?” Mila asked back.

“I am staying near. What do you want?”

“But I have not seen you”.

“You stay here?”

“Yes, I mean, I used to. My mom died three months before and I had to leave the house and I had to stay with my grandma for some time. I made it clear to the landlord that I will return after 2 months. Yes, I am late for a month. But how could he allow them inside without my permission”.

“You are in the wrong house.” The person replied.

“How can it be? I lived here for seventeen years and I know the address”.

The lady looked more confused and frightened.

“Okay, when exactly you left this house?” The pedestrian asked again.

“Last March, before three months”.

“Can you tell me the exact date?”

“It is March 23, 2019”.

The person and the lady smiled at each other.

“O, another prank, right?”

“What? No”. Mila looked confused now.

“Look, we banned pranks in this street. I think you don’t know the rules. Call your friends and leave here now. You are frightening the kids.”

“Please sir, believe me. My friends are staying near. They know me. Shall I call them?” Mila found the newspaper holding by the person At first she thought she was mistaken but it was not. The date of the newspaper clearly showed the year 2065.

The person was about to say something, but Mila interrupted. “Sir, can you show me that paper?” And she almost snatched it from him.

She was right. It showed the date as 11 March 2065. Mila was about to faint. Is this some joke? Mila was confused now that the man and the lady are pranking on her. Mila stared at the date for some more time, then the man snatched it away from her.

“You go inside. I will manage her. We must call the cops now”. The man said to the lady, and she went inside with the kid. Mila took her luggage and walked without knowing where to go. She heard the man mumbling behind her.

“Kids these days. No job and they disturb others who have jobs”.

Mila was about to cry. There are so many thoughts. Her tears were not sufficient. Mila walked straight. She checked the two sides. Ella’s house was locked from outside. There were no familiar faces, and the man was watching her closely. She was afraid. If she knocks on some other unknown house, he may call the police. Mila walked. The street has changed a lot. The trees are missing on the footpaths, which made the street brighter in the evening. There were no kids with their cycle. The street was strangely silent. The man called behind her.

“Where are you going?” Mila doesn’t know what to reply. She stood there without moving.

“Mila”. Mila turned back. She couldn’t identify the person at first. She turned back and found a 62-year-old Luke staring at her with a strange expression.