21days after...

It wasn't that we were the best of friends and talked all the time silence was what sheltered us at all times the words we shared were simple warnings or things to keep in mind.

Since a week ago, when the topic of conversation was fear of the dark and cowardice, I stopped listening to or speaking to him altogether. Not that it had been a problem for him, he even seemed relieved by it.

This morning I decided to make his life a little more miserable when he returned from his explorations, it was really difficult for me to live with a stranger under the same roof, I could not even walk through my house without stopping to think about what he would be doing in his silence, I wanted to have the confidence to continue with him.

My plan faltered when I saw him out of the corner of his eye lying on his bed, something strange to me, he usually left in the early mornings and came back to prepare breakfast when I woke up, he noticed me immediately and turned his face to see me, again That catlike look, with some courage I approached the door and leaned against the frame, leaving a glance at the room almost full of boxes of chocolate mint candies.

—My name is Zachary...

He didn't say anything, he even turned his gaze to the ceiling. Today he was dressed differently, he was wearing black shorts and a sleeveless shirt long, her arms were behind the nape of her neck giving her a carefree air, of course, the end of the world was not something worthy enough to alter her greatness.

—I'm twenty years old ...— I ran my finger over the door when his gaze returned to me, again, with disgust—I have a master's degree in -

Laughed without grace slowly denying.

—Do you think that matters? What does a corpse want to know about your mastery or diplomacy? Do you think they are going to organize a party for your birthday? Because no, they will continue to rot in the streets.

—I already celebrated my birthday, it was the first of January—I smiled when I saw his annoyance when rolling his eyes—It matters to me, you know? I would like to know your name so that I can curse your existence accordingly in my head.

And then he smiled.

—Rais.

—Root?—I asked, believing I heard him wrong.

—No Root, if not, Rais ... like ... Brais, but without the B.

That was easier than I thought. He closed his eyes as a sign that he was going to start ignoring me, but of course, he was not going to get rid of me after making me cry.

—How old are you?—did not move a muscle, not even to breathe—It will help me to deduce your average life for when all this kills you ... or I kill you, who knows?

His lips let out a sigh and to my surprise ,he began to whistle, but not a pleasant hiss, if not gloomy, one of those hisses that serial killers make as they chase their victims relaxed with the confidence to catch them effortlessly.

—How old are you?—I asked again in case you hadn't heard me the first time.—How old are you?—he rolled over on the bed with his back to me stopping hissing when he realized it was going to be a real annoyance—You look about... 27 years old ... Although with that beard now you look like a... a 30 year old tramp.

—Go to hell!— I yell without turning around.

—You're an idiot. Have they told you?.

Because of my offense, he turned in bed to look at me and I knew it was time to run for my life, I slammed the door and went downstairs not knowing if he was really chasing me or if it was just my survival instinct from the look that he had given me.

Shortly after, he came down with more clothes covering most of his skin, he did not look at me and went directly to prepare breakfast, but not before taking off the bowl of cereal with milk that he had prepared for me to throw in the sink. I swallowed my unpolite words regarding his action because I knew that if I said something else, I would fill his patience, although something in me said that he had unlimited patience for my nonsense, but generally I am wrong so I did not want to tempt me lucky. I kept my mouth shut as I watched him unfold in the kitchen.

Rais ... I had ever read something about a man who created Egypt or something with that name in school, but strangely I didn't believe it was his name, it was too easy not to tell me his age later. But I was not going to press, maybe when he had more confidence in me, he would tell me everything himself and maybe, if I was not mistaken, he would tell me his real name, but for the moment the confidence was null between us, therefore I would keep making sure to lock my bedroom door twice before sleeping.

I approach the plate and then he sat at the other end of the table keeping a distance between them, I looked at the plate for a few seconds, it really looked appetizing, I saw him take the first bite and I started to eat, I really don't think it's capable of poisoning food, but it was fun watching him roll his eyes at my action.

I cleared the table when we finished eating and I began to wash the dishes, strangely we began to maintain a routine without having coordinated anything, we just did things. He had gone upstairs and minutes later I heard the front door open and close.

Again I was alone in the vastness of my home.

But I really preferred to immerse myself in the memories and tears before going outside and seeing what the world had become, it was not easy to take a step and see someone at your feet with whom you once laughed.