Sick, No Sleep, Start Over

I’m having a writer’s block. Probably because I’m sick and haven’t been sleeping much. Yes probably because I haven’t been sleeping much. Is it normal to have attracted all the bacteria and virus of the season, in one month? Gosh, this flu, cough, fever (and probably allergy too) is destroying me.

And work is wearing me out. But that happens when I’m sick; the normal routine becomes a heavy burden ready to be closed locked and sealed in a box and start fresh.

But then antibiotics help you fight the battle. Or even better, they fight it for you. And you feel reborn.

Not yet for me though. Ahhh how I’d love one day. One day of vacation.

One day of sleep.

S.

PS: New short story in mind, more soon.

Coffee Mousse

Ingredients

2 cups of coffee
200 g of dark chocolate
100 g of sugar
2 eggs
250 g of mascarpone

Put in a pan, pour coffee and melt the chocolate and sugar. Remove from heat, add the yolks and mix. Let it cool and add mascarpone.  Whisk the whites and add to the mousse, stirring gently from bottom to top. Pour into cups or coffee cups in single-dose and let stand overnight in the fridge so that it solidifies before serving.

 

“So where are we going tonight?” I asked my cousin who was messaging to know the plan.

“Clubbing probably.” Of course I thought, like every Saturday.

A part of me wanted to go. Do something different, see new people, hear some music. But the other part of me wondered if this was who I am.

For instance I didn’t know what to wear. Growing up in a country that didn’t allow much skin to be revealed made it difficult to adapt to a more “revealing” country. Before I was the one who was more naked than the mass. Now I felt that I was the one who is less naked than the mass. I always feel to covered in layers of clothes even if I’m wearing just like my friends. Skirt maybe little bit longer. Sleeves also a little bit longer. And I knew, that whatever I wore, I would be still different. I wouldn’t blend.

All this usually led to other thoughts, like too loud music that wouldn’t let me hear other speak, alcoholic drinks that I wouldn’t consume, money badly spent. And as always I would take the same decision.

“I think I’ll pass”

“Oh come on, they told me to force you to come” Luce said waving her phone.

“No I’m serious” I said zapping, “This is not for me.” I wasn’t convinced though.

As always my mind kept wondering if it was really true, and I knew that until my cousin would be out and going, I would keep doubting on whether I should go or not.

And since I wouldn’t have a firm final decision, I would stick with my first and stay home. Sometimes wondering how would have been if I had gone.

Scratching on the Glass

Squeak squeak.

Squeak squeak.

Squeak squeak.

The scratching on the glass woke her up rather irritated. Cleo was probably, once again scratching on something.

Audrey turned towards the mirror ready to throw the pillow, but Cleo was not there.

She went to the glass doors of the balcony and opened the curtains. But again Cleo was not there. She was about to close when she noticed a foot print on the balcony in the snow. She smiled.

Audrey ran for her camera, opened the glass doors letting the night’s cold winter breeze inside and took a picture.

“Ghosts don’t leave foot prints, Moore.”

The Singing Ghost

“And you believe what a three years old boy says?” Asked Elena frowning.

“I believe he could be a valid witness.” Insisted Adam. According to the boy, he saw the ghost and heard it singing nursery songs.

“He could believe anything,” Elena insisted. And she was willing to prove it. She knelt beside the little boy with a smile.

“You know David,” she said, “I heard ghosts love sweets and candies. You think the ghost was eating something when you saw it?”

David thought for a moment, then said “I think it was eating candies.” Elena looked at Adam rasing an eyebrow, then sighed. This is a waste of time she thought.

“It wasn’t eating candies, it was just carrying heads.” They all looked at the other boy in the room, much bigger than David, sitting on the desk coloring with his crayons.

“Ah,” Elena said sitting next to the boy, “Now this might be interesting. Tell us what did this … ghost do with the heads.”

The boy remained silent.

“Hello?” she insisted.

“You don’t know how to deal with kids, do you?” Adam sighed kneeling next to the boy.

“What is it that you are drawing?” he asked looking at the boy’s paper that showed only doodles and scribbles.

“A boat.”

“A boat That’s not a boat!” The boy, looked at him took him paper and crayons and moved to another table.

“You definitely know how to deal with kids Adam.” Elena remarked sarcastically.

Ryan went to the boy, looked at him and smiled.

“What’s your name?”

“Sam” the boy said without looking.

“Hi Sam, I’m Ryan  and he is my brother Adam and she is Miss Elena.” Ryan said pointing at each one respectively. “We want to know about the big heads, can you tell us please?”

Sam remained silent.

“Ok” he finally said, “but I want a lollipop.” He left his crayons and folded his arms.

Ryan smiled and nodded.

“The ghost came from outside with the big head and went upstairs. Then it came down again and went outside.”

“Did he have something else when he came down?” Elena asked taking notes in her leather note-book.

Sam shook his head.

“The ghost was singing.”

Singing, again? Thought Elena.

“What was it singing?” asked Ryan frowning.

“I don’t know the song yet. It is a new one Miss Kate is teaching us.”

Elena took notes. Miss Kate will have to answer some questions.

Hole to Hell

With one kiss she healed all his wounds.

He took a deep breath. Nothing hurt anymore; breathing, and his face full of bruises, were healed.

The grey sky darkened.

With stupor and surprise, both for the kiss and the healing, he put his hand behind her neck and kissed her.

“Stay.” He whispered.

She smiled.

“I love you … ” she said faintly, kissed him again and without looking back jumped in the hole.

Dear Miss Elena Rose

Dear Miss Elena Rose,

You have probably hear about the disgrace and murders that have been happening in our orphanage, Hope Orphanage. We have consulted the experts and police are still investigating, but they yet don’t have a suspect.

We at the Hope Orphanage would be glad of your services, that will be generously paid with all the necessary expenses. Our founders cannot accept these murders to continue.

We hope to expect to soon.

Kind Regards

Orphanage Director

Mrs Clara Robinson

“What do you think Cleo, is this worth it?” Cleo jumped on Elena’s laps and rubbed her head against the letter.

“I guess it is then. Samantha, please gather our things; we are leaving first thing in the morning.”

New Classmate

“Greet your new classmate, his name is Damon.”

The class greeted him with a loud hi, that mainly came from the females of the class. Damon stood, without saying a word arms crossed, staring toward Karen and Audrey.

“Don’t stare back, or Michael will get jealous!”

Karen remained silent her eyes, serious, fixed on him.

“He started. Plus he is not my type.” She said bluntly.

“Wow, someone who is not your type? Are you in love with Michael?”

“Don’t be stupid. Michael? Please!”

“Then what’s wrong in this guy, he is hot” Audrey looked at him again. But Karen grabbed Audrey’s face, so she could look at her.

“Listen to me, that hot guy is a sociopath. I know him.”

“This is why he has been staring at you.” Audrey said freeing herself from Karen’s grip and frowning. She massaged her jaws; Karen held her so tight she could still feel her hands.

“Just stay away from him.” she sighed, “Plus you Patrick is much more hotter than him.” she winked and smiled at Mr Patrick who was accepting the class questions for Damon.

“Damn it Karen I told you millions of times to keep your voice low!” Karen simply laughed.

Audrey turned to look back in front of her and Damon was still looking at them, while answering the questions.

He smiled. Audrey blushed and involuntary smiled back.

I just need a nap

Whenever things go bad or “not as planned”, I imagine the many different ways to end this problem. Of course, I don’t go for the most difficult way; analyze the problem, find solutions etc. Because at the very end, there is one joker-solution for any problem; death.

I’m not being dramatic or in any suicide mode. I am a little bit nervous but you have to admit it; who hasn’t thought, at least once, that death would simply solve everything. The good thing  is that you are free to think whatever you want. Imagine whatever you want, without being judged. And for free.

When, you get back to work, a noisy job with children cry and screaming (and you feel even worse because at least they can). When you get back to work, after holidays, after a night with your cat having her heat periods, that you could hear even in your dreams, how can you not think that death will bring you some peace?

Sitting in my 30 minutes break, I look at the pond in the greenfield and inevitably think about my body floating upside down, my hair loose in the water. I always liked how my hair looked in water; it reminds me of Disney’s princesses hair. How come they always had nice, perfect hair? But I immediately know I could never drown in less than inch of water. Water that is filthy, with probably strange creatures living inside. They should really do something and clean it.

And as my mind wanders and think about I would rather die, than die in that water, I realize that actually all I need is just a nap. Not death. Not change my career. Not change my cat. Not a new perspective on life.

Just a nap.

New Page

The Adventures of Elena Rose and Cleo

Set in the 1920s, post WWI it tells the adventures of the female detective Elena Rose and her Egyptian Mau cat, Cleopatra. You can check out her page — The adventures of Elena Rose and Cleo –

Ghosts Don’t Exist

“I could recognize your magnificent Italian accent anywhere,” said Adam approaching with Matt just behind looking around nervously.

“I didn’t understand from your letter you were that desperate.” Elena whispered to the orphanage director Mrs Clara while forcing a smile to Adam.

“So, where is our ghost?” he asked smiling and rubbing his hands in apparent excitement.

Elena laughed.

“There are no such things as ghosts.” She said, “Mrs Clara was simply…confused and has impulsively called for you.”

The famous Adam and Ryan Moore; the ghost hunters brothers. Elena knew it will be difficult to get this case done quickly with the brothers around.

“We are not sure about this yet Miss Elena.” said Adam winking.