[ Editor’s Note: This is the last chapter of “Blink” until September of 2018. Fans of Samina Ahmed’s novel-in-progress can read the next chapters when we return to school from summer vacation! ]
5. Seth’s Sleepless Nights
~ “It’s kinda tiring man, you know?”~
By Samina Ahmed
August hangs out for a while in the hallway, inhaling all the jasmine her body could possibly take in. The fragrance was too strong. She could feel each of her nose hairs burning up at the rush of jasmine circulating in her system. The rush felt nice. The burn made its way to the core of her chest as she slumps against the wall, it was aching but nice. August couldn’t recall the last time she felt this kind of rush.
After spending about 18 minutes in the hallway—which felt like 3 hours to August—she proceeds with her day by visiting the next patient.
Room A2.
August blinked at the name that read: Seth Kenter.
With a slight thrust against the dull wooden door, she finds herself entering darkness. She peers over to the room’s walls and notices denim-colored curtains draped over rectangle windows that are on opposite ends of the room. A narrow line of the sun’s rays escapes the curtains and illumines half of the floor, enough for August to make out the rest of the room.
The room contained a long bed adjacent to a door that must have been the bathroom. A dresser located on the opposite end took up most of the space and against the wall was a desk much similar to August’s. The room was quite simple.
“Hey, do you mind closing the door? Thanks.” A subtle voice emerged from the darkness. After slamming the door shut, August takes a few steps closer to the desk to realize that a boy was sitting on a black revolving chair.
How the hell did I not see him?
He sits there crosslegged with a dull smile upon his thin face. His face. His eyes. The boy’s apparent dark circles around his eyes made it hard for August to see what he was looking at. He wore a loose black v-neck shirt that had a noticeable hole near his right shoulder, and a pair of white pants just like the ones August was given. When he turned his head sideways to eye the narrow line of light, his black hair bounced along with his movement.
“Here, have a seat.” He lets go of the chair as it does a full spin and he plops onto his bed concealing his face with his arm. August glides to the chair and gently takes a seat. “August right? I’m Seth.” Seth’s smooth voice reverberated through August’s bones as she slides in close to get a better look at him. “I’m guessing you met everyone else already.” He removes his arm, but all August could make out are those dark circles. “I’m sure you’re well aware of why they’ve been admitted here. Ethan’s an avid liar…Kitty does self-harm, and as for me…”
But before Seth could finish his sentence, the click of the door led to someone storming into the room and aiming right for the room’s windows.
“Ugh. Seth how long do I have to keep opening these damn curtains for you?” Sharon strided to both of the windows and aggressively pulled back the denim colored curtains. She lets out a loud huff and gives Seth a stern look.
The light invades every crevice and corner of the room and August feels as if her vision has completely returned.
“For as long as I live mom.” Seth sits upright and stares into Sharon’s eyes.
August has a clear view of the boy now under the blinding sunlight. He’s shimmering everywhere. His hair was the color of the rich soils of the valley after the spring rains, that appears almost black in the shadows. The light enhanced his bouncy, rich brown hair, and it’s almost as if he had an undertone of red beneath the dark brown. His eyes. The soft brown rings around his pupils shone under the gleam and it mesmerized August. Combined with the gentleness of his features and the dark circles that surrounded his eyes, his beauty made her tilt her head and leaves her shaking mouth ajar.
Mom?
“How did you sleep last night?” Sharon spoke softly. She placed her hands on her hips, waiting for Seth to reply. August was awed by her sturdy physique as she gleamed under the light as well.
“Sleep? How long are you going to keep asking me that, huh?” Seth leaned back on his bed in an attempt to get out of the sunlight. He let out a small chuckle.
“For as long as I live. Seth come on now.” Sharon’s tone became grave. She took small steps towards Seth’s bed and cleared her throat.
“I don’t know. It’s the same old, same old. Nothing’s getting better and nothing’s getting worse. I don’t know…Sharon what do you want me to say? It’s kinda tiring man, you know?” He tucked in his legs making sure he doesn’t hit the bed’s headboard. Seth looks up at August for a split second and purses his lips.
“Tiring huh?” Sharon couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Seth gaped up at Sharon and heavily breathed out.
“Yes, tiring.”
“Hey try not to worry about it too much. Alright?” Sharon quietly assures him. She leans over towards Seth and combs his bouncy hair with her slender fingers. Strands of his rich brown hair are pushed back by every motion of her fingers. August watches with parted lips and a tilted head while Seth gives in to Sharon’s graceful strokes. “You should head down to the cafeteria and grab some lunch now.”
“Lunch? Oh wow, I didn’t even eat breakfast. Okay.”
Sharon gives a tiny push against Seth’s head and walks back to the door while shaking her head.
“Oh August—hey! Hey Seth, bring August along to the cafeteria alright?” Sharon smiles and an unexpected warmth rushes through August. The moment Sharon closes the door on her way out, silence prevails in the room. August tries not to look up at Seth who has his eyes on her. He moves forward on his bed, closer to August, and sits straight.
“She’s not actually my mom if you were wondering,” he says nonchalantly. “Everyone calls her that. It was weird at first, but now we’re all used to it.” Seth left his bed and stretched his hand out to the door’s handle. His hair bounced with his steps.
“You coming?” His eyes. His twinkling eyes along with his dark circles lit up as the corners of his mouth moved. His smile. The corners of his mouth expanded into a crescent shape. August could feel another quick burst of warmth traveling through her system. The corners of her own mouth twitched as she tried to fight a smile.
Yes.
[Dont miss the next chapter of “Blink” . . . Coming back to the RamPage this Fall!]