Possession

I had been out riding my bicycle. It was one of those days that was vibrant and electric. It had just rained, and the grass was that other-worldly green, almost alien, or like something you'd see in a magazine that had been color-enhanced. The scenery looked too perfect to be real, with a low-hanging mist blanketing the green hills and the road and the houses, enveloping them and cradling them, hugging them tightly.

My mother was with my aunt in the back garden, drinking tea and eating cucumber sandwiches. She called out to me when she heard me come in, to come and join them. I called back that I would be right there, looking forward to tea, and hoping for miniature frosted cakes as well. There was a good chance there were some of these, since my aunt was here visiting.

I walked to the fireplace mantle, and took off my gloves, and noticed that the clock had stopped ticking, which struck me as odd. I had that feeling of stepping on glass; watching myself step on it and knowing the pain and the blood would be coming soon afterward, but having already put my foot down on it there was nothing I could do but observe the outcome.

I heard a melody in the background, coming from the house itself, from inside the walls, clunking out with the gas pipes and the heating vents. I was unable to move, and was aware that I hadn't taken a breath for quite some time.

I was lifted up into the air, as if by the scruff of my neck, and saw my cat watching in horror from the corner of the room. I heard things falling, but couldn't tell which direction they were coming from, or what they were. I was hoisted, smoothly yet jerking-ly, like a ride at an amusement park from one corner of the room to the other, my face pressed up inches from the walls to view old family photos with heightened awareness and clarity, albeit in a very confused state of mind.

I was shifted from object to object, my nose almost pressed against each one that came before me, and was aware that my feet were two or three feet above the ground, dangling from my legs with no will or direction of their own.

I was herky-jerked around the room for what seemed like several minutes before I was dropped without fanfare on my tailbone, knocking the wind out of me completely.

I heard my mother's voice calling for me from the garden, and I managed to stand up and stumble outside, stunned and speechless.

My mother and aunt were laughing, and engrossed in memories and conversation, and didn't notice my eroded state; maybe they thought I was winded from being outdoors all afternoon? My mother pulled a chair out for me, while talking to my aunt, and I sat down, not knowing what else to do or say.

Seeing that there were, indeed, little frosted cakes, I said nothing, but sat and ate, while my mother and my aunt laughed and talked as if I wasn't there at all.