By Wednesdays at most, she’d feel tired of being human. But she never showed it. As it turned out, being human involved a lot of things. Things she would rather not do at all – like working part-time in her parent’s bar-restaurant or mixing drinks and serving rude female customers. But she had to do it.

As she came from a table after serving some pervy men, Mandy’s phone suddenly rang – an incongruously joyful and upbeat song. She quickly put the food tray she was holding on the counter and dug it from her apron and put it on silent. She’d forgotten to silence it and Charlie, the manager, would’ve skinned her alive had he heard it ring. She looked around for him then backed into a corner.

“I miss you so bad.” Was the first thing her boyfriend said when she picked.

“Deal with it. If you haven’t fought with me, we’d even be getting biblical right now.” Kavi let out a long and loud moan, and Mandy blushed, her stomach doing the strangest loop de loop. She loved him so much she hated it sometimes. She knew they were going to break up in the future for one reason or the other but sometimes you just have to let yourself fall in love so deep you forget which way is up.

“Please, don’t talk to me about sex now.”

“I was just saying…”

“Well, don’t. Don’t you have better use for that mouth?”

“You know I do.” Kavi coughed on the other end of the line and Mandy giggled. She then glanced at Ayesha, her workmate, as she mimed something she couldn’t understand. “Listen, we’ll talk later. Gotta go work.” And she hung up then put the phone back in the pocket of her apron and got behind the counter. She heard Charlie shout in the kitchen so she went to peek to see who the unfortunate victim of his wrath was. Ayesha just stood there, her body flinching with every word Charlie spewed out. Her head was bowed down and she was nibbling at her lip, on the verge of tears.

“Calm down, Gordon Ramsay, this isn’t Masterchef USA.” Mandy said walking up to them. She dismissed Ayesha who quickly scurried away. The sound of cooking was stronger inside – the sizzles, the frying and the sssh-zz-whrr-ing noises that made up a kitchen buzzed all around. “You need to stop doing that to your employees, really.”

“She always serves the wrong people the wrong order, she deserves what she got.” He went back to his work station and made a short work of dicing onions with a lethal-looking knife. Not a single tear was shed.

“Charlie, if you haven’t noticed, that girl was beyond terrified.”

“It’s always nice to have a healthy dose of fear in my employees.” He said, smirking the smirk of all smirks. “It just doesn’t work on you because your parents own this restaurant so you think you’re my equal.”

“Whatever, my time’s up.” Her nimble fingers untied her apron with a flash of pink nail polish. She hung it on the rack and grabbed her handbag.

“Bye. See you tomorrow.”

“Unfortunately.” She said at the eve of her departure, leaving behind a chuckling Charlie. She said her goodbyes to the other workers and proceeded to her car. She kicked its engine to life after she got in and drove home in pondering silence. Mandy loved her serenity… solitude, she’d really rather stay alone than be around people. Not that she had anything against anyone. It was just how she was.

A delicious smell of chicken curry assailed her nostrils as soon as she opened the door to her house. Mandy found her mother preparing dinner in the open kitchen. She kissed her cheek as a form of hello and sighed jumping to sit on the counter.

“I’ve already ran a not bath for you.” Her mother said and she grinned, revealing her perfect set of white teeth. “l know you’re beyond exhausted but don’t get used to it. Dinner will be ready by the time you’re done.”

“I’d say you’re the best mother in the world if you weren’t the one who forced to work in your restaurant in the first place. I mean-”

“We just want the best for you, Amanda.” Her father interjected in a deep baritone voice as he emerged from the back door. Mandy rolled her eyes, jumped down. “You wore that to work today? Isn’t it a little bit short?” Her father was referring to the short denim skirt she’d worn. But it wasn’t even that short, just above her knees.

“Compared to what other girls my age wear out there, I’m practically dressed for church. You should stop thinking like dinosaur, dad.” She said patting his shoulder. Her mother bit back her laugh as Mandy walked away.

Up to the age of nineteen, Mandy’s life has been unblemished and steady. Her parents were still married, her best friend has been constant for over eight years and no one close to her has died. She’s never won any major competitions at school nor has she been spotted for any special talent. She’s not really a physical person so she hates sports. She also hates people who play sports and the people who watch people who play sports. Uh, where’s the fun in running around?

She’s never achieved anything beyond school work. Mandy has also never been seriously sick nor has she ever been abused or treated badly… if you don’t count the fact that she’s being forced to work now. But that’s just it.

It was a miracle that someone like her existed. Not that she was complaining but she wasn’t even living at all. She needed more drama in her life, a little extra oomph. She needed to face a life-threatening situation and have a near-death experience or something of that sort. Insert insane crackling here.

Baths were a girl’s best friend. Screw diamonds, chocolates and things like those. She was feeling refreshed and so very relaxed.

She joined her parents for dinner after she bathed and changed into a grey oversized tee and black sweatpants. They made small talk as they ate. She told them about her day, the customers she served and the employees Charlie terrorized for the day. At one point, her mother mimicked Charlie, making them all laugh out loud.

“I’m going in early today, goodnight.” She announced standing up, taking her plate to the washing basin.

“Amanda.” Her mother called as she was about to leave. She turned to face them. “Are you okay?” She was sensing something was off but she couldn’t quite place it.

“Oh, I’m one big bag of sunshine and puppies. Why are you asking, dear mother?”

“Nothing, just-“ She decided not to say anything else. “You would talk to us if something was wrong, right?”

“Would you listen?”

“Yes!” Both parents chorused. They felt as if there was an accusatory tone to what their daughter just said. Mandy giggled,

“Okay. Everything is fine, mom. You don’t have to worry. And yes, I’ll tell you if something is wrong, you know I’m not one to keep quiet about anything. So, goodnight!” And she was gone.

Once in the sanctuary of her bedroom, she got under the duvet covers and took out her Kindle to catch-up on the book she’d been reading. She was actually just waiting for her parents to go to bed so she could sneak out and go for a drive. Driving in the dark was therapy for her ever since she got a car at sixteen, it was a chance to refuel her inner energy. She knew her parents would never allow her to drive after the sun had gone to sleep so she waited for them to go to bed and then she snuck out. Everyday. Which was usually after ten. She would usually return just after midnight.

After a few hours, Mandy opened the door and peeped through to see if her parents were in the lounge. She closed it again slowly then threw on a hoodie and opened her bedroom window. She quietly and easily climbed over the window and left it open.

Like everyday, she prayed that her car does not wake her parents as it started. And like everyday, they never woke up. She played soft harp music as she drove, feeling better already. Mandy drove for a full thirty minutes before reaching her usual spot by the river bank. She got out of the car, her feet soundless as she walked and sat down on the lawn by the river. Just looking at the water on a clear night gave her existential chills. And the moon inside her suddenly continued its orbit.

Everything around her suddenly became naked and she became aware of it all. The beat of her heart, her emotions, the breeze as it whispered, the abstract universe… she felt every bit of it. The silence around her touched infinity and yet she didn’t know exactly what she came here to do every single day. She was seeking- she was seeking for a better reason to live.

Mandy ambled to her car after some minutes and drove back home. She killed the car engine and went towards the window of her bedroom.

It was closed shut.

The light was also off but she left in on. And the window open. Could her parents have found out that she was gone? Her heart started pounding at that thought. She took a deep breath to steady her breathing and went to the back door. It had a spare key under a flower pot so she used that to enter the house.

On the way to her bedroom, Mandy didn’t turn on any light so darkness was still a guest. She traced her hands on the wall for support taking premeditated steps. She touched something wet, gooey and soft. It reminded her of a rotten tomato, and she jumped. A reflex action.

Mandy flipped on the nearby light switch and went back to the wall where she’d touched the spot. She tried to find it but it seemed to have disappeared. Maybe her fingertips had imagined it, she said internally.

At the bedroom, she opened the door and her soul almost left her body. She screamed and fell on her bottom then immediately stood up and raced to her parents bedroom. Mandy knocked- No, she banged and pounded on the door until her father opened it.

“Dad, there’s- there’s someone in my bedroom.” Her laboured breaths weren’t to be missed. “On my bed… I- someone is sleeping on my bed and I don’t know how he or she got in…” The look on her fathers face went from sleepy to annoyed to confused.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

“Honey, who is it?” Her mother asked, tying her gown as she approached them.

“Mom, just… please come with me. There’s- there’s someone in my bedroom.”

“Miss, I think you’ve come to the wrong house.” Her father stated as a matter of fact.

“Dad! It’s me, Amanda. This is the right house, this is my house.”

“Our daughter is sleeping in her room. Honey, what’s going on? Who is this?” Her mother looked at her father for answers but he didn’t have any. Mandy started to get scared. She touched her forehead, at the brink of tears, and whispered to herself,

“What’s happening?” She rubbed her face in frustration, “Mom?” She tried to touch her but her father pushed her away from her.

“Look, miss. If you don’t get out of our house right now, we’re calling the police.” A lone tear ran down her cheek when she heard her father say that.

“Why don’t you recognize me?!” She cried, “I’m your daughter!” Her father grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the house as she cried. This was real and it was happening. Her parents didn’t know, let alone recognise her. He unlocked the door,

“Get out!” He threw her out and closed the door. Mandy staggered and fell to her knees, crying. Later, she composed herself, got in her car and drove straight to a police station. Something was wrong and she needed help to figure out exactly what going on.

Her car halted in front of the station and she got out then ran inside faster than you can say ‘wait’. She approached the front desk and found a female officer sitting behind it.

“I need your help.” She was panting, crying and sweating from all the adrenaline rush. “Someone is in my house, I think it’s a robber and my parents don’t recognise me. I think he’s forcing them to say they don’t. Please come with me, I need your help.”

“Miss, please calm down. You’re not making any sense. Calm down and tell me what happened.” The female officer said. Mandy took a deep breath and narrated everything to the officer who noted some points down and moved to a computer. “Okay, tell me your name please.”

“Mandy. I mean, Amanda. Amanda O’Neil.” The officer typed in her name then looked up at her. Her demeanor had changed from concerned to annoyed.

“Is this some sort of prank?” Even her voice sounded harsh.

“Huh?”

“Kids these days! Who put you up to this? Is it your friends? Did they dare you to do this? Do you know I could lock you up for wasting my time like this?”

“I’m serious here! This isn’t a prank nor is it a dare, okay! My parents literally threw me out of the house and that’s not something they would ever-“

“Miss, there’s no one by the name of Amanda O’Neil.” She told her plainly.

“Wh- what do you mean? What are you talking about? I am Amanda O’Neil.” Mandy was confused beyond explanation. She was scared too. Terrified, really.

“You can stop with your jokes now. And get out.” Mandy opened her mouth and closed it again. Language skills had apparently abandoned her. Either that, or she had nothing to say. And she suddenly couldn’t breathe, air was not going into her lungs and she started to hyperventilate as the station begun to spin.  She took a step backwards again then wobbled and almost fell had she not supported herself with the edge of the wall.

Deciding to leave, she moved as stealthily as her legs would allow. By the time she got out, her eyes were blinking drowsily. The saliva in her mouth had dried up to nothing, and a cold heat was up the back of her neck, prickling her sweat-soaked skin. All Mandy wanted to do was give in to the overwhelming need to lie down – to let the darkness closing in take her over. But where was she going to go?

She wiped her tears and dug her phone from her pocket. Every trace of her life on the internet was gone. Even her social media accounts had disappeared. She wanted to laugh – at the craziness of her life. When she looked up from her phone, she saw some boy leaning against her car with his arms folded and his legs crossed at the ankles.

“They didn’t believe me either.” He said without any form of hello.

“You- what?” Upon seeing the confused look on her face, he explained,

“I heard you in there and… they didn’t believe me too. I woke up this morning and no one knew who I was.” Mandy just stared at him, mute. “I thought I was crazy or delusional but you seem to be going through the same thing I am. So we need to figure out exactly what the hell happening or what caused it because apparently-”

“We were never here.” Mandy whispered as the realization suddenly hit her.

THE END… or not.