March 19, 2012
(Elizabeth’s POV)
After eleven hours of labor, my son was born. The seconde I heard the beautiful sound of his crying my hart-, hart seemed to stop. I watched as the doctor wrapped my little Ryan in a soft blue blanket. He walked over with holding my baby, then brought his face mask down from over his face. I tried to gasp, but ended up choking on my own breath. My eyes seemed to grow 10x wider at the site of Hans holding my Ryan. He grinned evilly. “You want him? u know what u have to do.” He left the room laughing, taking Ryan with him, who started crying again. I was numb from the waist down so I couldn’t go after him, so I screamed. “NO! HANS! GIVE HIM TO ME! u CAN’T DO THIS! HANS!!!!”
I sat up in my bed and woke with a start. I was hyperventilating, and sweating. That’s when I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them away with my palms, then looked at the digital clock on my bedside table. It read: 03:47am.
Call me crazy, but after that experience I didn’t want to go back to sleep. I went ahead and got up, showered, and dressed. I went back into the bathroom to do my hair, but ended up staring at the woman in the still fog-covered mirror. Was that me? No, far from it. I looked into the deep green eyes of that woman. Tired, worried eyes. The image of that blasted dagger flashed through my mind and what it was meant to do.
Was I really going to do this? Could I bring myself to murder? Another image flashed through my mind. I was standing there, dagger in hand, but I couldn’t do it. I just stood there in hesitation. What if that was how I was really going to end up? What would happen if I really ended up hesitating?
After brushing my hair and fixing it in my bun style, I went to my bag which was on my bedside tafel, tabel and took out the dagger. I removed it from its sheath and very carefully ran my finger along the razor sharp edge. The blade was only about six inches long. I went back into the bathroom and looked at the unknown woman in the mirror holding the weapon. I also watched her strike the air with it. I then imagined that Skipper stood before me and brought the dagger back, ready to plunge it through him. But instead ended up staring at that woman, center of gravity low, and murder in her eyes. That murderous expression then faded into disbelief. That woman in the mirror was me. It was a side of me that I never imagined in my wildest dreams I would ever see.
0614 hours
Kowalski was down in the diner looking over some figures with a cup of coffee. He always went down to the diner at this time because it was quiet; not many people went there so early in the morning. There were however a couple of other customers on the opposite side of the diner. A waitress came over with a coffee pot. Kowalski was about to stempel, punch something into a calculator but the waitress answered it before he had the seconde number in.
“37.6841 cubic centimeters.”
Kowalski looked up. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry…I couldn’t help but notice your work. The answer, to your figure is 37.6841 cubic centimeters.”
“You sure got the math down quickly don’t you?” Kowalski asked chuckling.
“Yeah…I was a nurse eight years ago. Then I went into architecture. So I’m pretty good with figures.”
Kowalski was about to say something else when he noticed her nametag. “Elizabeth Shields? u wouldn’t happen to live in apartment 48D would you?”
“Yeah...how’d u know?”
“Private told me. He zei he met you. I’m one of his…friends…” He said, not knowing what else to call it. “Name’s Kowalski.”
Elizabeth supposed she was playing her cards right. He didn’t seem to suspect anything, but that didn’t stop her hart-, hart from pounding out of her chest.
“Ah, yes. I remember Private. Sweet boy. Nice to meet u Kowalski. So what are u working on?”
Kowalski looked down shyly. “Oh nothing…it’s stupid…”
“Oh come on…tell me!” Elizabeth playfully urged. The meer she played this innocent act…the guiltier she felt. Kowalski laughed nervously. “It’s…just something I’m making…that’s all…”
“So…like an invention?”
“I…guess u could call it that…”
“Fascinating…so you’re an inventor?”
“Sort of…but they never work.”
“So? u still try. One dag you’ll make something great.” Kowalski looked up shyly at her smiling face. “Thanks.”
Elizabeth nodded. “More coffee?”
“Yes please.” She filled the cup and left him, Kowalski watched her leave.
0931 hours
Kowalski walked into the apartment, Skipper immediately reacted upon his entering. “Kowalski, what took u so long? You’ve been gone for over an uur now.”
“Sorry Skipper. I just lost track of time.”
“Lost track of time? When u left u zei u shouldn’t be much meer than fifteen to twenty minutes. What were u doing so intently that u lost track of time?”
“Well…I…”
“You met Elizabeth didn’t you?!” Private piped up cheerfully. “She told me she applied at the diner to make a few bucks while looking for a job! Am I right Kowalski?”
“Well…”
“Kowalski…did u meet Elizabeth?” Skipper asked taking a step closer to him. Kowalski cleared his throat. “Yes…”
“Isn’t she nice Kowalski?” Private asked once again in a cheerful tone. Skipper still wasn’t convinced. “What did u two talk about for so long?”
“A lot of things…honestly…I don’t see anything wrong with her. She seems legit to me”
“Oh Kowalski! Not u too! u barely know her!”
“Neither do you!” Kowalski pointed out.
Skipper sighed. “Fine Kowalski. I’ll make u a deal. As long as u don’t get too personal with her, and you’re in a public place with her, talk all u want. Capiche?” Kowalski rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath: “Yes mother…”
“What was that?” Kowalski raised his voice some. “Yes sir.”
“That’s what I thought. Now u go off and finish your invention. Rico, get the brand extinguisher ready for when it explodes. Private, look concered”
“Aye sir!” Private zei going into character. Kowalski rolled his eyes and entered his makeshift lab.
2119 hours
“Hey guys, have u seen my calculator?” Kowalski asked coming out of his lab. “I can’t find it anywhere.”
“Perhaps u left it at the diner this morning.”
“Oh, I hope it’s still there…” Kowalski left the apartment.
Once he arrived at the diner, he stopped at the sight of Elizabeth, wondering why she was still here. She had her back turned to him, cleaning a tafel, tabel while swaying to the radio. The diner was empty now. It appeared Elizabeth was the only one there. Kowalski cleared his throat to get her attention.
She turned around with a start. “Oh, hello Kowalski. I suppose you’re back for your calculator?” She pulled the calculator out of a pocket on her apron.
“Yeah…Thanks. What are u still doing here?”
“One of the other waitresses had a family emergency and asked me to lock up for her.”
“Oh, I see. Thanks again for the calculator.”
“You’re welcome. Bye Kowalski.”
Kowalski nodded and was about to leave but stopped when he heard the radio volume turn up. He turned around to see Elizabeth moving to the muziek as she cleaned off another table.
“I love the tango.” Kowalski zei nonchalantly.
“Do you?” Elizabeth asked glancing back at him smiling. Kowalski walked up to her. “Yeah.”
“I too love the tango. Never learned the dance though. Never had the time.”
“I could teach you.”
Elizabeth looked up from the tafel, tabel she was at. “Oh, no, no, no. I appreciate the thought, but I just can’t. I’ve never danced.” Well, except for at her wedding, which she had to refrain from shivering at the thought.
Kowalski took her hand and led her to the middle of the diner saying: “If I can invent, u can dance.” Just at the heat of the song, Kowalski pulled her close, resulting in her laugh.
Kowalski led her in a series of dips and twirls across the diner. It was as if they were the only two people in the world. When the song ended, Kowalski had her in mid-dip. They stood there a minute, gazing into each other’s eyes. Kowalski pulled her up, his gaze still fixed into hers. They pulled away laughing nervously. “I should…probably lock up now.” Elizabeth said. Kowalski nodded. “Yeah…I’ll…catch u later?”
“Sure. Bye Kowalski.”
“Bye Ms. Shields.”
“Elizabeth, please.” She zei smiling. Kowalski smiled back. “Bye Elizabeth.” Kowalski turned and left. That’s when Elizabeth realized that when she was dancing with Kowalski, she’d forgotten about everything. Her hart-, hart sunk into her intestines as she fought back tears. She wasn’t sure she could do this for much longer.
(Elizabeth’s POV)
After eleven hours of labor, my son was born. The seconde I heard the beautiful sound of his crying my hart-, hart seemed to stop. I watched as the doctor wrapped my little Ryan in a soft blue blanket. He walked over with holding my baby, then brought his face mask down from over his face. I tried to gasp, but ended up choking on my own breath. My eyes seemed to grow 10x wider at the site of Hans holding my Ryan. He grinned evilly. “You want him? u know what u have to do.” He left the room laughing, taking Ryan with him, who started crying again. I was numb from the waist down so I couldn’t go after him, so I screamed. “NO! HANS! GIVE HIM TO ME! u CAN’T DO THIS! HANS!!!!”
I sat up in my bed and woke with a start. I was hyperventilating, and sweating. That’s when I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them away with my palms, then looked at the digital clock on my bedside table. It read: 03:47am.
Call me crazy, but after that experience I didn’t want to go back to sleep. I went ahead and got up, showered, and dressed. I went back into the bathroom to do my hair, but ended up staring at the woman in the still fog-covered mirror. Was that me? No, far from it. I looked into the deep green eyes of that woman. Tired, worried eyes. The image of that blasted dagger flashed through my mind and what it was meant to do.
Was I really going to do this? Could I bring myself to murder? Another image flashed through my mind. I was standing there, dagger in hand, but I couldn’t do it. I just stood there in hesitation. What if that was how I was really going to end up? What would happen if I really ended up hesitating?
After brushing my hair and fixing it in my bun style, I went to my bag which was on my bedside tafel, tabel and took out the dagger. I removed it from its sheath and very carefully ran my finger along the razor sharp edge. The blade was only about six inches long. I went back into the bathroom and looked at the unknown woman in the mirror holding the weapon. I also watched her strike the air with it. I then imagined that Skipper stood before me and brought the dagger back, ready to plunge it through him. But instead ended up staring at that woman, center of gravity low, and murder in her eyes. That murderous expression then faded into disbelief. That woman in the mirror was me. It was a side of me that I never imagined in my wildest dreams I would ever see.
0614 hours
Kowalski was down in the diner looking over some figures with a cup of coffee. He always went down to the diner at this time because it was quiet; not many people went there so early in the morning. There were however a couple of other customers on the opposite side of the diner. A waitress came over with a coffee pot. Kowalski was about to stempel, punch something into a calculator but the waitress answered it before he had the seconde number in.
“37.6841 cubic centimeters.”
Kowalski looked up. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry…I couldn’t help but notice your work. The answer, to your figure is 37.6841 cubic centimeters.”
“You sure got the math down quickly don’t you?” Kowalski asked chuckling.
“Yeah…I was a nurse eight years ago. Then I went into architecture. So I’m pretty good with figures.”
Kowalski was about to say something else when he noticed her nametag. “Elizabeth Shields? u wouldn’t happen to live in apartment 48D would you?”
“Yeah...how’d u know?”
“Private told me. He zei he met you. I’m one of his…friends…” He said, not knowing what else to call it. “Name’s Kowalski.”
Elizabeth supposed she was playing her cards right. He didn’t seem to suspect anything, but that didn’t stop her hart-, hart from pounding out of her chest.
“Ah, yes. I remember Private. Sweet boy. Nice to meet u Kowalski. So what are u working on?”
Kowalski looked down shyly. “Oh nothing…it’s stupid…”
“Oh come on…tell me!” Elizabeth playfully urged. The meer she played this innocent act…the guiltier she felt. Kowalski laughed nervously. “It’s…just something I’m making…that’s all…”
“So…like an invention?”
“I…guess u could call it that…”
“Fascinating…so you’re an inventor?”
“Sort of…but they never work.”
“So? u still try. One dag you’ll make something great.” Kowalski looked up shyly at her smiling face. “Thanks.”
Elizabeth nodded. “More coffee?”
“Yes please.” She filled the cup and left him, Kowalski watched her leave.
0931 hours
Kowalski walked into the apartment, Skipper immediately reacted upon his entering. “Kowalski, what took u so long? You’ve been gone for over an uur now.”
“Sorry Skipper. I just lost track of time.”
“Lost track of time? When u left u zei u shouldn’t be much meer than fifteen to twenty minutes. What were u doing so intently that u lost track of time?”
“Well…I…”
“You met Elizabeth didn’t you?!” Private piped up cheerfully. “She told me she applied at the diner to make a few bucks while looking for a job! Am I right Kowalski?”
“Well…”
“Kowalski…did u meet Elizabeth?” Skipper asked taking a step closer to him. Kowalski cleared his throat. “Yes…”
“Isn’t she nice Kowalski?” Private asked once again in a cheerful tone. Skipper still wasn’t convinced. “What did u two talk about for so long?”
“A lot of things…honestly…I don’t see anything wrong with her. She seems legit to me”
“Oh Kowalski! Not u too! u barely know her!”
“Neither do you!” Kowalski pointed out.
Skipper sighed. “Fine Kowalski. I’ll make u a deal. As long as u don’t get too personal with her, and you’re in a public place with her, talk all u want. Capiche?” Kowalski rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath: “Yes mother…”
“What was that?” Kowalski raised his voice some. “Yes sir.”
“That’s what I thought. Now u go off and finish your invention. Rico, get the brand extinguisher ready for when it explodes. Private, look concered”
“Aye sir!” Private zei going into character. Kowalski rolled his eyes and entered his makeshift lab.
2119 hours
“Hey guys, have u seen my calculator?” Kowalski asked coming out of his lab. “I can’t find it anywhere.”
“Perhaps u left it at the diner this morning.”
“Oh, I hope it’s still there…” Kowalski left the apartment.
Once he arrived at the diner, he stopped at the sight of Elizabeth, wondering why she was still here. She had her back turned to him, cleaning a tafel, tabel while swaying to the radio. The diner was empty now. It appeared Elizabeth was the only one there. Kowalski cleared his throat to get her attention.
She turned around with a start. “Oh, hello Kowalski. I suppose you’re back for your calculator?” She pulled the calculator out of a pocket on her apron.
“Yeah…Thanks. What are u still doing here?”
“One of the other waitresses had a family emergency and asked me to lock up for her.”
“Oh, I see. Thanks again for the calculator.”
“You’re welcome. Bye Kowalski.”
Kowalski nodded and was about to leave but stopped when he heard the radio volume turn up. He turned around to see Elizabeth moving to the muziek as she cleaned off another table.
“I love the tango.” Kowalski zei nonchalantly.
“Do you?” Elizabeth asked glancing back at him smiling. Kowalski walked up to her. “Yeah.”
“I too love the tango. Never learned the dance though. Never had the time.”
“I could teach you.”
Elizabeth looked up from the tafel, tabel she was at. “Oh, no, no, no. I appreciate the thought, but I just can’t. I’ve never danced.” Well, except for at her wedding, which she had to refrain from shivering at the thought.
Kowalski took her hand and led her to the middle of the diner saying: “If I can invent, u can dance.” Just at the heat of the song, Kowalski pulled her close, resulting in her laugh.
Kowalski led her in a series of dips and twirls across the diner. It was as if they were the only two people in the world. When the song ended, Kowalski had her in mid-dip. They stood there a minute, gazing into each other’s eyes. Kowalski pulled her up, his gaze still fixed into hers. They pulled away laughing nervously. “I should…probably lock up now.” Elizabeth said. Kowalski nodded. “Yeah…I’ll…catch u later?”
“Sure. Bye Kowalski.”
“Bye Ms. Shields.”
“Elizabeth, please.” She zei smiling. Kowalski smiled back. “Bye Elizabeth.” Kowalski turned and left. That’s when Elizabeth realized that when she was dancing with Kowalski, she’d forgotten about everything. Her hart-, hart sunk into her intestines as she fought back tears. She wasn’t sure she could do this for much longer.
