Status: May contain multiple errors however mostly understandable.
HERO Project
HERO Project: Hamish
I live a lonely life where no one understands me. Everyone around me is happy but I am not. Their happiness is sicken and often sends me insane. Resulting in home arrest; I haven’t left my house in almost three weeks. The phone rings but I don’t answer it...I want nothing to do with this world. You’re asking yourself:
‘’Why doesn’t he just kill himself? Worthless scum.’’
It’s true that I don’t have much to live for…in fact, nobody wouldn’t miss me. However, I remain alive because I am stupidly hopeful that Mrs Right will stroll into my life. I have searched my entire life looking for her…but she doesn’t exist in this world. When will she exist and how long will I have to wait?
‘’Leeann Richards wants to be your friend’’ The email said. I denied her friendship request almost instantly. I did stop to consider it but I didn’t find the need to have her as a friend. I don’t know why I even have a Facebook account; I have no friends on it...only because I refused all of them. I looked through her profile, she seems to be happy. She has everything a successful twenty four year old would want: a husband, two kids, a well paying job, a reasonably big house and nice family friendly dog. An average life I suppose...meanwhile I live by myself with no job in a small apartment and the only pet I have is the cockroaches crawling around on the ground.
The phone started to ring...the ringtone echoed throughout my empty apartment. The upbeat bubbly ringtone annoyed me and I have been meaning to disconnect the phone however I haven’t been to that part of the room in a long time. I grabbed a nearby empty water bottle and threw it in that general direction but it missed. It went straight to message bank.
‘’Hamish darling’’ it was my mum, it was the sixth time in two days that she has called ‘’I was just calling to check how you were going...haven’t heard from you in a while. Also, just letting you know I sent your allowance for the week. Well...hope you’re alright and I love you’’ She hung up. I checked my bank account, $500. I received an email from someone I didn’t know. I opened the email and read through it...
‘’Dear Hamish, I know you probably don’t remember me but my name is Kaylie, we were in the same maths and biology class in senior years. We occasionally talked. The other day when I was flipping through the year book, I saw you and thought that I wanted to get in contact with you to see how you were. I bet you’re a successful business man or something! You were always answering questions in class and I remember a few times you would outsmart the teacher. I always enjoyed speaking to you and I was hoping to catch up sometime...if that was alright with you of course? Well better fly, see you later I hope! Love Kaylie.’’
I remember this girl...she was the only person who dared sitting next to me in class, everyone else thought I was some kind of child murderer...people took one look at me and thought that. However, she didnt. I smiled at her brave attempt to reconnect with me...she doesn’t want to ‘catch up’ because the instant she sees where I live she will mock me and tell me that I am a worthless scum who should be disgusted or a abomination to society. I moved my cursor over the delete button...however something prevented me from clicking. The cursor just hovered over the button and I was fighting with myself whether I should bother to reply to her or not. In one big rush, I moved the cursor from delete to reply and madly started typing...
‘’Hello Kaylie! Actually do remember you. How I could forget you? You were the only person who sat next me in class! That is a little hard to forget lol. I haven’t spoken to anyone from school ever since well we graduated. Ahh...I am definitely no successful business man, you would think differently of me if you really knew what I was. I would hate to take time out your day just so you can see a scum like me. Well, talk soon I suppose...’’
I pressed send before I could even register it in my brain.
‘’Why did I do that?!’’ I shouted in fury. I told myself that I would never contact anyone from school...no matter whom. They are all the same...every single one of them. You befriend them and then they use you to put themselves further up in the food chain. Everyone always used to beat me up just to show off to the ‘superiors’ as I liked calling them. I was a slow learner, so I thought that next person would truly love me...but they never do. I never had a single friend throughout my entire schooling. This ultimately resulted in my social withdrawal and now the only people I call friends are the post man and repo man...although that is only a brief:
‘’Hello, how you going?’’
‘’Oh that’s good to hear! Well better be off. Have a good day, sir!’’
Just as I was about to pop open another Pepsi can, I received an email from Kaylie...that was quicker than I thought.
‘’I am glad! That you still remember me...I was afraid that you would have forgotten me and thought I was some kind of scammer lol. I still talk to my friends every so often on Facebook but apart from that we barely hang out. I wouldn’t be afraid of you! No matter what you have become...unless you’re a paedophile, which I hope you’re not lol. I really don’t do much during the day so spending time with you, wouldn’t bother me the slightest bit. Come on! Let’s go for a coffee or something...please?’’
Why does she insist on meeting? She will regret coming within a metre of me...I hadn’t showered in a week nor have I slept in three days...bottom line I look terrible. Not to mention, I refuse to leave my apartment. And if she insists on coming to my place, she will have second thoughts about ‘catching up’ when she takes a step into my apartment. The smell is absolutely disgusting and hideous. I am like the monster living in a cave...it’s just not a pretty sight.
‘’Kaylie...I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to meet up. I am sorry that I wasted your time by replying and getting your hopes up but it’s never gonna happen...so sorry once again and have a nice day!’’
I ended it on a sour note but I didn’t want to mislead her into fake friendship...I did the right thing. My fingers were frozen and sticking to the keyboard...my head hang down with my hair hiding my face. My right hand started twitching violently, I couldn’t move it nor could I move my entire body. I dropped off my chair and onto the cold ground. The entire right side of my body started twitching. I couldn’t control it.
I could only move the left side of my body...I slowly crawled towards the phone. My perception of the room kept on changing; the closer I crawled towards the phone the further it seemed to stretch away from me. After two minutes of crawling, I gave up and just laid on the ground helplessly twitching and tripping out.
‘’Wha...what is happening to me?’’ I tried whispering but the words just wouldn’t come out. Instead they came out distorted. I felt something drizzle out of my nose and drip onto the carpet. I dabbed the carpet and looked to see what it was...blood. To accompany the blood, sharp pains stung in my head.
‘’Someone...please...help me’’ I screamed out loud hoping that someone heard me. I heard a ding from my computer, indicating that I received a new email. I took in a big breath ‘’Kaylie...’’. I begun the long crawl back to the computer and somehow managed to pull my keyboard and mouse down to me.
‘’Please Kaylie...help me...something is happening to me.
Apartment six, Karnivool street.
Please hur’’
My left arm fell down and landed on the mouse. It just gave up itself...I couldn’t move my neck to see if it was sent or not. I pray it did or else I might die in this apartment...
‘’Hamish...please wake up’’ I heard a girl cry out to me.
‘’Kaylie’’ I faintly whispered. I tried opening my eyes but they remained shut. It felt like someone tied bricks to them.
‘’Hamish! Your conscious! The ambulance is coming...can you open your eyes?’’. She sounded relieved and her soft hands grasped onto my back, pushing me further into her chest. Her scent smoothed my mind and I didn’t want her to let go of me. I could still feel my arms twitching however I felt her trying to squeeze me in closer, probably hoping they would stop.
‘’Don’t worry...I won’t leave you’’ She assured me. The sad thing is...I believed her. I wanted to open my eyes so I could see how much she has aged or whether she still had that baby face or still had those topaz green eyes. For the meanwhile though, I breathed in her scent until I was able to open my eyes. Minutes later, the ambulance came budging through the door and stole me away from Kaylie’s angel grip. They continued to ask her twenty questions but she could barely answer any of them. I was rushed out the front door and down the stairs. For the first time in a long time...I felt the cold breeze vent through my body, it raised the hairs on back. I opened my mouth to try speak but the words came up out as muffed mumbles. They pushed me into the back of the ambulance and then finally covered me with a blanket.
‘’Hamish, can you hear us?’’ One of them said as the other attached a clip to my left index finger.
‘’He wasn’t responding before either...’’ I heard Kaylie cry.
‘’Are you his girlfriend?’’ The medic asked.
‘’No...Just a long lost friend.’’ She replied. I choked a little when I heard her say that. It came as a shock to me that someone actually titled me their ‘long lost friend’, the medics immediately attended to me once again to make I was alright. The siren pieced through my ears and vibrated through my throbbing head. I suddenly became a little breathless as I grasped for air. The medic wrapped an oxygen mask around my head and continued asking Kaylie questions. She broke their chain of questions with one of her own...
‘’What is wrong with him?!’’. The medic was silent for a while before replying:
‘’It looks like a major shock attack, I could be wrong though’’
I felt her grab my hand; I am guessing she didn’t mind the shaking. She squeezed it as hard as she could...
‘’Please don’t die...we have a lot of catching up to do.’’ Her tears dripped onto my hand. Each drop and my heart stopped. It felt like someone was banging my heart each time a tear splashed on my hand. I wasn’t too sure whether it was her tears or not but I felt something run down my cheeks...no I am certain now that it’s my own tears, that was confirmed when she wiped them away.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital and as soon as the ambulance stopped, they rushed me out. The wind rushed through my lash long hair and it reminded me of running away from school. I gasped for air again at the terrible memory; that memory will never die...the hospital noises filled my ear drums and soon meshed into one noise. However, above all, I could hear Kaylie’s cries. I regained feeling in my hands and I could feel that she firmly gripped onto my hand. If I had the strength, I would lift my puffy cheeks up into a smile. They soon transferred my twitching body to another and more comfortable bed. They ripped apart my shirt and what felt like bees attacking my chest was only doctors attaching sticky pads to me. I heard one of the doctors shoo off Kaylie, but she fought back with bitter cries.
‘’No! I won’t leave him!’’ She hissed. I desperately tried pulling my eyes open but they refused to open. I couldn’t even lift a finger. My entire body was acting on its own accord. My arms and legs were shackled down; someone jabbed me with a needle which finally but slowly calmed down my shaking arms and legs.
Once, my arms and legs finally stopped, the doctor proceed to ask me questions.
‘’Hamish, if you can hear me, raise a finger’’
I tried focussing all my remaining energy into lifting a finger but I failed. Instead, my hand started shaking a little.
‘’Kaylie...’’ I croaked. The doctor removed my oxygen mask, at the astonishing sight of lip movement. He asked if I could repeat what I said.
‘’Wh...where is Kaylie?’’ I asked barely having the energy to move my lips anymore. The doctor sounded confused as he asked me who Kaylie was. Suddenly, I heard a glass drop and footsteps fast approaching me. Then a pair of warm hands strongly gripped my ice cold hand. It smelt like and felt like Kaylie.
‘’Are you Kaylie?’’ The doctor asked, however she ignored him and used one hand to stroke my lifeless face.
‘’Hamish...I’m here now. Forgive me, I needed some coffee’’ I heard her smile but I sensed that her smile slowly turned to a frown. I only had enough energy to lift one side of my mouth. She acknowledged that I smiled and commented:
‘’I haven’t seen that smile in over five years, it warms my heart seeing it again’’ She sniffed.
‘’Why...’’ I asked.
‘’because you have a beautiful smile’’
‘’No...’’ I only had the energy to say one word answers, I hoped she understood. She laughed lightly.
‘’Why did I come after you?’’ She asked sounding a little confused.
‘’Yeah’’ I confirmed. She sniffed but I could feel it in her hand that she was smiling.
‘’Because I always wanted to be your hero...’’ she paused to gather her breath before continuing ‘’I always wanted to save you from the depths of hell...I searched high and low trying to find you again but every road led to a dead end. I tried multiple times calling but you never answered. I might be an ordinary girl with heart and soul but if you’re the one for me...I will be your hero.’’
A strange sensation overcame me as I was cured of my sickness. My eyes opened and I regained control of my hands. Her face paused at the all of sudden sight of awaking. The doctor immediately unlocked the shackles and rushed off to tell the nurses what had just happened.
‘’Thank you’’ I smiled; I brushed my hand across her cheek and curved my hand around her head, slowly lowering her head. Our lips connected, at first she locked her lips up but then she slowly relaxed and wrapped one of her arms under my neck. She lifted me closer to her, not for a split second did our lips separate. Her strawberry lip gloss left a shiny glow on my lips. I didn’t want to let go but the doctors forced us away.
‘’So, incredible...some kind of miracle’’ I whispered as my heart beat rapidly just looking at her beauty.
‘’If it’s meant to be...I will become your hero’’ She smiled.
‘’Why doesn’t he just kill himself? Worthless scum.’’
It’s true that I don’t have much to live for…in fact, nobody wouldn’t miss me. However, I remain alive because I am stupidly hopeful that Mrs Right will stroll into my life. I have searched my entire life looking for her…but she doesn’t exist in this world. When will she exist and how long will I have to wait?
‘’Leeann Richards wants to be your friend’’ The email said. I denied her friendship request almost instantly. I did stop to consider it but I didn’t find the need to have her as a friend. I don’t know why I even have a Facebook account; I have no friends on it...only because I refused all of them. I looked through her profile, she seems to be happy. She has everything a successful twenty four year old would want: a husband, two kids, a well paying job, a reasonably big house and nice family friendly dog. An average life I suppose...meanwhile I live by myself with no job in a small apartment and the only pet I have is the cockroaches crawling around on the ground.
The phone started to ring...the ringtone echoed throughout my empty apartment. The upbeat bubbly ringtone annoyed me and I have been meaning to disconnect the phone however I haven’t been to that part of the room in a long time. I grabbed a nearby empty water bottle and threw it in that general direction but it missed. It went straight to message bank.
‘’Hamish darling’’ it was my mum, it was the sixth time in two days that she has called ‘’I was just calling to check how you were going...haven’t heard from you in a while. Also, just letting you know I sent your allowance for the week. Well...hope you’re alright and I love you’’ She hung up. I checked my bank account, $500. I received an email from someone I didn’t know. I opened the email and read through it...
‘’Dear Hamish, I know you probably don’t remember me but my name is Kaylie, we were in the same maths and biology class in senior years. We occasionally talked. The other day when I was flipping through the year book, I saw you and thought that I wanted to get in contact with you to see how you were. I bet you’re a successful business man or something! You were always answering questions in class and I remember a few times you would outsmart the teacher. I always enjoyed speaking to you and I was hoping to catch up sometime...if that was alright with you of course? Well better fly, see you later I hope! Love Kaylie.’’
I remember this girl...she was the only person who dared sitting next to me in class, everyone else thought I was some kind of child murderer...people took one look at me and thought that. However, she didnt. I smiled at her brave attempt to reconnect with me...she doesn’t want to ‘catch up’ because the instant she sees where I live she will mock me and tell me that I am a worthless scum who should be disgusted or a abomination to society. I moved my cursor over the delete button...however something prevented me from clicking. The cursor just hovered over the button and I was fighting with myself whether I should bother to reply to her or not. In one big rush, I moved the cursor from delete to reply and madly started typing...
‘’Hello Kaylie! Actually do remember you. How I could forget you? You were the only person who sat next me in class! That is a little hard to forget lol. I haven’t spoken to anyone from school ever since well we graduated. Ahh...I am definitely no successful business man, you would think differently of me if you really knew what I was. I would hate to take time out your day just so you can see a scum like me. Well, talk soon I suppose...’’
I pressed send before I could even register it in my brain.
‘’Why did I do that?!’’ I shouted in fury. I told myself that I would never contact anyone from school...no matter whom. They are all the same...every single one of them. You befriend them and then they use you to put themselves further up in the food chain. Everyone always used to beat me up just to show off to the ‘superiors’ as I liked calling them. I was a slow learner, so I thought that next person would truly love me...but they never do. I never had a single friend throughout my entire schooling. This ultimately resulted in my social withdrawal and now the only people I call friends are the post man and repo man...although that is only a brief:
‘’Hello, how you going?’’
‘’Oh that’s good to hear! Well better be off. Have a good day, sir!’’
Just as I was about to pop open another Pepsi can, I received an email from Kaylie...that was quicker than I thought.
‘’I am glad! That you still remember me...I was afraid that you would have forgotten me and thought I was some kind of scammer lol. I still talk to my friends every so often on Facebook but apart from that we barely hang out. I wouldn’t be afraid of you! No matter what you have become...unless you’re a paedophile, which I hope you’re not lol. I really don’t do much during the day so spending time with you, wouldn’t bother me the slightest bit. Come on! Let’s go for a coffee or something...please?’’
Why does she insist on meeting? She will regret coming within a metre of me...I hadn’t showered in a week nor have I slept in three days...bottom line I look terrible. Not to mention, I refuse to leave my apartment. And if she insists on coming to my place, she will have second thoughts about ‘catching up’ when she takes a step into my apartment. The smell is absolutely disgusting and hideous. I am like the monster living in a cave...it’s just not a pretty sight.
‘’Kaylie...I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to meet up. I am sorry that I wasted your time by replying and getting your hopes up but it’s never gonna happen...so sorry once again and have a nice day!’’
I ended it on a sour note but I didn’t want to mislead her into fake friendship...I did the right thing. My fingers were frozen and sticking to the keyboard...my head hang down with my hair hiding my face. My right hand started twitching violently, I couldn’t move it nor could I move my entire body. I dropped off my chair and onto the cold ground. The entire right side of my body started twitching. I couldn’t control it.
I could only move the left side of my body...I slowly crawled towards the phone. My perception of the room kept on changing; the closer I crawled towards the phone the further it seemed to stretch away from me. After two minutes of crawling, I gave up and just laid on the ground helplessly twitching and tripping out.
‘’Wha...what is happening to me?’’ I tried whispering but the words just wouldn’t come out. Instead they came out distorted. I felt something drizzle out of my nose and drip onto the carpet. I dabbed the carpet and looked to see what it was...blood. To accompany the blood, sharp pains stung in my head.
‘’Someone...please...help me’’ I screamed out loud hoping that someone heard me. I heard a ding from my computer, indicating that I received a new email. I took in a big breath ‘’Kaylie...’’. I begun the long crawl back to the computer and somehow managed to pull my keyboard and mouse down to me.
‘’Please Kaylie...help me...something is happening to me.
Apartment six, Karnivool street.
Please hur’’
My left arm fell down and landed on the mouse. It just gave up itself...I couldn’t move my neck to see if it was sent or not. I pray it did or else I might die in this apartment...
‘’Hamish...please wake up’’ I heard a girl cry out to me.
‘’Kaylie’’ I faintly whispered. I tried opening my eyes but they remained shut. It felt like someone tied bricks to them.
‘’Hamish! Your conscious! The ambulance is coming...can you open your eyes?’’. She sounded relieved and her soft hands grasped onto my back, pushing me further into her chest. Her scent smoothed my mind and I didn’t want her to let go of me. I could still feel my arms twitching however I felt her trying to squeeze me in closer, probably hoping they would stop.
‘’Don’t worry...I won’t leave you’’ She assured me. The sad thing is...I believed her. I wanted to open my eyes so I could see how much she has aged or whether she still had that baby face or still had those topaz green eyes. For the meanwhile though, I breathed in her scent until I was able to open my eyes. Minutes later, the ambulance came budging through the door and stole me away from Kaylie’s angel grip. They continued to ask her twenty questions but she could barely answer any of them. I was rushed out the front door and down the stairs. For the first time in a long time...I felt the cold breeze vent through my body, it raised the hairs on back. I opened my mouth to try speak but the words came up out as muffed mumbles. They pushed me into the back of the ambulance and then finally covered me with a blanket.
‘’Hamish, can you hear us?’’ One of them said as the other attached a clip to my left index finger.
‘’He wasn’t responding before either...’’ I heard Kaylie cry.
‘’Are you his girlfriend?’’ The medic asked.
‘’No...Just a long lost friend.’’ She replied. I choked a little when I heard her say that. It came as a shock to me that someone actually titled me their ‘long lost friend’, the medics immediately attended to me once again to make I was alright. The siren pieced through my ears and vibrated through my throbbing head. I suddenly became a little breathless as I grasped for air. The medic wrapped an oxygen mask around my head and continued asking Kaylie questions. She broke their chain of questions with one of her own...
‘’What is wrong with him?!’’. The medic was silent for a while before replying:
‘’It looks like a major shock attack, I could be wrong though’’
I felt her grab my hand; I am guessing she didn’t mind the shaking. She squeezed it as hard as she could...
‘’Please don’t die...we have a lot of catching up to do.’’ Her tears dripped onto my hand. Each drop and my heart stopped. It felt like someone was banging my heart each time a tear splashed on my hand. I wasn’t too sure whether it was her tears or not but I felt something run down my cheeks...no I am certain now that it’s my own tears, that was confirmed when she wiped them away.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital and as soon as the ambulance stopped, they rushed me out. The wind rushed through my lash long hair and it reminded me of running away from school. I gasped for air again at the terrible memory; that memory will never die...the hospital noises filled my ear drums and soon meshed into one noise. However, above all, I could hear Kaylie’s cries. I regained feeling in my hands and I could feel that she firmly gripped onto my hand. If I had the strength, I would lift my puffy cheeks up into a smile. They soon transferred my twitching body to another and more comfortable bed. They ripped apart my shirt and what felt like bees attacking my chest was only doctors attaching sticky pads to me. I heard one of the doctors shoo off Kaylie, but she fought back with bitter cries.
‘’No! I won’t leave him!’’ She hissed. I desperately tried pulling my eyes open but they refused to open. I couldn’t even lift a finger. My entire body was acting on its own accord. My arms and legs were shackled down; someone jabbed me with a needle which finally but slowly calmed down my shaking arms and legs.
Once, my arms and legs finally stopped, the doctor proceed to ask me questions.
‘’Hamish, if you can hear me, raise a finger’’
I tried focussing all my remaining energy into lifting a finger but I failed. Instead, my hand started shaking a little.
‘’Kaylie...’’ I croaked. The doctor removed my oxygen mask, at the astonishing sight of lip movement. He asked if I could repeat what I said.
‘’Wh...where is Kaylie?’’ I asked barely having the energy to move my lips anymore. The doctor sounded confused as he asked me who Kaylie was. Suddenly, I heard a glass drop and footsteps fast approaching me. Then a pair of warm hands strongly gripped my ice cold hand. It smelt like and felt like Kaylie.
‘’Are you Kaylie?’’ The doctor asked, however she ignored him and used one hand to stroke my lifeless face.
‘’Hamish...I’m here now. Forgive me, I needed some coffee’’ I heard her smile but I sensed that her smile slowly turned to a frown. I only had enough energy to lift one side of my mouth. She acknowledged that I smiled and commented:
‘’I haven’t seen that smile in over five years, it warms my heart seeing it again’’ She sniffed.
‘’Why...’’ I asked.
‘’because you have a beautiful smile’’
‘’No...’’ I only had the energy to say one word answers, I hoped she understood. She laughed lightly.
‘’Why did I come after you?’’ She asked sounding a little confused.
‘’Yeah’’ I confirmed. She sniffed but I could feel it in her hand that she was smiling.
‘’Because I always wanted to be your hero...’’ she paused to gather her breath before continuing ‘’I always wanted to save you from the depths of hell...I searched high and low trying to find you again but every road led to a dead end. I tried multiple times calling but you never answered. I might be an ordinary girl with heart and soul but if you’re the one for me...I will be your hero.’’
A strange sensation overcame me as I was cured of my sickness. My eyes opened and I regained control of my hands. Her face paused at the all of sudden sight of awaking. The doctor immediately unlocked the shackles and rushed off to tell the nurses what had just happened.
‘’Thank you’’ I smiled; I brushed my hand across her cheek and curved my hand around her head, slowly lowering her head. Our lips connected, at first she locked her lips up but then she slowly relaxed and wrapped one of her arms under my neck. She lifted me closer to her, not for a split second did our lips separate. Her strawberry lip gloss left a shiny glow on my lips. I didn’t want to let go but the doctors forced us away.
‘’So, incredible...some kind of miracle’’ I whispered as my heart beat rapidly just looking at her beauty.
‘’If it’s meant to be...I will become your hero’’ She smiled.
♠ ♠ ♠
May contain multiple errors, however is mostly understandable.