by Daniel C. Tomas

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: December 03, 2011

Spiral of My Hand

There was something in the air; a hint of ginger or onions. I wasn't sure which. After a while, my sense of smell deteriorated when I was doing what I do.

The roses no longer smell as sweetsugar and spices are all peculiar and the sight of two people in love causes vomit to travel up my throat, only to be forced back down, leaving a vile aftertaste.

Even the air doesn't smell as fresh and beautiful.

How did I get here? Why was I cursed like this?

It isn't fair or even justified. I was recruited.

I swear it!

*

He wore a black suit, trimmed prim and proper to fit him perfectly, looking like he just walked out of the Tailor's. A nice black fedora sat atop his head, making him look like a dark Indiana Jones character. At first I didn't know what to make of him. But he was walking toward me with such confidence that I just had to stop and wait for him. It would have been easy to just turn away, but his small smile and captivating eyes kept my gaze right on him. I was standing below an overhang on the street. Cars were driving by, but he walked up the sidewalk, heading straight for me.

I was dressed in a pair of EMT pants and a button-down blue shirt with a sweatshirt on top and my name inscribed in white letters just above my heart. A pair of black boots donned my feet and a blue snow-hat rested firmly on my head. (It was winter, by the way.)

The city was alive during the day. It was about 1:00 p.m., and I was about to start my shift. I stood on the sidewalk, a few buildings away from my apartment. The brisk air filled my lungs and I breathed in and out slowly, savoring the freshness and purity of it. A cloudless sky in December is hard to find, but that day was an exception. The sun shined down and made me squint. The previous days were filled with snow, and the light seemed extra bright. I took the pair of aviators out of my shirt collar and put them on.

"Gavin Kyle McCormac?"

I paused, wide-eyed for a moment, my words getting caught in my throat. This was back when I could still feel fear.

"Y-Yeah," I stammered. "How'd you know?"

"I've been looking for you," the man said. His voice was calm and deep, with some sort of darkness underlying its tone. He smiled a little wider and nodded his head as if he was sure of something.

"Looking for me?" I asked, getting more confident.

"That's what I said," he replied.

A car sped by, honking at something and then disappearing as it turned the corner. Somehow, it was like that was the entire world; me, the

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