Chapter 3: Encountered

Sarah Codache

My mom held my hands with the warmth that brought a sense of safety as we walked across the flared street on a breezy day. My sister, on the other hand, went far-off with headphones on. With wide, startled eyes, she aggressively operated her rectangular-shaped charcoal device. I wanted to run towards her, but I was afraid to be slapped in the face, so instead, I turned my attention to our neighborhoods' gardens, which held me captive. I observed our surroundings until I spotted a group of people burning a highly elastic solid substance, dark amber in color. I felt something wrong upon looking at the colored ash smokes that scattered all-encompassing its neighboring front yards. 

The firm, distinctive smell of the gaseous products of burning materials smacked into my face. But before it happened, I was already preparing to walk with sturdiness to disregard the unease that I felt. 

"What's wrong, Sarah?" My mom held my hands with wrinkled eyebrows, gazing at my darting eyes. I did not even notice that she was in front of me. My nerves were stimulating throughout my body until I began to shake. My mom gulped, calling my sister, who was having a video chat on her phone. On the flip side, she wasn't able to hear mom. 

My mom panicked, but instead of forcing my sister to come, she shouted towards the people nearby, desperately asking for help. But, among the bunch of people staying outside, only a few responded to help. 

"What should we do?" 

"Call an ambulance!"

"No! She just needs some proper therapy."

Everyone was helping me to bring back my normal state. They did not know what exactly should they do, and so I am. I did not even understand what I felt. I tried to control it, but it was uncontrollable. 

I started to shout out of my frustration. Their voices blended as they were looking for ways to control my temper. They were a few people holding my arms. One was hugging me tight from the back, and the rest handled my feet to stop moving vigorously.

I sighted some neighbors with a taut brow and a half-opened mouth, gradually moving away from us with mocking emotions. Some even got back to their homes and shut their windows. 

Later on, a woman accidentally scratched my skin with her sharp nails. The unusual sensation brought by the wound triggered my consciousness. My eyes widened, and my body movements became more obdurate against them. 

My mom fumed towards the woman. "Look, what have you done! My daughter's getting more violent!" 

She tried to make me calm using her sympathetic arms, but my body quickly reacts against it, causing mom to get out of balanced. Her back touched the ground with a thud sound. People helped her to get back, but her spine refused. So they guided her towards the nearest public chair.

The people who helped me were so firm. Until such time, I felt a massive slap on my face. Everyone was stunned at the person who did that; it was my sister.

"What are you doing?! What do you want?" She shouted. Her face was angry as a lion with sturdy eye contact towards mine. Her eyes were also eating me alive.

With pale eyes greeting hers, I wondered. 

Why is she shouting at me? 

My body lacked muscle tension, and the arms and legs move freely and naturally moving with any motion. I felt relaxed once again.

My sister let out a deep sigh before grabbing my arms back to our home, leaving everyone who helped me speechless. I was surprised! My heart jumped in extreme happiness that finally, my sister was once again holding my arms, trying to interact with me.

I smiled, letting out my joyous pleasure. 

She stopped for a while, and with a tilted head, lips biting her teeth, and a curved eyebrow, she murmured. 

"Can you please stop making weird sounds?" 

I laughed. I was pleased to get her attention. I did wish her to play with me, and now it slowly happened. 

"What's funny?" She rolled her eyes and provokingly left. I was disappointed. 

I looked outside the window and saw that it was raining. I went closer to it and opened the windowpane. I reached my hand outside until I felt the tiny drops of water pattering into my hands. My eyes sparkled as I looked closer to the droplet. I saw my reflection, and I felt so relieved. But suddenly, the droplet slowly faded away. My skin absorbed the water with tiny splashing sounds of white lines of waves traveling into my palm. 

My body can feel the thrills, so I tried to get another droplet of rain to see a similar event again. Unfortunately, when I stretched out my hand, the rain stopped, and the aureate beam of sunlight shimmered.

I paused, thinking sincerely about what was happening. I gazed at the stunning environment I saw, especially the arctic sky. I can feel my eyes flickering. The rays of daylight did not bother my sight. Birds flying remained clear, and the small vapor of wind became vivid at any vicinity.

A strong cold wind hugged my entire mindfulness; it's bringing me the sensation of peace. I felt the breeze coming inside my nostrils as I closed my eyes due to that feeling. It was trying to lift me slowly. 

I was in the middle of this strange experience when my mom called me out. Her voice was trembling. 

I faced her. And as soon as she found me, she ran and hugged me.

She caressed my back. "I am so sorry that I wasn't able to follow you immediately..." Then mom made a space between us. Her eyes downcasted as she felt a heavy feeling in her heart. 

I hugged her back as a response. 

I was thankful that mom was there to protect me. She never leaves me alone and always does have her own ways to find me. 

As we were hugging each other, my mind cannot forget the strange experienced I encountered recently. It was indeed something new, something that never underwent before.

I felt a splash of nature.