Samina
Marv entered the darkened bar and ordered a shot. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed her.
“Hi,” he smiled.
She moved closer.
“My place is close,” he offered.
“Let’s go,” she said softly.
He grabbed her ice-cold hand, which caused his teeth to chatter, and took her to Justin’s place, where he was crashing. He was fortunate enough to have his own room, where he now sat beside her on the bed.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Samina,” she answered, then kissed him on the lips before removing her black dress, beneath which she wore nothing. Marv discarded his own clothes before succumbing to her commands. Later, he would recall being transported through a wormhole into the next phase of galactic evolution. He sifted through the cosmic sands as the quasar lay naked beside him. Huh?
His swollen eyes cracked open. His limbs ached and his head pounded. She lay beside him. “Could I use your address for some mail I’m expecting?”
“Sure.” Marv took the paper and pencil she offered and scribbled Justin’s address.
“Thanks.” She threw off the covers. Her dress was on. Embarrassed, he drew the sheets up to cover his nakedness. As soon as she left, he fell into a deep and soundless sleep.
“You’re back.” Justin raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah.” Marv rubbed his stubble.
“Say,” said Justin. “Do you know someone named Samina?”
Marv flinched. “Why?”
“A letter arrived from the health clinic informing me that I’d contracted a deadly strain of venereal disease.”
The color drained from Marv’s face. “What?”
“Exactly, Marv. I’d never even visited a health clinic. So I looked at the envelope and saw it was addressed to Samina.”
“I…”
“After you left here, some green fungus was growing out of your bed. I bombed it with that crap from the hardware store.”
Justin stood and stepped toward Marv.
“Sorry, dude, I’m under strict orders to turn in anyone connected…”
“NO!”
Marv ran from Justin’s apartment. He raced through the streets toward the one place he’d sworn never to return. His mother sat at the kitchen table, nursing a martini. “Marvie?”
She wobbled toward him, arms outstretched.
“Don’t touch me!” he said. “I’m going to my room. I’m not well.”
“Whatever makes you happy, sweetie!” she slurred.
From his closet, Marv removed his favorite stuffed bear. He hugged it, rocking back and forth, as pain wracked his body. He closed his eyes against the bile that rose within him and finally spouted out in a torrential stream of vomit over the walls. Blisters foaming pus burst open on his flesh and his abdomen burned until his guts exploded. The last thing he saw was her shrewd gaze mocking him.
“Marvie?” When there was no answer, his mother opened the door… and screamed.
“Who are you?” she asked the young woman.
“Samina, your son’s girlfriend.” Tears filmed her eyes. “I came to tell you I’m sorry.”
“That’s very kind,” said Marv’s mother. “Come in.”
“I can’t. I have to leave.”
“That’s too bad. We could’ve shared a martini.”
“It’s a little early. Actually, I have something to give you.”
“What?”
“Information regarding your son.”
Marv’s mother gasped.
“I’ll send you a letter which you should receive within two weeks.”
“An e-mail would be faster.”
“There is no e-mail where I’m going. Good-bye.”
“No. Please stay.”
Samina closed the door.
“Wait!”
Marv’s mother flung open the door but the young woman was gone. She returned to her kitchen, and, with shaking hands, prepared her next martini. It would be a strong one, as she was trying hard to ignore the voice inside her head–the one that told her she’d be dead by the time Samina’s letter arrived.
Confusing. Excellent.
Comment by Yuichi Mendez — June 11, 2007 @ 4:12 pm