Jemima Anigboson
@jemimaanigboson827387
11 months ago
GENRE: STORYTELLING (SHORT STORY)
TITLE: THE MIRROR SELF
PART ONE
He jolted out of sleep. His heart began to beat in his chest rhythmically after beating at first unrhythmically, like the rhythms of raindrops hitting a roof or the hooves of a horse galloping toward combat.
When he forced his eyes to adjust to the darkness around him, he realized he was in his living room. At first, he wasn't sure where he was. He was indeed sitting at his desk. After doing its task once more, NEPA turned off the electricity.
He tapped the table till he located his phone and lit the flashlight. He scanned the area in his well-lit living room. He was by himself, as was customary for a software engineer. You only ever wrote code—code, code, more code, debug, and then more code. Wait! Debug any additional bugs, run the test, and continue to code until the software is faultless.
With each movement, his bones cracked as he stood up and stretched. He looked at the wall clock, which read 01:37 AM.
Sigh.
With the exception of eating and using the restroom, he had essentially worked nonstop all day. He got up and went to his couch. His eyes darted all over the space, and he grinned to himself. He was what they referred to as a "rustic minimalist," and this was the style of home he preferred. Although his home resembled a man cave, he loved it. He exhaled as he observed the plants encroaching on the walls and the bare, clean flooring. He was drawn to the natural world for some reason. Whatever adjective he used to describe his sentiments, the tranquility and serenity were understatements.
He relaxed while grinning.
The door squeaked abruptly. Fear rushed into his lungs more quickly than water could drown a man. His heart, which had earlier eased, started to beat again, but this time, it was like a pack of crazy dogs.
Then he heard what sounded like someone strolling through the home in the form of footsteps. Who was that? He questioned himself. It was late and he hadn't let anyone in. Except for Damioluwa, who had been his childhood friend and closest companion since the two of them were two, he had no other pals. In addition, Damioluwa was out of the nation. He had been to Germany on business from Nigeria to promote his expanding network of eateries. Being unsure of how the intruder entered the residence added to Kaito's fear.
Kaito, what kind of pointless fear is this? he thought, laughing. He questioned himself again, this time wondering how the idiot got into his house without his notice. This is his residence. How could he feel scared in his favorite man cave? He gingerly got to his feet, picked up his bat off the side of the wall, and then grabbed his phone, which he was still using as a torch. He was going to punish whoever it was that came into his cave uninvited. His first panic quickly disappeared, just like the furnace's smoke. He moved toward the door, feeling like a predator about to seize his prey.
The door opened to the master suite, as well as to the other rooms, the kitchen, and the final bathroom. He was irritated even more by the sounds coming through the door. How could that jerk be so at ease in his cave, not to mention that he was looking through his belongings? He could smell the transformation of anger into rage. Kaito was currently only able to see red. He was going to slay anyone who had the audacity to step inside his holy oracle.
He stepped into the hallway but stopped short. He asked himself, "Wait, where am I?" This wasn't his hallway. Lengthy bends and long white walls were present in the corridor, which had grown excessively long. And now that he could make out light in the distance, had NEPA actually restored the electricity? The sounds he had heard before now seemed distant. He took a hesitant step forward, perplexed.
"KAITO!" A whisper could be heard from behind him. He froze, his blood stopping. From behind, someone had snuck up on him. He quickly whirled around, dropping his phone flashlight to the ground. He turned around and spotted a man wearing a mask who was exactly his height and wearing a hood. While still whispering "KAITO," the man dragged him up by his throat.
With a start, he glanced around and turned to face his surroundings. In addition, NEPA had restored electricity, and his phone's flashlight was still on. He exuded sweat like water coming out of a shower head. He searched the area for the hooded figure, but he was by himself. He became conscious of dozing off on the couch.
He felt fear engulf him. Who was that man? Why did he experience this dream twice in one night? Why such a long corridor? Why are there such lengthy white walls? Was this a figment of his imagination? Or was this his thoughts telling him that he was stressed? He removed his T-shirt after wiping the sweat from his face. Despite the air conditioning being on, he was still feeling very warm and became suddenly famished.
Rechecking the time, it was 04:04 AM. He got up to make something in the kitchen when he noticed something that was strange to him.
On his glass center table, right next to where his phone had been, there was the impression of a hand.
His heart pounded and his blood chilled.
PART TWO
His heart beat quickly, and his blood chilled.
He was puzzled as he looked at the handprint and questioned what was going on. There was no chance that anyone was at his home. He had shut himself up. Actually, he always kept the doors locked. He hardly ever left the house unless it was to meet Damioluwa, his closest friend.
Did Damioluwa return and he wasn't informed of it? No, Dami didn't have his house keys, thus it would practically be impossible. Who could possibly be in his home? He double-checked the windows and doors to make sure they were locked securely before proceeding, and sure, they were.
So, who then left a handprint on the table?
He reassured himself, "Okay, this has to be stress. Stress could produce hallucinations, and hallucinations meant that things you saw weren't real." His stomach growled to let him know that it needed some attention. He hadn't even eaten anything tangible all day. Sandwiches and hot cocoa? Food indeed. His stomach had every right to complain.
It was late, so he made a decision to prepare something simple. Fried chicken and waffles with ice cream were the only options left for him. He made the meal and brought it to the living room. He positioned himself on the floor to enjoy his meal while turning on a sports station on the television. He ate hungrily.
God, he was starving.
He opted to watch the football game that he had missed due to his snooze-filled self. His preferred side, Liverpool FC, was playing Chelsea FC, and the game was taking place. He made it a point to never miss a Liverpool FC game because he was such a devoted supporter, regardless of whether the team won, drew, or lost. Today was no different. The match between his favorite team, Liverpool FC, and Chelsea FC was going to be tough, but he believed his team would win since they always did. After the dinner, he relaxed in his chair and clapped as his team performed admirably, just as he had predicted. The opposition was a considerably smaller match for his team than they could ever be now that Jürgen Norbert Klopp held the team's leadership position. This man was a legend who went on to manage Liverpool FC and win six championships, not to mention the additional titles he won with other clubs. It seemed clear that this season would be a piece of cake. And this made him very delighted.
He eventually finished eating, cleaned his plates, and went back to his computer to check on the software he had been working on. He wondered why it was taking longer to debug this software than the previous ones he had worked on. He couldn't break his pledge to deliver because the software's submission was due soon. There had to be an issue somewhere.
A stifling murmur called out, "Kaito". He pondered who that was as his heart quivered with anxiety.
"Kaito, you can't run away from me".
Cannot run away from you?
What did that mean? He had neither committed a crime nor was he fleeing from anyone. It appeared as though the voice was coming from the door. He felt cold as he stood up to go get his bat. This had gotten out of hand, and who was he if he couldn't handle his issues the way a man would? He toiled and constructed this house from the ground up, and if any one made him feel uneasy in his own house, he would damn them all.
"Kaito, guard yourself".
The voice appeared suddenly behind him. He turned to strike the person playing his mind, his hands were deflected, catching him off guard, and he was sent flying across the room. He struck the figure as soon as he stood up, which started a brutal brawl. He struggled, swung, hit, and launched punches, but his adversary appeared unconcerned. With the mask and hood on, it was the same man.
Who was this person?
He grabbed up his bat and struck the man after he had successfully flung the man off of him, three times.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
"Who the hell are you?" "How did you get into my house? Why are you torturing me? Why are you playing tricks with my mind?"
Silence.
"Speak! Goddamnit, speak! What do you want from me?"
He struck the man again, but as usual, it meant nothing.
The man laughed, "You want to know who I am, Kaito? You really really want to know who I am?"
"Yes, you fucking coward" Kaito said, gritting his teeth and gripping his bat fiercely. He would use it again if this man breathed in the wrong direction.
"Well", the man says, "You and I are one. We are linked by fate, and we exist because of destiny. Together, we reach a consensus and we agree together. We are a continuous vicious circle of one being. We are permanently linked as one spirit and one soul".
Indignant and enraged, Kaito hit him across the face again, "That has got to be the dumbest trash I have heard in the entire lifeline of my existence. You don't come to my home, give some f-ed up eulogy and expect me to ask you what it means. You are a miserable loser that acts like a coward, which you are, you're going to walk through that door and crawl back into whatever hell hole you crawled out of".
The man chuckled.
Kaito's blood began to boil as he laughed more and more.
"I don't believe I can pull that off. If we are destined to be apart, as I have stated, only destiny can do it".
Kaito charged at him and shouted as the conflict continued. The altercation went on for a while. Kaito considered his options as he battled, and his only choice was to reveal this person. He could then be certain of the person he was dealing with.
This notion gave him new energy, and he fought harder than ever. He yanked off the hood and the mask in one motion after striking the masked man across the face, which didn't appear to bother him.
Kaito's initial reactions when he saw this tormentor in person were shock and dread, to put it mildly.
Or so it appeared, for HE was his own worst enemy.
He froze, startled. The man with no mask is seen.
"You've got to be joking, right? What sort of sorcery is this?" Kaito enquired in complete incredulity.
The masked man chuckled heartily "I told you that we share a destiny that binds us together and enables us to come to an agreement as one. That is exactly what I told you ".
Kaito couldn't believe it. He was looking at himself. Himself!!!! He was his own enemy.
"You are a coward, what's your name then? I know what I see but that doesn't mean shit to me. You may look like and claim to be me, but ever since you entered this room, you haven't really told me who you are. I am not like you at all ".
"Do you really believe that? Or is that your mind desperately and urgently trying to convince you that what you see isn't real? My name is Kaito, by the way."
Now it was Kaito's turn to laugh, and he laughed wildly.
"Really? That is your name? You're really pitiful."
"You are me", the unmasked man said, unbothered by the look of hatred as Kaito glared at him, "When you look at me, what do you see? You. Believe it or not, fate isn't a moron ".
"Okay, really? Who is to say that the face you claim to be yours isn't a fake when you've worn a mask before? Technology has made it simple, you pig without a fight ", Kaito remarks, his words oozing with poison.
"You visited Somtochukwu's home when you were young. Somto shattered the television's remote control during a game. To save him from his father's wrath, you accepted responsibility for him and was severely punished by being beaten. Even worse, you lied to Dami. Years later, Somto robs you of the first love of your high school years. You still have that grudge against him, and every day you make a prayer for his terrible passing."
"How did you know that?" Kaito asks, in utter disbelief. He had never spoken of that with anyone, no one.
"You and I are one. Together, we coexist ".
"I am your reflection"
"My reflection?".
"Yes, the one you see in the mirror".
"What the heck does that even mean?"
"It means that the ability to recognize one's own image in a mirror is shared by humans and chimpanzees. About the mechanisms underlying this evolved characteristic as well as the selective forces that lead to it, little is known. Mirror Self is a result of a developed form of self-awareness that was naturally selected for its adaptive application in social cognitive actions. As evidenced by our ability to recognize ourselves in mirrors, the evolutionary roots of great apes and humans' capability to understand ourselves are closely related to those of other species. It is not to be confused with the "Alternate Self", who is the same person without being an opposite".
"What do you want?" Kaito asks, suddenly exhausted. This man, whoever he was, he or another, must have wanted something so important that he had to come visiting.
"I am here to warn you".
"Warn me?", Kaito asked, surprised. He wasn't aware he needed an advisor to warn him of impending issues. He could do that himself.
"What for?"
The unmasked man walked to Kaito and stood in front of him. Looking him square in the eyes, he said, "Kaito, you hold so much bitterness that you are unable to see or enjoy the good that comes to you".
"Okay, that's not true," responded Kaito, sounding defensive. "I am not bitter and I enjoy the good things that come to me"
What was he even saying? He, Kaito, bitter? That was incredulous to even think of. He absolutely had no reason to be bitter. Life had been good to him, so why be bitter?
He wasn't bitter.
FINAL PART
The mirror version of Kaito could see and hear him struggling inside his head. They were one, yet existing in various dimensions.
Dealing with this sought of thing was hard for anyone and he knew how hard Kaito was taking it. Dimensions exist. There were more Kaitos existing along sides, he was just the closest. The first thing that comes to mind when someone says "other dimensions" is typically something like parallel universes, which are separate worlds that coexist within the earth but have different rules or events. The truth of dimensions and their function in the structure of the universe, however, differs greatly from this common perception.
Though they did not use the name "dimensions," spirituality and religions have always entertained theories about realities that extend beyond the typical perception of it. The development of theoretical physics and quantum physics led to the use of "dimensions" to describe alternative realities.
The waking state of awareness and the dream state of consciousness are the two spiritual aspects of reality that humans on earth are most familiar with.
Most awakening experiences take place in three-dimensional (3D) reality. Most of what most recall from their dreams comes from the fourth dimension (4D). The 4th Dimension in physics is defined as "time," therefore take note of how this is different. A 5th Dimension (5D) awareness is one in which we are fully in charge of and able to alter our dream environment and experience.
The fifth dimension had just been discovered by Kaito. He was in total control of his experience in this realm, and all he had to do was reach himself by using himself as a point of connection.
The Kaito in the mirror understood Kaito had to change. Although Kaito was unaware of it, he had been so consumed with bitterness that he had lost the ability to see his true nature.
"Okay. You did say you weren't resentful, right? ", asked the mirror self.
"Naturally," Kaito answered.
"I'm going to ask you one question, I need you to answer it sincerely".
"Sure"
"How recently have you spoken with your mother?"
Kaito halted in place.
His mom?
She had been long forgotten in his mind. He hadn't visited his house in ages. Questions raced through his mind, questions that he'd never have answers to; how was she doing? What was her condition? Dami and he had argued about his mother-visit rejection. Dami thought he was a greedy and selfish person. To Dami, though, how could he justify his actions? How on earth could he be honest with Dami with the real reason why he hadn't spoken to or visited her or his family in the past 15 years?
They weren't his family. He was a constant reminder of the past, a past that he had spent all his life running away from.
"How much time has passed since then?" the mirror self questioned.
Against this, Kaito argued, "I don't see how that is any of your business."
"It is obviously my business, though. Don't forget that I am you, and you are me", the mirror self replied. "You have unfairly held it against her for way too long. Let it go, in my opinion."
"Let it go?".
"Do you want to know what invades, lives and creeps through your entire being?.
Kaito said nothing as he sat down on the ground.
"It is hatred and rage and bile that is currently roiling through you. And you know what? It stinks, Kaito. It wasn't her fault, and you know that".
Kaito bellowed, "That is none of your business."
The mirror self calmly retorted, "But it is my business."
"Your feelings of resentment are consuming you. Kaito, she's been looking for you. She continued to look for years. She's still on the lookout for you. The only person who can prevent you from ever being free is you. How long will you continue to act as if everything is fine? Huh? 10 years? 50 years? Answer me!!!"
Suddenly worn out, Kaito relaxed. He understood what the man was saying. He didn't understand how he knew, but he did. For fifteen years, he hadn't seen his mother. He found it difficult to comprehend how 15 years had passed.
Only 18 years old at the time, he didn't choose to go. He hated his mother for being the reason he had to, even though he knew he had to. All of his setbacks had been her fault, according to him.
He just noticed. At least, if his supposed father hadn't made it so obvious, then he never would have found out. But his dad wasn't so good at being discreet.
At a young age, he had noticed that he was treated differently from his siblings, by his dad that is. He never thought much of it and only thought it was because his father wanted him to grow up a good man. He just tried his best to please him; he did everything he could but he just noticed that there was an invisible space that he was kept in and he couldn't break out of it.
At a point, as he grew up and became an independent adult, he was 'cut-off' from the family by "his" father. He had always found a reason to put him down, he punished him so extremely and severely for little things that shouldn't cause such.
Then one day, his mother sent him to get her purse from her room. While looking through it, he stumbled on a diary. A quick read from the diary left him shaken to the point that he had to throw up. He wasn't the true child of his father.
He wasn't the true son of his father.
It dawned on him, all the disappointed looks, the disdain, the horror in his "father's" face. He knew, he knew that I wasn't his son. Kaito became quiet and reserved the weeks that followed. Chill time with Damioluwa was completely forgotten, how could he tell his friend that the family from which he came from bore their name wasn't his after all?
He poured his focus on preparing for his exams for college. He had thought to himself if he passed his exams, the faster he could get out of the house. During the months of waiting for his results to come out and reveal his fate, Kaito learnt how to code, learnt how to write software programs and forgot about how he felt.
Even his "dad" knew something was wrong. Mr. Oliver Cleveland was a strict disciplinarian. He ruled his family with somewhat of an iron fist, being in the military for 30 years helped him mold his character. The past few weeks had been hard on him, watching Kaito withdraw from the family. He knew he was the cause, he had been too hard on that boy, but he couldn't help it. That was the fruit of his wife's betrayal. He had forgiven her but he couldn't get past her son, her disgrace.
So, he took it out on the poor boy unconsciously. He'd caution himself about his behavior but would find himself resenting the boy again. But the past few weeks, he'd watched Kaito become a shadow of himself.
Had he found out the truth?
No way!!! He had promised to take that secret to his grave, swore on it. What if he finally found out?
No!!!
Kaito finally got his results. He passed as usual. His biological father must have had brains. He had planned out his escape. With the money he made from coding and writing software programs, he was going to train himself and forget about this family. They weren't his family.
He showed his results to his family at dinner time that fateful day. As usual, since he found out, he lost his appetite for food. He ate in his room whenever he could, he'd only joined them at the dining room because he wanted to share the news of his results.
"I passed," he said nonchalantly, throwing his results on the table, "And I'm moving out. The school session starts soon. I have already gotten a house and I'm moving out soon. Don't worry about the tuition, all expenses have been paid. All I need to do now is move most of my stuff to the new house and you never have to see me again".
The whole room became chilled. His "father" and mother looked at him like he had three heads.
"What do you mean "all expenses paid"? Mr. Cleveland asked, looking at his mother perplexed.
"I handled all the expenses, tuition is paid, accommodation handled, I've paid all departmental dues, done".
"How?" His mom asked. She had noticed a change in him for a couple of weeks but couldn't ask him about it. This wasn't the son she knew. Kaito was always lovely and caring. All she saw now was rage and defeat written all over him.
"You paid for your expenses, how?"
"I have been working. I learnt a very high paying skill. I used my proceeds to pay for my expenses, "dad" Kaito said, looking Mr Cleveland in the eye.
Mr. Cleveland finched, he finally saw it in Kaito's eye. Kaito knew. And it was his fault. He stood frozen, pleading to God that he was wrong.
His mom walked up to him and hit him on the face.
"You will not speak to your father that way, you hear me. I don't not know what is wrong with you but you will not disrespect your father in that manner".
Kaito looked at his mom, laughing so hard. He laughed and laughed as he felt the rage run through him. She had the guts to lie to him? His "father"? How demented did this woman think he was?.
"My "father"? My "father"?" Kaito muttered in rage, staring his mother in her eyes.
His siblings, or should he say "half siblings", stood around wondering what drama was unfolding before them. For the longest time, they felt alien to Kaito because of how their father treated him. His elder brother and elder sister loved him to bits and pieces, but they didn't understand why he was treated differently by their father.
"So you are going to stand there, look me in the eye and keep lying to my face about him being my "father", when you know that he isn't"
Silence
Silence filled the room.
His mom finally understood. He found out. She stood there shocked, breathing heavily. She thought her husband swore never to tell Kaito about this secret, he swore to her. He promised.
Turning around, she faced her husband, " You told him".
"No".
"What do you mean no? You promised me, Habibi. You promised me that you'd never tell him. How could you do this to me? I apologized. Why do you treat me this way? Why are you still torturing me?" She asked, tears running down her face.
She still remembered that day like it was yesterday. News had come from the field that her husband was dead. She felt numb, dead. How could she live without him? She loved him, he was her life, her everything. On that fateful day, she went to a restaurant, needing the space to think. She had dropped Kasie and Zimora with their aunt, promising to come for them. She left for the restaurant, had some food to eat and had drowned herself in the wine that was served. The more she drank, the more she ordered. All she could remember was a man leading her by the hand, and the next day, she found herself in the bed with a stranger she hadn't met before. She panicked and left. She never saw the man again. A month later, she found out she was pregnant, scheduled an abortion that didn't go successfully. Kaito was hell bent on surviving and coming into the world. The day he was born, he was so perfect. That's why she named him Kaitochukwu, which meant "Let us praise the Lord". A month after Kaito was born, her husband came home. She was shocked and confused. He felt betrayed and hurt, but after listening and hearing the story, he decided to adopt Kaito as his own and she was grateful for that. Everything was fine.
Or so she thought.
"I swear, I didn't tell him anything, Meri Jaan. I swear".
"He didn't tell me anything, mom. I found out from your diary. Congratulations on successfully lying to me for years. Here I was thinking that maybe why he hated me was because I was silly, maybe I was doing something wrong. I wasn't his son after all. That's fine, though. It is super".
His mom gasped. The diary. She had taken to writing in journals after her husband's alleged death. She had always hid it. How did he find it out?
Kaito hugged his siblings and walked away. He spent the remaining days in the house just living and existing. The heavy cloud that hung on the family was thick. He had changed his school of choice to another school. He really wanted to leave and never be found. So one that fateful day, after everyone had left the house, Kaito packed up his load and never came back. He kept contact with Damioluwa but made him swear never to tell his parents where he was and Dami kept that promise.
That was 15 years ago.
Shit!!!
They hurt him. Why should he care about them? He had lived his life peacefully and calmly. Dami had told him about his father looking for him, but he didn't care. He had erased his identity. What he didn't change was his first name. He loved "Kaitochukwu" just fine.
"You have held it for so long, Kaito" said the mirror self, bringing him out of his reminiscence, "You have to let it go".
Kaito sighed. His mirror self was right. He was still angry but he missed his family, his mom. They never talked about what happened. He wanted to know. He also wanted to find his real father.
"I'll think about it," Kaito said, sighing deeply. Tears ran down his eyes. He deserved the truth though.
"I know you deserve the truth, but you can't get the truth if you don't call your mother, your family".
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I remember telling you that I am you and you are me. We are fated together. I am your alternate self in other realms. So I know what you are thinking and how you feel".
"That is creepy as fuck" Kaito muttered, rolling his eyes.
His mirror self burst out laughing.
It was going to take him time to get used to this mirror self thing, but at least, he knew it existed.
"What next?" Kaito asked, looking his other self in the eye.
"Nothing. I am going to go away and you are going to call your family" the mirror self said, walking towards him.
"And, hey?"
As Kaito lifted his face to answer the "hey", the mirror self struck him across the face so hard that his neck snapped.
"What the fuck was that for?" Kaito yelled, gripping his face.
The mirror self chuckled, "That's for hitting me on the face, you moron. You'll be fine".
"Touche," Kaito replies, rubbing his face.
"Kaito".
"Huh".
"Wake up".
He jerked awake looking around him. His face was throbbing and he was sweating profusely. Kaito stood up from his desk. Apparently, he had fallen asleep on his desk again. He wondered at the strange dream, it felt so real. He stretched himself, cracking his bones as he walked to the kitchen to get some water. After drinking, his face still throbbed so much that he went to his room to inspect his face in the mirror.
As he inspected his face in the mirror, he noticed that part of the mirror was foggy. Looking at the fogged up part, there was a message written in the fog.
"Call your mom, or I'll be back"
Kaito froze.
THE END
#Writer
#ShortStory
#Storytelling
#NircleStories
#Africanunveiled
