Frozen in Time by Radia Al Rashid (the speed reading book .TXT) 📖

your body. Just type the text out and fricking send it TO HER. AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

I again grab the phone with a shitload of confusion and fear on my face as if I was fighting the Orcs or something. “Sarah, are you in New York now? if yes, please reply to this text.”

I type the message in light speed tightly closing my eyes all the way. I know, I’m being so abnormally dramatic. And what else I know very well is that the text looks like some weird stalker is haunting down Sarah but somehow messed up the mission. So, he’s asking her to help him in the mission of her own stalking shit. Whatever!

My stomach is literally burning at this point. Wolfing down a whole bowl of cereal, I head back to my room to... well to take another round of nap. Don’t judge me, I’m fragile.

“Hey! Who is this? Yes, I’m in NYC.” Wow she replied to the oh-so-impractical text? That’s great! She’s still the sweet girl Sarah I’ve known for years.

“It’s me, Evelyn. I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk for stopping to contact you...” Nah, it’s not appropriate. I erase the text and type again, Hey, it’s me, Evelyn. I don’t know if you still remember me or...” Dang it, NO! I erase again before pacing across the room twice.

Okay, keep it simple, just answer her question and see what happens! Cool.

“Hey, it’s me, Evelyn.” And send. Now it’s time to check the screen every two seconds.

Come on… come on… come on Sarah! Reply the text! It’s not gonna be that hard, is it? Or is it? Maybe she’ll be furious seeing my name. of course, she will! It’s me who has cut off all the connections with her and others. Damn it! Or, maybe she won’t even see the text cos she’s hell busy. Course, she’s busy, she’s not like me! a bed potato. OMG! Or, maybe she’s now married to Richard! Holy frigging moly! If she’s now his wife, then she will never EVER reply my message! O no! No…no…no… no! not Richard please! I’m still into this guy! Shit! Shit! Shit! I have to throw up, now right NOW! I’m feeling totally nauseated. What if she replied back inviting me to their wedding or her baby shower! No, stop!

The worst possible episodes fabricated right here within my own mind lead me to the washroom and I throw up. Another bout of panic attack gets hold of me. I keep shaking sitting at the door to the washroom. O my God! I’m entirely effed up. Nobody can call this condition as normal. I’m not normal anymore. Stream of tears start rolling down my cheeks making me shiver even more. My ringtone shakes the ground for me like a fat-ass earthquake. Is she calling? Are my apparently irrational thoughts actually going to turn out real? Should I pick the call? NO! I’M SO AFRAID.

The second bout of ringing slaps me to proceed to my phone. Trust me, I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. I can feel my limbs shrinking down with the simple thought of picking up the call. What has come over me! I got to contact my psychiatrist; I’m doomed! It’s Drake? What does he want at this hour?

“H-hello?” my voice still shaking from the panic attack.

“Hey, Evelyn? You okay? What happened? Are you sick? Did something happen to you?”

“Oh no relax! It’s just, I’m a little tired. What is it? I mean, what did you call for?”

“You sure about that? Your voice is kinda shaking.”

“I know, Drake! It’s fine. Happens to me, no worries.”

“If you say so,” his voice gives off the confusion that I believe is totally apparent on his face at this point. “I called because Mr. Rogers...”

“O no! what is it again! Did he fire me already?” I groan.

“No! hear me out first, you silly. He appointed you with the team for the new project, the one taking place in the LA branch.”

“Wait, wait! He appointed ME? And if it’s in the LA branch, does that mean I need to move there? For the project?”

“Yes Ma’am! You’re absolutely correct. That’s what I called to tell you. Now, if your highness is not still sleeping, Mr. Rogers asked you to come by...”

“Now? Dang it, Drake! It’s weekend for the Almighty’s sake. I need to SLEEP.” I growl.

“I know, I really do. You’re not so lucky to have ME as your boss here. So, I don’t see any point in letting your anger on me Ms. Walker.” He mimics Rogers’ voice and laugh. “Hurry! Sleepyhead, get to the office quick or else Mr. Rogers could fire you, who knows!” he scoffs.

“Come on! Argh! I’m coming.”

“See ya!”

What! LA? Again! What is HAPPENING, God? I check my phone for any reply from Sarah for the last time before getting up to get dressed.

“Ms. Walker, I chose you to be with this team for good reasons. First of all, you need to learn more professionalism and refining your gestures a bit more will be much appreciated. Second...”

“But Mr. Rogers… “

“I am not yet done, Ms. Walker. You do understand why I mentioned about your professionalism, don’t you? You do not simply cut off your boss like that. You let him finish his part first, am I understood?”

“Yes, Sir!” I bite my lip to stop all possible curse words to flow like fricking Niagara Falls.

“Good! Now come to the second reason, you do have some bits and pieces of potentials which need to be transformed into full-fledged qualities for making you fit for this well-reputed company. And finally, I believe you worked hard, or should I say close to hard for the last project, and this is why I thought of giving you another opportunity to prove yourself.”

“I stay silent for some more minutes processing the snob’s words. Every single time, this ape demeans me with his unpalatable voice and shitty word choices!

“Do you understand Ms. Walker?”

“Yes Sir! I was just waiting for you to finish you know, your part first.” I hear Drake snickers across the room. I try to keep my you-suck-but-I’ll-keep-up-with-you smile intact on my face.

“Very good. So, you are flying to LA the next Monday and you will join the team there according to my orders.”

“Mr. Rogers, I have one little query.”

“Go ahead.”

“For how long should I stay there in LA?”

“The project manager will let you know about that. I would suggest to settle your mind for at least six months. Now, you can go Ms. Walker.” He motions towards the door.

“Sure, Mr. Rogers. Thank you so much for considering me.” giving him the usual tight-lipped smile, I step out of the room.

“Seriously? He called me to come all the way to his office to highlight the fact that I’m shit? I need more refinements and it was totally his blessing that I got this job? Drake, I am going to kill him.” I clench my jaw.

“Shit! I know it’s been a thoroughly crappy episode right there. Don’t get mad, Evelyn! You’re gonna be just fine in LA.” He gives me a side hug.

“I can hope. Hey, thanks for being such a nice jerk... always.” I hug him tight.

“Anytime, dummy.” He grins.

Still no reply from Sarah. I look at the screen of my mobile. I am going back to LA! The thought sends a cold ripple down my entire body.

 

 

 

Chapter Four

 

“I’m having those panic attacks again.” I hop onto the counter.

“Didn’t I tell you to continue your therapy sessions?” Julia sounds enraged.

“Yes, yes you did but I could totally see how I was improving and... and I didn’t want to stay stuck to some stupid routine. Argh! okay, sorry I know it was my fault.” I keep staring at my lap before breathing out the next words, “I saw Sarah the other day and this morning I texted her.”

I can hear the cling which is probably the sound of Julia’s spatula, yes, it just fell from her hand.

“Woah! When did that happen? I mean, when did you see her? Where?”

“It was just outside the coffee shop close to my apartment. She was already on the other side of the street when I kinda recognized her.”

“Wow! It’s been... what, 4 years? You guys should really catch-up cos she’s always been the sweetest friend to you, you shouldn’t forget that.”

“I know! That’s why probably I texted her but she must be really busy, haven’t heard back from her yet.”

“Does she know it’s you? I mean, you haven’t sent some anonymous text saying I know you girl, have you?”

“Ah, Jules! I’m not that creepy. I told her my name.” I keep fidgeting my mobile nervously.

“Wait, did you have the panic attack while texting her? Eve, you need to get out of the... you know, that fear.” Her voice becomes softer.

“Hm, I know but I’m really struggling, really... really struggling.” I let out the last words slowly.

“But...” my ringtone cuts her midway.

“O my God! It’s Sarah.” I can feel my face going pale.

“yeah, it’s only Sarah, your friend, Sarah. Pick up the phone Evelyn, no worries.” Julia says with a calm yet firm voice.

“I-I don’t know, what if she says something super mean? What if she says something really unexpected? What if she breaks some news that I’m not ready to hear?” I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down. “Okay, I think I’m overreacting, ain’t I? alright, I’m picking it.”

Julia nods with a little grin.

“H-hello?”

“O my God! it’s really you. I’m literally crying, Eve. I thought I would never hear from you ever again. I tried to reach you so many times. Trust me, I couldn’t reach you; all they had to say was there’s no information under this name. I kept trying like crazy. You know Eve? I even went to the neighborhood and heard about Serena’s sudden murder. I became even more worried about you, about Julia. O my God! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw your name in your text earlier. Eve, I missed you so much.” Sara finishes uttering all the words at light speed. Her voice is shaking with the hint of tears.

First, I keep holding my breath with an unknown reaction from her. The moment I hear her teary voice, my eyes start shedding fountains. I remain silent like a doorknob the entire time. When she finishes, I open my mouth to say something, anything but my throat tightens with the sudden upheaval of emotions. I gulp to stop tears from flooding any further.

“Sarah... I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry Eve, please. It’s not been your fault and you were forced to do whatever you did. It’s okay! Now, tell me, how are you? Where are you staying at? How is Julia? How’s she doing with her health?”

“I’m okay, Sarah. I’m doing totally alright now. I missed you like hell but I was so broken and lost that I thought cutting off all the connections with my past life would magically solve all my problems. Sarah, you know I even had to consult the psychiatrist for years to cope with everything. I’m so sorry girl that you tried to reach me and failed. It’s because I-I had to change my identity, I even altered my surname,