One day

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<<audio ":all" stop>> By Ale Humano A short, fictional story about old memories. Content warning: mentions of insects, mentions of alcohol, body horror. [[Begin.|oneday]] Music by Chris Zabriskie and available on the Free Music Archive

<<audio day1 play>> One day, your old friend Jacob found you. You were able to recognize him right away by his smile. [[next|It was a normal Thursday]]

It was a typical Thursday at the Cornflower Inn until Jacob showed up. Rooms needed cleaning before the weekend rush and the lobby needed a good airing out. The guests seemed all taken care of until a regular grabbed your attention. He would stay at the Inn every October before going up the coast to visit family. Nice man. Always left a tip. [[next|“There’s a problem.”]]

As you climbed up the stairs, he shouted up that he would still come back next year. The rooms were usually so clean. These things happen. [[next|Time to get to work.]]

Armed with a broom you shimmied down to face the pests head on. They were writhing together over a scrap of something. A chunk of food? Maybe a forgotten stray donut hole from Tuesday’s breakfast. [[You didn’t want to deal with this.|Roaches were the worst.]] [[You bashed at the bugs with your broom.|The roaches scattered.]]

The roaches scattered as you shoved the broom under the bed. The lump they were eating looked wetter than you first realized. A small part of your stomach twisted up as you wadded up paper towels to grab whatever it was. [[But you heard someone call your name from behind you.|let me help]]

Roaches were the worst. As brave as you tried to be, the sight of them made you pull away from the bed. Hugging your knees, you started to mutter about how ‘it’s just a couple of roaches.’ It was better to get it over with quickly. [[Someone kept calling your name from the door.|He sounded like he wasn't going away.]]

“I’m a little busy, sorry how can I help-“you stared right at his smile. Your lips quietly mouthed a name you didn’t expect to say that day. [[Jacob?|He never seemed surprised to see you]]

“Here, let me help” the man offered. You started to discourage him but he was already on his hands and knees under the bed. He laughed and commented on how gross the sight was while cleaning it up. You muttered a name you weren't expecting to say that day. [[“…Jacob?”|He never seemed surprised to see you]]

Jacob never seemed surprised to see you. Even then. Your right hand itched and you scratched it while asking him what he was doing here. [[next|Back in town for a week]]

“I’m back in town for a week and had to see you.” Jacob looked incredibly happy to see you. Without hesitating, he helped you finish cleaning the remaining rooms while asking dozens of catching up questions. The help was welcome. It had been a long week filled with odd fights with your parents, supplies going missing or spoiling rapidly, and wickedly humid nights that made it hard to get a good night’s sleep. [[next|The work is done quickly]]

The work got done quickly. Before you could finish putting away the last of your supplies you felt a cool cup of ginger beer pressed into your hands. “I’m surprised how much of this place I still remember.” Jacob said with awe. He gazed out the Inn’s entrance while holding a glass of his own. [[Ginger beer was your favorite.|things are switched around]] [[“Jacob it’s been over 15 years…”|He looks back at you sadly]]

Cold, spicy, fizzy, and soothing. The Cornflower Inn had changed a fair amount in the last decade. You remembered that the entryway got redone and expanded. Though Bed and breakfasts all mostly looked the same anyway… [[next|He leans sheepishly]]

He leaned sheepishly against the wall in front of you. He apologized for never keeping in touch, for coming in out of the blue, and for interrupting you. “But it’s good to see you again. It’s been fun going through the old Cornflower with you. Like we used to.” He looked down the hall to the dining area that still had stained glass windows filled with the inn’s trademark flower. The blues of the flowers had faded over the last 15 years. They looked more like bruises every decade. [[“Jacob. Where have you been?”|Can I come back tomorrow]]

He looked back at you sadly, and started to mouth another apology but stopped it from tumbling out. Jacob called your name tenderly and while keeping his distance said he understood if you were mad at him. But… [[“Jacob. Where have you been?”|Can I come back tomorrow]]

“Can I come back tomorrow?” [[next|breakfast hours at the inn]]

You let him know the breakfast hours at the inn and that your parents would be happy to have him over for a few pastries. He gave a surprised inhale of air, he looked so… relieved? He seemed emboldened and said, [[“I want to come back tomorrow to see you.”|Your cheeks are getting hot]]

Quietly you let him know when you were free the next day. Your cheeks were burning to your ears and it made it difficult to keep looking him in the eyes. [[next|You nod]]

“So I’ll see you then?” You nodded. [[next|stayingwith]]

<<audio day1 stop>> <<audio day2 play>> He told you he was staying with a couple of old friends. The names sounded familiar, but it wasn’t anyone you kept in touch with anymore. He laughed when he told you about how they all stayed up until almost dawn. Just catching up on old times by the creek. Gently, you let him know that he could go home to rest if he partied too hard the night before. [[next|Day 2 B]]

“No no no… I’ve been looking forward to the end of your shift all day!” [[next|Day 2 C]]

It felt almost too easy to catch up with him. Recapping him on the last decade and change took no time at all. It was too easy to have another beer with him, and another… to let the hours roll by uncounted. [[next|Day 2 D]]

He asked if he could hold your hand. This was all too cheesy, too sweet but it felt great. A younger you, fifteen years ago would have done anything to hold Jacob’s hand. You tried your best to not think about the week ending. [[You needed to go.|Day 2 D-1A]] [[You gave him your hand.|Day 2 E]]

It was all too cute. And cute didn’t happen to you. And why, Jacob? It could have never been Jacob. He looked at you like his next breath depended on what you did next. You felt a slight power, you felt a sense of control that was missing for years. You thought about all the times you spent remembering him. That moment was yours, you deserved //this//. [[You gave him your hand.|Day 2 E]]

It was just a hand holding yours but everything in you felt electrified and alive. “Can I see you again tomorrow?” [[“Yes.”|neverend]]

<<audio day2 stop>> <<audio day3 play>> A week went by and Jacob’s trip never ended. Fortunately, he kept being able to extend it. You didn’t see him every day, but it was impossible not to think about him. Every quiet moment filled up with the memory of his smile. [[Was it really so different from before?|Day 3 A -2A]] [[You didn’t know anything about him anymore.|Day 3 A-1A]]

He was the first person in a long while to dig into your life. He asked you so much about yourself and a million stories crashed out from you. Like a mug dropped onto the ground. Sometimes you felt selfish. It wasn’t that you didn’t try to learn more about where Jacob had been. He just didn’t- [[You were happy. That’s what mattered, right?|Day 3 B]]

You never stopped thinking about him. You clung on for years to the memory of him smiling at you as he left you at the old entrance to the Inn. He got into his car and- [[But you were happy with him back. That’s what mattered. Right?|Day 3 B]]

Everyone in town seemed happy to have Jacob around. No one ever mentioned… but no one else would have known- Did anyone else ever realize? “Are you ok?” he asked. [[next|Day 3 C]]

He looked up at you from your lap. You two used to steal away constantly to the back stairwell of the Inn to talk in private. Even though you were close, you never had a chance to have him this close before. Hiding on the stairs back then was never this intimate. Jacob shifted up and rested his head on your chest with a sigh. “You look worried, everything ok?” ==How did you get here?== ==Who are you?== [[“I’m ok, just… surprised to be here with you.”|Day 3 D]]

Jacob smiled. He said he was surprised too and the two of you didn’t say another word for a long while. “I’m happy.” You felt yourself say, but you didn’t know if it was true. He gave you a small kiss and whispered your name. You could tell he was waiting for your reaction. “I’m happy.” You said again. [[next|Day 3 E]]

You repeated it a few more times as you two got closer over the next few weeks. You traced your fingers over a scar on his stomach that he got when you were both kids. He was running on the wet rocks by the creek, being reckless. The wound was massive, but he got through it fine. Jacob’s skin was softer at the scar. You always wondered and wanted to know if it was. His breath was on your neck. It was hard to tell if it felt warm. But you were happy, right? [[next|goback]]

<<audio day3 stop>> <<audio day4 play>> “Don’t you have anyone missing you by now?” you asked him sometimes. Usually over a morning coffee in your apartment. And he would always say something along the lines of: “It doesn’t matter anymore. I found what I needed here.” Sometimes you tried to press, but Jacob would distract you in a different way each time. Hugs, kisses, light tickles, funny faces, terrible jokes. It was always easier to just change the subject. It was better this way. [[next|Day 4 B]]

Jacob started to officially help at the inn. After some months you would catch him quietly talking to your father in the halls. The two always changing the subject immediately as soon as they heard your steps. Your dad was never good at hiding things, and you were able to see a proposal come weeks before it did. One day Jacob scooped you up and spun you around with his bright smile taking up all you could see. You laughed the hardest you had ever laughed and then broke into hiccupping sobs in Jacob’s arms. [[next|nails]]

<<audio day4 stop>> <<audio day5 play>> Time went on. Your nails started to always have something in them. You’d spend most of your lunch breaks picking the grime out, only to see it show up again the next day. The summer was harsh on Jacob, he constantly had heavy patches of sunburn all over. He covered up more of himself each day. [[next|Day 5 B]]

At night he started to get aloe vera gel all over the sheets. His skin was never getting better. Sometimes the burns seemed so bad it made his skin look off. Like a coat hanging just a little off center of a hanger. This time the question came out. [[Who are you?|Day 5 B-1A]] [[What are you?|what are you]]

He laughed, “Jacob.” Then he smiled his Jacob smile and started to tickle your sides, “//Your// Jacob.” You pushed him back and he paused. He looked you in the eyes for an eerily long time. Your words hesitated but you asked him again. Jacob looked scared and held your hands, asking if you’re okay. [[You let him take your hands and stopped asking.|Day 5 B-1B]] [[You kept asking.|Day 5 B 2B]]

You never wanted to ask again. [[next|Day 5 B - 1C]]

One day, a year later, both you and Jacob disappeared. [[next|Day 5 B - 1D]]

One day, ==you== found an old friend. She recognized ==you== right away by your laugh. end. [[restart|One day]]

He asked if you were feeling sick. You said you did but that it wasn’t why you were asking. You finally tried to push further: [[“Jacob died 15 years ago.”|Day 5 2C]] [[“//My// Jacob is…”|Day 5 2C]] [[“…”|Day 5 2C]]

Jacob didn’t say anything and brought your hands to his face. You grabbed onto it like it could slip away. His skin felt thick. It moved under your fingers in a way you noticed days ago but didn’t want to see. [[next|final end 1]]

A year later, ==Jacob== disappeared again. You made yourself forget about Jacob. end. [[restart|One day]]

==Jacob== kissed you. And made a promise. [[next|final end 3]]

That stopped him cold. ==Jacob== looked at you carefully. You didn’t flinch as he hovered his face close to yours. There was nothing cruel there, but it was cold. He took his time to consider an answer before gently smiling. “It doesn't matter now.” [[next|final end 2]]

“Your husband. Last time I checked.” He flashed his brilliant smile and held you tight. The smell of aloe flooded your nose and you could feel his skin audibly stick to yours. You just wanted him back. All you wanted was for Jacob to be back. [[So you let the question go.|Day 5 B - 1C]] [[You grimaced and clutched at his shoulders.|grimace]]

His skin felt thick and loose. You could see fresh grime in your nails. Jacob’s skin looked a frightening shade of red from where you grabbed him. His eyes investigated yours without blinking. The fact that you already knew for so long was the worst part. [["How long have you had Jacob’s skin?"|final end 1]]

<<cacheaudio "day1" "music/Temperature.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "day2" "music/kid.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "day3" "music/Nirvana.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "day4" "music/no time.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "day5" "music/slow drag.mp3">>

“There’s a problem.” He said apologetically. “Sorry but there’s a cluster of cockroaches under the bed. I left the door open a crack during my walk this morning and I think they got in then. Look, I’m pretty terrified of the things, could you-“ “I got it. No worries, Henry.” You beamed while grabbing a broom. [[next|Hopefully this does not make it to a review.]]