Shadow
The day started like any other ordinary day. The sun was shining and the wind picked up as she hurried to her work. Slamming into the office, she quickly sat down and began unwrapping her scarf. Her computer chimed to life. Knock, knock. She looked up and smiled. “So, how was it?” Her friend Elizabeth asked.
“How was what?” Callie asked.
“Your date last night.”
Callie shook her head. “I didn’t have a date last night.” She looked at her emails and began responding, continuing to talk to Elizabeth. “What makes you think that I had a date last night?”
“Because you told me so right before you left yesterday.”
Callie stopped typing. “I was sick yesterday. I worked from home.” She looked at Elizabeth, turning over what she had just said. What is she talking about?
Elizabeth stared at Callie and then shook her head. “Oh. Right. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She stood up. “Is there something on your ear?”
Callie grabbed a mirror and looked at her ears. “No.”
“Oh. Well, are we still meeting up with Becca for lunch?”
“I can’t today; I am meeting my dad for lunch. What about tomorrow?” She turned back to her computer and began typing again. Not hearing a response, she looked back at Elizabeth, who had a quizzical look on her face. “Is tomorrow bad?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “That sounds good. I’ll chat Becca and let you know.” Callie nodded and continued typing. Elizabeth looked at her again before walking out, muttering about déjà vu.
Several hours later, her phone vibrated, pulling her out of her daze. Reading the text, she smiled and quickly answered back. Looking at the time, she realized she needed to leave to meet her dad in time. She stood, grabbed her scarf and headed to Elizabeth’s office.
“I’m off for a little while. But guess what?”
Elizabeth shrugged, still confused at her strange behavior that morning. “I give up. What?”
“I’ve a date tonight. You know the guy I’ve been talking with – Scott? We are meeting up after work!” Callie smiled. Elizabeth stared. “What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. But I’d swear that you have something on your ear. Your ears are darker than normal.”
“Are you sure you’re fine?”
Elizabeth shook her head again. “Yeah, yeah. Enjoy lunch with your dad. You’ll have to tell Becca and I about your date tomorrow.”
“I will.”
Heading towards the local café, Callie hurried as people kept giving her second looks, glancing at her ears. What are they looking at? She quickly ducked into the café and not spotting her dad, sat down at a table.
“Two days in a row! What will you have today?” The waitress asked. Callie looked at her in confusion but didn’t say anything.
“Chai tea latte for now. I’m waiting for someone.”
The waitress nodded and walked away. Callie looked at her phone and texted her dad.
On your way?
Hey love! Where? Were we meeting again today?
Yes, our standing Thursday lunch.
It’s Friday, Cal. I am meeting your mom, but maybe we can eat all together.
Nah, don’t worry about it. Sorry! Tell mom hi. Callie quickly texted. Her phone clearly said Thursday, but the cafés menu board said Friday. Seeing the waitress, she asked for it to go and paid.
It’s Friday? But where did Thursday go? Callie slowly walked back to work, and sat at her desk. Before she knew it, the work day had ended and she headed home. Telling the others goodbye, she ignored their stares at her ears.
Once home, she let her dog out and standing outside, smiled. The night was filled with glittering stars, shining their hopeful lights. Inside, she reached up to her ears. Taking her hearing aids out, the world silenced. The girl looked at her shadows. Disgusted, she left them on the counter and went into the living room.
The hearing aids sat, and time reviewed it’s day. And reset, knowing that she needed to come to terms with her shadows. The day started like any other day. And the day before. And the day before that day. Everyday was the same, a mere shadow of a day she began wearing hearing aids.