Ask the Cafe Staff

Drunk!Gula:: Hmm… I never realized how cute you are up close.

Drunk!Gula:: Also that we are on the floor. 

A childhood memory

"It itches...” Gula whined as as looked down at the cast on her leg. She reached down only to have a a sharp smack on her hand. Ira stood next to her, her arms crossed as she stared down Gula. “You’re not supposed to scratch.”

Gula whined again, “but it itches though!”

“No scratching!” 

A vivid memory

The cicadas sang out as Gula stared up at the bright blue sky sky. Her bright eyes shielded by her hand as she breathed out. The grass was dried and it tickled her skin. The sun shined down upon he field. The tree line behind her did not stir as the heat pressed down on her. Sweat dripped down from the nape of her neck as she parted her lips.

“It’s hot,” she whispered to herself as there was no one else there.

A memory of their siblings

"Just one more wouldn’t hurt,” Ira chided as she looked at her sister. The twin grinned brightly as she reached into her pockets to pull out a caramel wrapped in plastic wrap. Gula held out her hand as she stared at the rain that poured down before them. 

“Just one more. Mama will make us scrub out all the pots if we don’t eat dinner,” Gula warned her sister as she took a bite of the caramel and handed it back to her sister. Ira grinned as she popped the rest of it in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. 

“I can always eat, you’re the one that never eats.”

Gula frowned as she chewed on the caramel. The sweetness melted on her tongue. She sighed as she adjusted her seat on the brick walkway. The rain still came down in sheets. 

“Suppose it will let up soon?”

Gula shook her head, “its supposed to rain all day.”

“If we run we could make it... maybe?”

Gula giggled as she continued to chew on her sweet. Her fingers intertwined with her sisters. “Nah..lets stay a little longer.”

“Fine... but we’re eating the rest of these.”

A repressed memory

When she came too it was raining. The world smelled like the wet earth and her fingers felt cold and wet. The sound of urgent voices that sounded so distant.  When she came back to the world she stared out at a wild flower that sprung up from the earth. The green stem and deep purple bloom that twitched each time that a rain drop hit it. Splinters of glass redounded the bloom and they decorated the muddy ground.

A boot slammed down upon the flower the resounding thud brought everything back. The sounds of sirens, the sounds of cries, and the crackling noise of flame. Gula twitched as she felt he pain hitting her, it was her leg at first that burned and felt the sharp pain that cut into her mind. 

She shrieked as she became aware of the blood that dripped onto the hood of the car, the world had twisted upside down as she turned to see something in the distance. A black bag that was no more than twenty meters away. There was a man standing above it, a fireman. 

Still she shrieked, as she twisted around each movement caused her skin to feel like it was tearing. The driver seat was empty. Her father was missing. 

A repressed memory

It smelled like iron and lavender when she stepped out on to the balcony. The lively music played in the grand hall. It was dark outside and the shadows and light played together on the steps. Virginie had left some time earlier and as she peered out into the darkness she searched for him.

“Virginie, where are you?”

“Gula don’t come down here!”

His voice was urgent. Though it wavered with something that she couldn’t quite recognize. She reached for the marble railing, it felt cool and slick under her glove. She took one step and then another.

The veil of darkness was growing thinner with each step and the scent of iron grew thicker. She felt as if she were stepping into the pool.

“Virginie, are you alright?”

He was huddled over something, the skirt of his dress lay over the cobblestone. Something wet stained his skirt and his dress. There was something else there, someone’s legs lay over the cobblestone. Virginie turned tears streamed down his face, even in the darkness she could see it.

The smell was making her stomach knot up and twist painfully. She felt sick. The pants looked familiar, Gula took another step as she spotted a glimpse of the tuxedo jacket and vest. A perfect match.

She felt cold as she felt tears spill out. A terrible ringing sounded in her head as her throat began to burn.