Supper

It all started when she held
Her fist, knocked my door
And asked me to help her
Fix her bulb...

"I am sorry for disturbing you."

I had never seen her talk to any of
The neighbors ever since she moved in.

I was shocked when she asked
For my help that evening...

"Okay, how may I be of help?"

"I need someone to fix my bulb.
My hands could not reach..."

"No problem...
In a minute..."

I picked up my shirt,
Put it on and followed her.

I stepped into her room.
There was nothing much
To how she set up her room.

"You seem quiet and reserve."

"Quiet? And reserve?...
No, I don't think so.
I don't just like poke-nosing
Into people's affair."

"Ahahah...
You just broke the rule."

"My bad, I guess rules are meant
To be broken..."

"I think so.
I need a stool."

"I don't have...
But you can use this
Plastic chair..."

"What if it breaks
While standing on it?"

"That's true...
Let me see if I can find a stool."

"Where are you going to find it?
You don't talk to anyone in the
Neighborhood..."

"True but why are you helping me then?
We don't talk but you're in
My room trying to fix my bulb."

"You won't like it if I said no."

"Why do you think so?
Or is it because I am a woman?"

"There are exceptions to rules.
I guess I broke mine today also."

"I know what you did there."

"What did I do?"

"Nothing...
I will let it slide..."

"Of course, we let a lot
Of things slide nowadays..."

I climbed the plastic chair,
And she handed me the bulb.

"Thank you."

"I have not even fixed it.
You have started saying thank you."

"Thank you for at least opening
The door..."

I turned the bulb upside down,
Inserted and twisted gently.

"There you go."

"Thanks.
Please I need another thing."

"Another thing?"

"Yes, I don't know if you
Can spare me some money.
I want to fill my gas.
My cooker stopped working
Days ago."

"I actually don't have enough
With me now, but I could help
With my cooker."

"Thank you...
I appreciate..."

She followed me to my kitchen
And helped herself with the cooking.

"Are you going to stay with
The food?"

"Yes"

"Really? You would stand and watch
The potato boiled for over forty five
Minutes or so?"

"I forget things easily."

"Really? Ahahaha."

"It's not funny..."

"If that's the case.
I will stay with you here then."

"Why?"

"So you don't burn my kitchen."

"Ahahah...
You are so funny..."

"Is it funny because
I allowed you in my kitchen?"

"You don't trust the emotion right?"

"Well, I can't say."

"Ahahah..."

"I understand...
So what's your name?"

"Queen"

"Queen of what?"

"Of the neighborhood."

"Ahahah...
It's okay...
I am Bright..."

"Bright, nice to meet you."

"You too...
You can't stay here watching
The food for over forty minutes."

"What do you suggest then?"

"Let's set the alarm
And go watch something."

"That's a good idea...
I never thought of that."

She sat down, watched the pictures
Running across the television
And caught me staring at her once.

"I need to check the food."

"It's not time yet."

"To be on a safer side."

"Ahahah...
Let me follow you then."

"I don't think that would be necessary."

"I just want to ensure you don't burn
My kitchen..."

"Oh no! Stop!
You're making fun of me."

"Ahahah...
To be on safer side.
Like you said..."

"I don't know what to say."

"Am I staring too much?"

"Something like that.
You are not watching the movie
Are you?"

"I had watched it yesterday.
And I would still watch it again.
I don't get to watch you like
The movie so I am trying to
Take my time."

She smiled, stared at her playful
Fingers and kept quiet.

"We could schedule next week
Saturday..."

"I don't know if i will make it."

"Someone had already booked
Saturday?"

"No, it's complicated."

Unknown to me,
She had actually poisoned the food,
Hoping to eat and end everything
That very evening...

She looked calm but I noticed
She was nervous...
I wished I could have changed
Her mind before the alarm beeped...

"It's time."

She took a deep sigh of relief,
Stepped into the kitchen
And switched off the gas...

"Thank you, Bright."

"You're welcome...
I would see you soon I guess?"

She smiled, said yes, not knowing
It was her last supper...

The End