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The Shut In
(© John Putignano)

Page 2

Now came the routine; the deadbolt would open giving Virginia her cue to open it. Jeff never opened the door. His phobias wouldn’t allow him to. He would retreat from the door to the entranceway of the kitchen as he awaited Virginia’s safe entry.

"Hey Jeff, how are you?" She called out closing the door behind her. He emerged from the shadows timid, yet excited to see her. She had a calming effect on him, sort of like a drug. This had been the case his entire life. Since children her presence seemed to calm him.

"Oh, you know just another day in my mental little world." He joked. Virginia forced a laugh although she was uncomfortable with it. She understood that his jokes which made fun of his ailment were a defense mechanism to help cope with the situation. She didn’t have to like it though.

He led the way to the living room. It was bare with the exception of a couple leather couches, a coffee table, and a television sitting on a stand. As always his house was immaculate.

Of course my house is clean I am locked in here every goddamn day. Even a shut-in is capable of developing cabin fever. If it wasn’t for the cleaning surely I would have fallen off the deep end a long time ago.

Jeff motioned for Virginia to take a seat. She took her seat, obeying the laws of Jeffery’s World. Jeff decided who entered his world, as well as how they behaved in it. He always led the way from room to room and gave permission to sit, lean, eat, and drink; or whatever else. Virginia, only one time in the past, sat down without permission. For the next two weeks Jeff sat in a mind shattered catatonia because he lost control of his world.

"I was watching an amazing documentary earlier." Jeff took a seat in the couch opposite of her. He leaned back sinking into the cushions. "It was on string theory. Are you familiar with it?"

"Yes I am. It involves a lot within it but the bulk of it is the theory of extra dimensions."

"Yes. I found the documentary very exciting yet frightening. It sure is terrifying to know privacy is an illusion." Jeff could read the puzzled look in Virginia’s face. He smiled. "What I mean is that in this theory there is other world overlapping our own. We share this space with others in another world. I might be next to another being right now, or inside one. Perhaps those strange feelings we sometimes get, that sensation that we are not quite ourselves, is because we fused two beings together. Our worlds separated by a thin ethereal fabric. I may not like it but I cannot deny the compelling evidence."

"As I recall many scientists consider it junk science." Virginia responded shaking her head. "I mean it is a theory not a law."

"Yes, but hasn’t all science at one time or another been called junk science? Witchcraft or back magic sometimes? Before something becomes law it must first be theory." It wasn’t what he said that troubled Virginia, but how he expressed himself. He was getting more eccentric, wilder in his expressions. His hands madly flailed with his eyes as his tone took erratic jumps and dives. He looked like a conductor leading an orchestra.

"Well that’s real interesting." Jeff could tell she was distracted. He studied her and noticed she refused eye contact. She looked at her feet as if somewhere in that general direction was an escape for her; a back door where she could slip out.

"What’s wrong? I can tell something is wrong."

"As usual you’re right. I do have something to tell you. I got a promotion at work."

"Well this is fantastic news, but why the sullen look? There’s more isn’t there?"  "Jesus Jeff I swear you should become a psychologist when you…" She looked up at him. She didn’t want to finish the sentence. She made it a point to not mention his condition. He held a hand out telling her it was alright. She continued. "I am now the regional assistant director of marketing research."

"Wow, quite the title, but I don’t see why the sadness inside?"

"I need to take off for a few days" She shot her hand out in a stop motion to prevent Jeff from over reacting. "Don’t worry it is only three days and I will be back. I am going up to New Hampshire."

[ Continue to page 3 ]

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Information
Genre:General Horror
Type:Medium length story
Rating:6.5 / 10
Rated By:13 users
Comments: 1 user
Total Hits:10059

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