Living quarters for a family of three, although it wasn’t as lavish as you see it now when I arrived. I had been invited to a tea party by some of my work friends, Katherine and Jack a few day before, it wasn’t the first time I’ve been to their house; they’ve hosted a few parties and I’ve become acquainted with their son: Stanley. but this was the first time they asked me directly with no one else with them, I was overjoyed at the time and still am now. I made my way through the streets, the evening sun bathed me in a blanket of warmth and the red hue lit up the humble stores across the brick paved street. people were packing up for the day; closing up shop, I smiled to one of them, but they looked back in distain. I quickly looked away.

the house was now just around the corner of a local supermarket, I quickened my pace, excited for what treats I may pleasure myself with, but to my confusion and horror, what lay before me was their house, or at least what was left. Rotted wood and broken glass covered the seemingly abandoned residence, the stairs leading to its rain-warped porch caved in, letting grass develop in its stead. I stair at the home in disbelief, what the hell happened here, I thought to myself. One of the shutters on the second floor broke off and fell on the lawn, creating a soft “thunk”.
A burning sense of curiosity overtook me, why or how did this happen? I needed to find out, I looked around to see if anyone else noticed this hazard of a house, no one was paying attention. The day grew old and the night was beginning to emerge. I approached the ominous abode, hoping I wasn’t just hallucinating every interaction my friends. the wood of the porch creaked with every step I took, their door was ajar.

I pushed open the door, it screeched as it slowly turned, the inside was just as disheveled as what I saw outside, the carpet was moldy and half torn from the floor, parts of the walls were ripped off only leaving the studs, but the worst of all: there was nothing left of my friends belongings, like the place got ransacked before turning to shit, the only sign of life in this place were a few crumbs leading up to a half eaten donut. from upstairs, a faint thumping grew louder; until it radiated in every part of the house. A sinking feeling crept up me, something might have happened to them; I have to help them! Disregarding my feelings, I walked up to the stairs, they weren’t as destroyed as the rest of the house.
I made my way up, my heart beating faster with every step, I peered over the stairs and saw the upstairs, it was just as bad. I made it up the stairs and the thumping stopped; leaving me in silence, cold wind flowed between the shards of glass and through the window. hello? I yelled out. just as I finished talking; I could hear the sound of someone running to me, before I could turn around to see the possible perpetrator they hit me in the head, knocking me out.

Slowly, I regained my conscience, I was laying on the floor; I was still in the upstairs main hall, and standing right in front of me were a pair of legs. I looked up to my horror, it was Jack. At first I couldn’t believe it, why would he do something like this? or maybe he didn’t! maybe he fended off the person who hit me! what happened just now? I asked him. “I hit you” Jack responded. I didn’t know what to say, why was he doing this? weren’t we friends? words finally slithered out of my mouth, wh-…why!? “because you’re obsessed with us! and I don’t even know why! from the moment we let you borrow our tv for a day you’ve been glued to us! even at work you wouldn’t let me and Katherine have peace! at first we thought it was cute, endearing even, but it got to the point where we had to hide in the closet from you.” Jack yelled out. it hit me like a truck, have I really been… the thought sickened me. “you went to our parties uninvited, barging into our conversations. everyone knows about what you’ve been doing”.
but… but what about your house? why is it like this? “we’re moving, and I got permission to wreck the place, a bit of paint and havoc made what you see today” he explained to me. I had no clue what to say, I can see that I was overbearing, but going to these lengths just to tell me? it all felt like a dream. a rose to my feet, not looking at the floor. I-… I’m sorr- “Shut up and get out” he yelled at me. I hastily made my way down the stairs and to the door, on the way I accidentally stepped in the donut from before, seeing what I’ve done; I teared up and ran out the door.

I made my way to down the stairs and tripped on the broken piece of wood and fell on the hard concrete path. this was too much for me, I could feel Jack’s presence looming over me. I hobbled up and began to walk back home, not knowing if I had done this to anyone else before.