Russkaya Ruletka

I stood before the huge doorway

A chill ran down my spine

I trembled, frozen to the ground

I felt the cold metal against my skin

Colder and colder

I looked back

I entered

Now there’s no turning back.

I stopped to hear,

nothing I could;

Like drums within me

My heart was singing the tune

Of my fear

as I entered the forbidden world of Russkaya ruletka;

Now, there’s no turning back.

My eyes sharp,

Piercing sight through

The thick blanket of the moonless night;

Down the hall came a loud sound

Then a scream and no more

I moved to the light;

Two men I saw

One dead and by his side

a lady I once knew

Now, there’s no turning back.

The other calm as Balkan,

emotionless expression painted him;

he motioned to the body

and grabbed the pushki

he wiped off the blood

and polished it with his shirt

he turned, he saw,

I knew now

There’s no turning back.

He looked me in the eye

hardly a blink, I gave a nod

and both walked to opposite ends;

I eyed him as he did me

we paced round

before he stopped

and raised the pushki.

I watched as he inserted the bullet,

he turned the barrel

with his finger on the trigger;

he was ready to begin,

the drumming sound became louder,

my vision blurred,

at the sound of a click

I knew he survived.

He tossed the pushki over,

with a single hand I caught;

My silent prayer drifted to the night

In hope that the gods hear my plight;

I trembled as I held the pushki to my head

A deep breath I took, eyes closed shut

and pulled the trigger.

Click

I had survived

for now

Wedding cards

“Sir, which design would you like?”

“Number 23 and emailed to me, if possible.”

“Very well, sir. The email will reach you shortly. Thank you for choosing Little Greetings Design. Have a nice day…”

Jane put down the phone and turned back to her computer screen with a notepad in hand. She keyed in the number and attached it to an email before sending it to her customer. It was a year ago when she started this business and it has been running since. No doubt there are seasons when custom cards sold like hot cakes- take Valentines and Weddings. Nevertheless, Jane was satisfied with her job.

From her window, Jane saw the postman drop letters into her letterbox. She winced. She dreaded going through her letters. It wasn’t because of bills but of her trade- wedding cards. For years, Jane was without a steady partner and it seemed to her that everyone had already gotten hitched and well… they left her…alone.

Before her unsteadiness, Jane dreamt of being Mrs. David Foster. Well, that dream lasted for 3 years before David decided that he should work in Greece at an excavation site. He didn’t want to be tied down so thus ended the wonderful life of the Fosters- in Jane’s mind, that is. That was 5 years ago. David wasn’t all that ‘evil’-he came back home for two weeks every quarter of the year to visit his mother and also Jane (who lives next  door to his mum).

Jane shook herself and opened the letterbox. True enough- there were at least three wedding invites. Whoppie-do, Jane thought to herself. She placed the envelopes on the table. It’s another three for them while none for me. Well, those who can’t wed, designs.  

Two weeks passed and nothing new except the fact that two of her friends got married already. How lovely. Few more wedding cards came in the mail but Jane was too bothered to open anymore.

A taxi pulled up at Mrs. Foster’s house. David looked out at his childhood home and smiled. “Hello mother.” he said as he gave her a big bear hug. “You’re back earlier, Davie. Something wrong?” David shook his head and smiled affectionately, “Nothing wrong, mum…” Unnoticed by both, a redhead watched their every move. 

It was a day after his arrival that Jane heard a knock on her door. As always, David visits her every time he’s back. Jane sighed, he had absolutely no idea how he kills her after every visit. In spite of that, she always puts her best smile. “Hi, David…I see you’re back early than usual. Something happened?”

“Why does that question seem so familiar? Nothing wrong, I can assure you.”

“You look like a Cheshire cat at my door. Could you make this quick? I got a hot date in an hour."

Jane was left perplexed when David left abruptly.

The two weeks of his stay finally came to an end and Jane hasn’t even figured out the reason nor did David come to explain why. An hour before the taxi was due to arrive, David knocked on Jane’s door.

“Did you at all check your mail??”

Jane was taken aback, “My mail? I don’t see why my mail is…” She was cut short when David pushed his way in. He went through the envelopes and handed a blue pastel one to her. Jane eyed him as she began to open the envelope. She pulled out the contents.

“I get wedding cards every month, why give me this? I have no time for games”

“Humour me and open the card.”

Jane let out her frustration. Fine, I will, it’s obvious he’s gotten engaged already and I’m about to be asked to be bridesmaid, just you watch. Jane opened the card and read.

Shock gripped her. It was true as soon as she saw his name and...

JANE FREIDA RICHARDS

What?? She looked up. She was speechless.

David bit his lip. “If you say yes, then it’ll be the card design, it’s your design number 23, if I remembered correctly.”

Jane wasn’t sure if it was reality. She pinched herself then smiled though it hurt.

“Yes, a thousand times, yes!!”