Samlin Greenham
I suddenly open my eyes.
I blink and slowly move my head. The pain in head is light, a little like when you are injected morphine.
Where am I?
I move myself in a seated position, then look around the room, remaining dark.
It is my own room.
I clamber off from the bed and stand up and switch on the light. The clothes I'm wearing is dry, surprising. The windows are opened, bringing cold air and the door is opened, so I warily step outside.
Somebody brought me home.
How night is it?
"Mom, are you here?" I call out, wondering if someone's in our house. I stay still and try to hear any sound.
It's quiet.
I go downstairs and examine the front door, which is locked from inside. The grand clock says it's 7 p.m. a
Magdalen Islands, CanadaMay 2012Lynn VandestineHe picked up the pen again.Though he hesitated to write, because it wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for him to reveal his expression clearly, knowing he wouldn't be forgiven.Knowing he didn't deserve forgiveness.Knowing he had hurt her terribly.And also knowing it was his last living hour.Life.Hurt.Pain.And....love.Aren't they all similar? he thought. He had been alive for twenty years, so at least he could tell he lived. He could tell that he'd seen things, how things could be beautiful and how things could be twisted, turning into ugly.He wrote a little more."Can you imagine what am I gonna do? There's is a tiny boat waiting for me in the sea, alone. I'll lie down. I'll look up at the dark sky, at the shining stars. I'll not look back.The boat will be moving.I will be moving.
Lowell High School, San FranciscoSamlin Greenham"A new kid is coming in our class." Emilia says, arranging some books in her locker. I don't know why, but she looks happy about something."Boy or girl?" I ask and close my locker. I have to change my shirt, because I ran for almost one hour and didn't go back to home, directly came to school. God, I'm still sweating."A boy." She replies, smiling and narrows her eyes. "And you're single."I grimace. "And I am going to the bathroom." While passing her, I notice some CDs in her locker."M83, huh?" I pick one, frowning."Jesus! It's a French band, Em!" I read the labels. Midnight city, we own the sky. And.....Summer love."They formed in France, but they sing English songs. They are in America now and they are pretty good," she explains.I stare at her silently. I know M83.But something seems missing.Isn't it Jake's favorite ba
San Francisco, USAApril 2012Lynn VandestineHe was standing in an old, mouldy garage, where he had come to meet a guy. Actually, he had no other choice except keeping his order and coming here.His heart was throbbing with fear.At that moment, a man came into the place. He had a bald head, wrinkled skin and that kind of blue sharp eyes which made someone real scared. Two suited man with black sunglasses also appeared behind him."Agent Stanley." The old man, named Chief Malum, said in a deep voice and stopped a feet away from him."Chief Malum," Lynn replied flatly."I never asked you why you don't use your father's surname." Chief folded his arms across his chest, pinning him with his eyes.God, he hated this man."Because my so-called father was a good man. Just like you." He bantered him.Chief laughed lightly. "Oh, he was. It's so bad you killed him. You didn't need to."
I uncontrollably sit on the ground.Apparently I fall."Hey, hey, you okay?" Edwin hurriedly sits beside me."I'm fine." I answer shakily, closing my eyes. Actually I wasn't fine. I haven't seen my psychiatrist for almost a month, haven't taken my medication. Now, the flashbacks are gone, but I still have the headache.I am breathing hard.I wonder what caused the flashbacks."C'mon," he wraps my left arm around his shoulder and lifts me up. "The lake is near. You need some fresh air."I walk with him, dropping my head in his shoulder. I feel a little surprised by my act, because I don't even know him.Or maybe I do.His body scent seems familiar."Don't try to think too much. When you apply pressure to remember a thing of your past, which was maybe painful, it affects your neuron cells.""It wasn't painful. Perhaps," I stop walking.And I open my eyes.Sudd
Los Angelos, USAAugust 2016Lynn VandestineHe enters in this long building.The building is cloud-kissing, like it was built to stand with pride. He's feeling a bit tired because of the five hour driving, yet he can't avoid the anger in his mind.The sexy black receptionist in the desk, Landy Keller, smiles sweetly after seeing him."Handsome boy, long time no see!" She pouts playfully. "Where have you been? Oh, my mistake. Of course, you had work, didn't you?"Lynn puts his elbows on the mahogany desk, no mood in flirting with her. "Yeah, I had. Can I see Chief now?""Um__Chief's not here, Agent Stanley." Her smile immediately drops, smoothing her curly hair nervously."Landy, it's important." He ignores her, briskly stepping front to the elevator."No," she grips his hand tightly. "I'm saying it again, Chief's not here and you can't go in without an appointment. Now step aside."
Samlin GreenhamI suddenly open my eyes.I blink and slowly move my head. The pain in head is light, a little like when you are injected morphine.Where am I?I move myself in a seated position, then look around the room, remaining dark.It is my own room.I clamber off from the bed and stand up and switch on the light. The clothes I'm wearing is dry, surprising. The windows are opened, bringing cold air and the door is opened, so I warily step outside.Somebody brought me home.How night is it?"Mom, are you here?" I call out, wondering if someone's in our house. I stay still and try to hear any sound.It's quiet.I go downstairs and examine the front door, which is locked from inside. The grand clock says it's 7 p.m. and my mother isn't home yet.I look for my school bag, which is staying on the sofa and I sit in a one, pulling out my phone.Battery
Somebody is brushing hairs from my forehead. Then nudging my shoulder. "Sam, wake up," a voice tells softly.A male voice.I am feeling confused. There's no male person in our home. Then who is it? Did Dad come back?I try to open my eyes, but can't, because sunlight is hitting me. Who the hell opened the damn curtains of the damn window? I raise my hands to cover my eyes, but something is in them. Something muddy.Wait__I'm not in home, am I?"Sam," that voice tells again.I snap my eyes open.A strong face welcomes me.I adjust myself in a seated position, glancing around. Who is this guy?Shit! I fell asleep on the mountain top. All the night.I squint at the sunlight, not feeling as panicked as others should be."Who are you?" I look at his blue eyes."I can ask you the same question," he replies.I yawn, staring at my hands which are covered with
"You have an interesting collection," Mahone drops himself on a sofa, then lifts one of his legs over another.Lynn glances at his book shelves."Thanks. It took time to collect them.""Didn't know you were a history lover. What's your favorite book, then? The Satanist by Dennis Wheatley?" He gulps the wine, bottoms up. "Oh, no. I forgot that you're the hero. You wouldn't be the satan."Lynn leans against the wall, watching his brother carefully."What are you doing here, Mahone? Where did you get the cuts in your face? In a fight?""Ouch! That hurts," he reaches to the wine bottles again to pour some. "Assumed you would be glad to see me.""Well, I am. Just surprised. Are you sure you should be drinking that much?"Mahone chuckles, then extends his both hands around. "I'm fine and I know how much I can handle. Don't worry, brother.""What about your school? Does Aunt Sicily know that you're here?" Lynn scowls.
Samlin GreenhamI suddenly open my eyes.I blink and slowly move my head. The pain in head is light, a little like when you are injected morphine.Where am I?I move myself in a seated position, then look around the room, remaining dark.It is my own room.I clamber off from the bed and stand up and switch on the light. The clothes I'm wearing is dry, surprising. The windows are opened, bringing cold air and the door is opened, so I warily step outside.Somebody brought me home.How night is it?"Mom, are you here?" I call out, wondering if someone's in our house. I stay still and try to hear any sound.It's quiet.I go downstairs and examine the front door, which is locked from inside. The grand clock says it's 7 p.m. a
Samlin Greenham"When is our competition gonna start?" I ask a girl from our team, Ally and sit on a bench."Boys team first. Then us," she replies. Today is the competition, I've been worrying about. It's not a big deal, just the selection for a captain. But somehow it feels a big deal to me, I'm not ready to hand my title to a new swimmer, when I've been the captain for three years.Five hundred yards freestyle.A crowd has already formed around the pool. The captain of the boys team is Brian Hardy. I usually don't consider people who aren't my friends, but if you asked me how his character was, I'd say he was nosy and clingy.Well, now he's coming. I look away."Hey, Sam." He shows a stupid grin, then turns to Ally, "Hey, Sis. How's my mother?"Brian is her elder br
Calgary, CanadaJune 2011Lynn Vandestine"I don't think we're going to the jazz festival," sighed Mahone, biting his nails."Stop doing that. Gross!" Lynn spoke with a hint of discomfort in his voice, watching his brother behind of a newspaper, also reading."This?" he held up his index finger, then cut the nail with his teeth, throwing it at him. "Want more?" he laughed, teasing him."You're disgusting!" Lynn threw the paper at him, shaking himself. It was a bright day of summer, their house was at the Edgemont neighborhood, an amazing place with mountains view. The Vandestine Castle had been standing there for generations, shining by its history. It had been almost two weeks since June had started, it was the time in Calgary for the international jazz festival. Though
Lynn VandestineHe wraps a towel around his lower naked body, stepping out from the shower, then looks at the mirror ummindfully."What kind of a freak showers at noon?" He suddenly hears a low voice behind him. Lynn turns, then notices his brother lying on his bed, holding a wine bottle in his hand."Only your brother does," he chuckles, lightly shaking his wet hair, then pulls out a blue shirt from the wardrobe. "Are you drunk?""Of course not," Mahone sits up idly, looking with sleepy eyes. "Wait."Lynn turns to him, "What?"Mahone puts the bottle down, then walks to him, feeling horrified. "Lynn, the scars in your back look....more. What happened to you?"Lynn turns away from him, buttoning his shirt quickly. No, he didn't want to remember the three months when he was starving in a basement, being tortured and beaten up, w
Lynn Vandestine"We should have taken a fucking flight. It will take a road to hell if we keep moving by your car," groans Mahone beside him, looking at the road impatientlLynn frowns after hearing about his favorite Mercedes-Benz. "There's no flight available within three hours. I already checked," he replies, gripping the steering wheel more tightl"Of course, you did"Can you call Sam to ask where she is now? Tell her not to do anything__ stupid"She will never do anything stupid, you know that and you're not helping her by telling this, okay? By the way, I just remember that apparently I don't have her phone numberLynn sighs and pulls out his mobile from his pocket, then tosses it to his brother. "Tell her that we are coming, too"We're not gonna make it in time, Lynn, if we're going to go by your car," he guesses the pin and
Samlin GreenhamI suddenly open my eyes.I blink and slowly move my head. The pain in head is light, a little like when you are injected morphine.Where am I?I move myself in a seated position, then look around the room, remaining dark.It is my own room.I clamber off from the bed and stand up and switch on the light. The clothes I'm wearing is dry, surprising. The windows are opened, bringing cold air and the door is opened, so I warily step outside.Somebody brought me home.How night is it?"Mom, are you here?" I call out, wondering if someone's in our house. I stay still and try to hear any sound.It's quiet.I go downstairs and examine the front door, which is locked from inside. The grand clock says it's 7 p.m. a
● Music recommendation : Maybe SomedaySamlin GreenhamI wake up in the morning, at least I think so that it's still morning. What made me wake up from my deep sleep? I glance around the bed and see that my phone is vibrating."Sorry, don't in a mood to answer," I mutter.I switch it off without glancing, because now I have no intention to go back to my house. My head is still hurting and processing the events what happened at yesterday.I sit up on the bed, brushing my messy hair. This house isn't mine, it's my Aunt Sicily's. When she went to Canada for a quite long time, she gave me her house keys and told me to look after it. I had almost forgotten about that until last night."Shit!" I wince in pain when I place my legs on the floor. Why didn't I feel the pain before? I thought a good night's sleep would reduce the hurt, but it didn't. How can
Lynn Vandestine He pushes the door open of his new studi Painting has always been his hobby, but it is his first time to open a workshop like this. When he was in his adolescence, it wasn't one of his pleasant times. In order to lighten his mood, he used to climb up at the top of his favourite mountain, with papers and paints in the backpack. Often, he brushed colors gently on the canvas, while thinking if a girl would appear in front of him just like that drawin Now, the place can catch a plenty of natural light, one of the reason why he bought this. The layout is flexible, it's enough big for his work. The paintings around the studio are mostly portraits, but he drew some landscapes, too, tried to do another genr "Hi, Tom!" he greets the guy, who is moving his brush with so much attention, benting towards the easel. Tom is a local artist and a student of art college
Lynn VandestineHe pushes the door open of his new studio. Painting has always been his hobby, but it is his first time to open a workshop like this. When he was in his adolescence, it wasn't one of his pleasant times. In order to lighten his mood, he used to climb up at the top of his favourite mountain, with papers and paints in the backpack. Often, he brushed colors gently on the canvas, while thinking if a girl would appear in front of him just like that drawing.Now, the place can catch a plenty of natural light, one of the reason why he bought this. The layout is flexible, it's enough big for his work. The paintings around the studio are mostly portraits, but he drew some landscapes, too, tried to do another genre."Hi, Tom!" he greets the guy, who is moving his brush with so much attention, benting towards the easel. Tom is a local artist and a student of art college,