The Absence

As soon as she closed the door, she knew the house was haunted. She couldn’t explain exactly how she knew, but she was certain. During the day it became evident. In the kitchen the dishwasher was empty, the blender vase was in a different place, the crumbs and stains on the counter disappeared. In the living room the lamp will not turn on, the main door would make no sound, the blankets were folded on the corners of the couch. In her room the door was open, and inside it was warm and quiet. There was a deep silence filling the rooms when she walked in. At night it took her a long time to fall asleep. The air in the main bedroom was lighter, like there was not enough oxygen to breathe. It was summer, but in the bed the sheets were cold and rough. She woke up many times during the night, and each time she noticed how the house was getting bigger, dull, strange, unfamiliar. The next morning, she went out to distract herself, but when she came back the house was even more odd. Everything was exactly as she had left it. It seemed like not even the leaves were moving in the trees. She took a shower, got dressed, and sat to work in the puzzle she was doing. Suddenly, the speaker went on in the kitchen, and music started, the living room lamp turned on, the main door opened with a loud sound, and wet footprints appeared at the entry. She smiled in relief. They were back. The house was not haunted anymore, it was alive.

The Adventurer

The boy saw the small blue box tied with a golden bow, and his curiosity exploded. He waited for a moment when adults were not paying attention, quickly took it and ran to his secret place. There, he slowly untied the bow and opened the lid. The view of five shiny, diamond-shaped chocolates struck him. A light smell of wet forest mesmerized him. He lost track of time while his fingers gently rubbed the chocolates clockwise. He took the one in the middle and carefully took a bite, the ocean flooded his mouth, and a long lasting sweet dark chocolate flavor, all the jungle, filled his senses and his mind. It was like that every bite, and at the end the boy licked the melted chocolate left on his fingers. At that moment he knew, he learned, he understood what a treasure is.