A Roll of Die

The stout Real Estate agent huffed as he climbed the tiny stairs to the second floor. I hoped he would not roll down on me. The place already felt charged with negative energy without adding my spirit to the pool.

The landing was small, and a single door stood at the top with a shiny lock that appeared to have been installed recently. The key slid in smoothly and opened with the first turn as if the apartment was beckoning me in.

“Here we are, mister, a nice, snug home.” the retailer entered and flicked on the lights. The lights fluttered a bit, and I was sure I saw him standing near the sofa, but he was gone in the blink of an eye. I

 shook my head; no, it can’t be true; there is no one. My heart thudded horribly, and my palms grew sweaty. I forced them to shut into fists and looked up at the agent, who gave me suspicious looks.

I tried to plaster a smile as I said, “Looks good, can you show me around?”

Within 5 minutes, the tour was over, and we were back at the front door. I handed him the check, though my hand shook a bit, thinking about how my account would now be down to its last penny. I would have to work hard for the next month's rent if only things didn’t turn out this way. I was good at shutting my thoughts.

 

I sat on the couch, and it creaked under my weight. The cheapness of the flat was ticking me off each second. My fingers etched for the TV remote, but I knew it was now a novelty I couldn’t earn.

Sitting desolate, my eyes fell on an old box under the table. Strange, maybe the previous owner left it behind. I picked it up, and outside the black box carved in the corner were the words, ‘Just a roll.’

 

A shiver ran down my spine. I knew what it was; the box slid from my shaking hands and fell on the table. I could hear his laughter. I clamped my ears shut. Trying to keep him out of my head to forget all the memories. I stood and backed away from the table.

I walked into the small kitchen and tried to fill a glass of water to calm my nerves. My phone rang, and I made a small jump. Then, I clumsily took it out of my pocket.

Her name popped on the screen. A single name would well up so many emotions inside me; the biggest was guilt. I picked up the call, and the voice I fell in love with 3 years ago spoke, “We need to talk.”

“Please don’t,” I replied.

I know I messed up with this reply, but being left in the cold for 3 days, I didn’t know how to react. I wanted to apologize, but words failed me.

I came up with the lamest response, “I am sorry.”

She sighed, “I am coming to you with the papers and your stuff.”

I tried another attempt, “Please don’t leave.”

But she had already hung up.

Shock surged through my body, and then he came; he finally came. He wore a decent suit, crisp as always; his dark eyes stared deeply as he gave his signature smile. A smile that said, ‘I got your back.’

Anger surged through my veins. I threw my phone at him, but he caught it and placed it calmly on the table.

He said, “Now, Josh, why are you throwing a tantrum.”

“You left me there; I lost everything.”

“Yeah, it's true you lost your cars, business, house, and now even your marriage.” He smirked.

His mockery made me angrier, “It's all because of you; I won’t fall for it; just go, just go, go.” I started to mutter repeatedly.

The anger had faded quite quickly, and depression was clouding my mind; all I could see was darkness everywhere.

His words, as always, broke the gloom.

“You can have it all back, my friend, just a roll to turn it all.”

 

I shouldn’t have risen from the ground and walked to the coffee table to open the box. It was like that ill-fated day when my feet guided themselves. I went to the big building with sparkling marble and golden lights. It's a posh place with high stakes. I always won here. They knew it from long ago. My wife Lucia didn’t; she got angry about finding out. She should stop crying; this place is why she could afford everything at any store.

I went to the table where the game was laid. It is luck, they say, that’s how I win. I won because of him, but he didn’t come that day, and I lost.

I am sitting in my broken apartment in front of the game like I was that day. He gave me a screwed smile. “It’s your turn.” And I picked the dice to win him back.

As the game progressed, my head started to clear. The doctor's visit helped little compared to this. The doctor just informed me and told me he was not there. But he is; he comes every time, trains me, and then we become winners in all the games outside. I felt a smile tug on my lips as I started to gain up on him; I would win.

 

I grabbed the dice excitedly but heard a knock on the door. Julia knocked again, shouting, “John, open the door.” I looked at him sheepishly, and he shrugged and gestured to open the door. I opened the door and stood in the frame to prevent her from seeing him.

She stared at me, as beautiful as ever, and I complimented her, “You look good.”

“You look rough.”

After an awkward pause, I looked at the two bags at her feet.

“Julia, please let's talk about this.”

“Here are the papers; just sign them, and no court will be involved.”

I gaped at her like a goldfish. She was turning away, probably to wait in her car until I signed this up.

In sheer panic, I opened the door and said, “Please wait inside.”

She sighed but agreed. As soon as I crossed the threshold, her body froze, and I felt like a fool as he was still sitting there, smiling his sly smile.

She started to shout, “You said you stopped; you said you won’t do it.”

“Julia, please hear me out.”

She was getting delirious, “You are an addict; what else are you lying about?”

“Julia, calm down!”

Julia stood and shouted; he watched, amused.

I looked at him as he stood, straightened his jacket, and said, “Well, looks like the show is over; we can count the points.”

 

“No,” I shouted.

Julia stopped and looked at where I was pointing at him.

I said, “The game is not over yet; I am still left to roll this dice.”

“You have gone crazy.” She started to back out of the flat.

I reached and held her hand, “Listen, I know I lost, but this die will win it all back. He said it will.”

She replied aghast, “There is no one here.” And then walked out.

I grabbed her on the edge of the stairs, but she was not in the right state of mind as she wrestled with me. I didn’t push her, but she fell, even the die flew out of my hand.

The die rolled down with her screams. I rushed after them.

Her breathing was shallow as she weakly called for help. But I cried from pain as I lost the game, and his laughter filled my head, and this time, I couldn’t shut my brain.