Man in the Window

My heart began to race when I punched out at work. When I knew it was 5PM, I knew the man would come after me. The sweat poured from my face, and I knew the man was coming for me. Stepping out of my office, staring up at the hues of blue and purple, I was at peace for mere seconds. Walking to my car, each step I took, was like walking toward a death sentence. Getting into my car, my hands began to shake. My palms grew clammy, and I dropped my keys on my lap.

I don’t want to see the man. The man taunts me while I sleep. The man scratches at my window and lets out a shrill sound that pierces my ears. Why oh why does the man in the window obsess over me? My thoughts run rampant and that’s all I can focus on is the man. I’m sick of this man in my window. He never leaves me. I need to be rid of this man.

Once I start driving home, I devise a plot for the man. I will kill the man. Killing the man is the only way. No more scratching at the window or laughing at me while I sleep. As I continue to plan, I then question myself a bit. Pausing and reflecting, am I really willing to kill this man? Murder is the only solution? How much time will I even get for committing a murder? My stomach began to lurch at the thought, but I had no other choice. I had to kill the man. He needed to stop torturing me every night. I haven’t slept in months.

I knew of a place to purchase a gun without any questions. It was at my local gas station. I’ve heard rumors that the older man who owns the place sells other shipments of items that he very seldom discusses. Putting in the destination in my GPS, I make my way to the gas station. Would this really help me solve my problems? The man would go away, but would I be happy? What about the man’s family or friends? Then again, this maniac didn’t seem to have anyone who cared for him. After all, he sat in my window at night for a laugh.

My phone pinged and I was at my destination. I turned into the gas station. Barely anyone in the desolate parking lot. This was perfect and discrete, no one would see me purchase this gun. I stepped out of my car and opened the rusted metallic door into the station. There was the old man, scruffy, red faced and reeking of cigarettes. He looked up at me with one bushy white eyebrow raised. I didn’t say a word and just by his gaze alone he knew I was looking for something.

“You look like shit son, but I can tell you need to maybe ask me about “shipments”?” His raspy voice boomed in the empty station and I looked around to make sure no one heard him. No one was in the station besides me. I nodded my head regarding his answer. The older man went in the back for a couple minutes. I debated on leaving, maybe I don’t need to do this. I nervously paced around thinking about what I was about to do. Maybe I should just leave. I don’t need this, I’m a normal thinking and reasonable guy. Murder is something that doesn’t need to be added to my personality resume.

What was taking this guy so long? Should I just leave? My vision began to blur, head spinning and I felt like I was going to hurl right in the station. Holding onto a shelf that was filled with several different chips, I stared down at the blackened floor that hadn’t seen a mop in months. I tried to focus on each individual crack in the floor. Counting each one, my mind slowly became at ease. Closing my eyes, taking some deep breaths, I felt I became back in balance. The older man moved swiftly back to the counter and in his hands was a brown paper bag. The same paper bags used when I was a kid for lunch.

“Now, you have a nice evening. This is free of charge, just be sure to come by more often. Maybe buy some snacks or something.” I grabbed a bag of chips with my order, paid and walked out of there. Opening the bag, there it was. A 64 caliber, I sealed it back up and went back into my car. I sat in my thoughts before revving up the engine home. This was really happening. I’m going to be rid of this man for good. Can I go through with this though? Can I murder someone in cold blood? Am I a bad person for coming to this conclusion?

I started up my car and made my way home. My mind was now empty and I started to clear my thoughts of what I was about to do. I convinced myself this was the right thing to do. That I was a good person, I woke up everyday and did what I needed. I abide by the rules, pay my bills and go to work doing the best I can everyday. No need to feel this badly about someone who causes me nothing but suffering and turmoil in my everyday life.

Finally pulling into my apartment building, I parked my car and locked it. Grabbing the paper bag, crinkling it tightly in my grasp. I live on the 11th floor alone. As I take the elevator up, I still assure myself this is the right thing to do. After this, my life will return to normalcy again. Each stop the elevator made, my thoughts became more and more clear on making the right choice. Finally, reaching my floor. I walked to my door, reached for my keys and opened the door to my doom.

I grabbed a chair from my living room and sat directly in front of my window. A huge oak tree stood near the apartments and that’s where the man perched himself. Gripping the paper bag, I decided this is where I would take care of the man. Sitting in my chair, nervously bouncing my leg, slowly waiting for dusk. With this much anticipation, I felt my eyes get heavy. My body grew limp and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

Awoken by the mind numbing shrill sound. That sound has caused many sleepless nights. That ear piercing sound that has haunted my constant days. I wake up and my apartment is shrouded in darkness. How long was I out for? Looking at my watch, it was 11:30 PM and the man in the window taunted me even louder this time. It’s like he knew what was coming to him. His eyes glowed in the dark, they were like a sickening yellow. Grinning with his pointed tiny teeth, screeching at me louder this time.

This is it, this is going to be the end of the man in the window. I pulled out the caliber from the bag and tossed the bag on the ground. Holding the gun, shaking a bit now at what I was about to do. The man in the window gave me a wide grin, like he was mocking me. He wanted this, he wanted to prove that I was desperate enough to resort to this. With blind rage, I fired my first shot and the window shattered into thousands of pieces. The crashing of glass pieces spread all over my rug. I fired another shot, again my window slowly losing glass pieces.

I kept missing the man, howling at me with laughter as I kept hesitating. This man, who’s caused me nothing but pain, just laughing at me? Taunting me? Does he think this is a game? Does he not realize all of that pain I’ve endured? Finally, I fired the third shot and the bullet pierced the man in the chest. Letting out a loud shriek, the man fell over, plummeting to his death. I saw his gaze, it had glazed over into emptiness. I watched him go down, smashing into and painting the pavement in blood. A few moments later, I heard someone banging on my door. Screaming and pounding for me to open the door.

I dropped the caliber, laughing hysterically now. I can be at peace. No more shrieking. No more watching me sleep and teasing me about it. I collapsed into my chair and the next thing I knew, my apartment manager opened my door with his master set of keys. The first thing my manager noticed was my gun placed on the floor next to me. Screaming obscenities and hollering at me, the manager’s tone was something I had blocked out. I couldn’t hear a thing. Is this what peace is? 10 minutes had gone by and I was being lifted out by some local authorities. I just had a wide grin on my face as they lifted me. Nothing was phasing me, I was in bliss. The authorities were also questioning me and harassing me. None of this mattered to me. The man in the window was gone and I didn’t care where I ended up. I could be at rest anywhere knowing the man in the window was gone.

The apartment manager perused around the apartment before locking up. The manager then noticed a bottle on the counter. He grabbed it and examined it closely. “Patients must take two tablets: once in the morning and once in the evening. Failure to do this, can result in insomnia, hallucinations and erratic behaviors.”