Quote: "Kalas" (A.Glass 2020)

"Adjusting her face mask, Sarika Kalas pauses, looking up at the sky, outside Liana's apartment block in Chelsea.

How does one approach that? Blunt or subtle, in a time of a viral outbreak and a possible doomsday. Either way, it was worth a try I guess, she thinks to herself, as Kalas walks onward towards West Twenty Fifth Street. “She's a lost soul,” Kalas says in a detached manner, referring to Liana, as she glances around, studying the buildings which line the street, as late afternoon sunset accentuates an eerie, yet serene glow throughout the Lower Manhattan scenery. There is for her a familiarity, whilst at the same time unfamiliar in all of its resonation. As time passes, Kalas walks at a steady pace, not rushed or slow towards Madison Square Park. She lifts her phone checking the distance to Roosevelt Island on foot, seeing that it's over an hour long walk, looking briefly up a the sky again. Ahead she sees people, wearing their face masks walking in opposite directions, within their sombre resolve as the weight of a pandemic has suppressed the normalities of life. Yet, they look defeated. Noticing also the sparse one way traffic on an otherwise busy street. She crosses over fifth avenue, entering Madison Square Park, as a cold wind blows, looking around Kalas smiles, “South West”. While the sky, fading into twilight has become darker. In the distance she sees what looks like an elderly woman, motionless staring at a row of trees. Kalas begins to walk towards her.

“Cold”, Kalas says to herself. As she walks up to the woman who is completely still in an ungregarious manner, standing beside her, albeit with a distance. Kalas angles herself slightly to the right side trying to attain a glimpse of the elderly woman. She sees only a blank unemotional stare, with pale and gaunt features, yet Kalas does not see her eyes.

“You're not wearing a mask,” Kalas asks, her demeanor calm, yet the figure next to her holds no response or interest in a reply. You are not real, Kalas thinks to herself.

“I'm real Sarika. No need for me to wear a mask my dear,” the woman says, staring ahead. As Kalas remains unmoved by the spectre that has appeared, seemingly able to read her thoughts. The woman turns and looks at Kalas, revealing eyes that are acherontic in their gleam, distant and ethereal.

“Mother...” Kalas says, as the figure in front of her disappears. Closing her eyes, she looks upward at the darkened sky above. “...This isn't my world,” Kalas says, whilst bowing her head she then opens her eyes, turning around she walks back towards where she lives in Manhattan. Stopping momentary, she looks back to where her and the apparition were standing.

What you once said Dad, “it all ends and begins with me.”

She walks onward.

___

KALAS (A.Glass 2020)