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Seymour sits on his bed clicking away at his laptop, curtains drawn shutting out the light of day. The sickly pale glow of the computer highlights his sunken features.
Facebook is open. Typing.
Status: “I want to see her so much...” Update.
New tab. Favourites. “Christina’s profile”
A restricted profile shows his dream girl Christina. A profile picture with no information.
He had known her since they went to school together, but never had the courage to speak to her.
She was way out of his league, but if she could just get to know him, she’d realise no one else could love her like Seymour did.
A notification pops up. “CHRISTINA STEVENS accepted your friend request”
A moment passes.
Instant message. “Hey, thanks for the add. Do I know you? ”
A look of curiosity peaks on Seymour's face. It slowly turns to a smile. Fixated on the word friend. He puts the laptop aside, overjoyed at the prospect of his new friend. Giggling to himself, he moves over to his wall.
Beautiful pictures of Christina placed so delicately decorate it, a collage so sweet Seymour had cried many times in front of it. If it weren’t for her friends ruining the photos Seymour had managed to find online, the pictures would have been perfect. They looked much better with their faces scribbled out.
The softest hand gives the lightest touch to the centre picture of the monument to perfection.
Seymour returning to the computer ignores the instant message and views Christina’s profile fully for the first time. A privilege only her friends can have. Seymour smiles to himself.
“Christina Stevens – nearly finished work - at Cafe Blank” - 5 minutes ago.
Cafe Blank? That's not too far away. Seymour resolves to go meet his new friend from work to begin their friendship properly. Who knows, if things go well he could take her on a date, buy her gifts, introduce her to his parents...Seymour's thoughts turned sour for a moment. Well he would, but his parents never understood him. He was glad to be rid of them.
Putting on his hoody he left the house.
The sun momentarily blinded him. Pausing to think: When was the last time he had left the house?
Walking briskly through his neighbourhood he avoided eye contact with any of the seedy locals. A dog let out a bark which shocked him. An old lady gave an apology but Seymour had already turned and walked off.
In town, Seymour approached Cafe Blank. His body tingled with anticipation.
Minutes passed. A lady had approached Seymour asking questions for her survey, but he continued to stare at the temple of his goddess until the lady went away.
More minutes passed.
Seymour checks Christina’s profile on his phone for any updates.
“Christina Stevens – down by the river ” - at Rowntree Park - 10 minutes ago.
Damn, must have got here too late. Seymour taps his phone for directions to her check in.
Must hurry. Must hurry. Don’t want to lose her again.
Well the park might be a nice romantic setting for their friendship to blossom. The sun should be setting soon, what a lovely scene it will paint.
Seymour stops dead. There sat on the park bench, looking out over the river. It must be her, it can’t be anyone else. Butterflies dance in Seymour’s stomach. He couldn’t be more than ten paces away from her now.
A male voice. Christina turns as a tall boy, Seymour was sure he recognised, sits next to her. She smiles as he hands her an ice-cream. Seymour’s stomach drops, and a feeling of complete emptiness washes over his body as he watches the two share a kiss.
The emptiness bubbles over into a familiar feeling. His muscles twitch and fists clench.
How? How can this person taint what is not his?
He checks his phone once more.
About me. “Christina Stevens is in a relationship with David Coleman”
----
Christina laughs with David as she wipes ice cream onto his nose. She takes a compact digital camera out of her bag and pushes her head close to David’s as they both give a cheesy grin. Click!
David recoils at the sudden flash and insists he take the next photo as he was sure he blinked in the previous one.
Night time, and Christina is just reaching her home. Entering her living room with a fresh mug of hot chocolate she sits down at her computer and boots it up.
She takes out her phone.
Status: “had such a good day today. home safe now, night all xx”. Update.
Computer booted she plugs in her camera and loads up the pictures. Smiling as she browses through them, she laughs coming to the picture where David is blinking with ice cream on his nose. She notices a dark figure stood several feet behind them in the picture. She looks through the next few pictures they took at the bench and the figure is still there.
A chill passes through Christina.
Onto the next couple of pictures of Christina and David in various locations around town, smiling and posing as normal.
Next picture. It’s one of David posing near a statue. Christina is dumbstruck as sees a blurry figure in the background. It couldn’t possibly be the same person. Those pictures were taken hours apart from each other.
Christina taps at her phone to ring David.
It goes straight to voicemail. Christina leaves a worried message, feeling unsafe, wanting him to ring her, and hangs up.
She returns to the comforting glow of her computer and something in her newsfeed catches her eye.
“David Coleman - Is going to die cold and alone. The river runs red” – at Rowntree Park - 15 minutes ago
A notification. “Seymour Williams has checked into Christina Stevens house”- with Christina Stevens. – 2 seconds ago.
Seymour Williams likes this.
Category:Computers and Internet
Category:Mental Illness
Category:Photography