Facts of Hysteria

Someone was knocking at the door. The middle-aged man puts down his newspaper on the coffee table and stands up. His house is bare, lacking possessions. Cream-colored walls vibrantly penetrate the nothingness. Footsteps towards the front door creak along the hardwood floor. He peers out the window to his front lawn. Grasping the brass handle he opens the door. A short slender mailman is standing on steps with a large cardboard box in his hands.

"Package for Francis Baker," says the mailman.

"That's me," the man replies.

Looking disturbed, the mailman walks up towards Francis. "Well listen buddy, Francis, stop sleeping with my wife!" The mailman sternly says, "You mess with my wife, you mess with me, and I will mess with you."

Francis is confused and answers, "I have no idea who you are or who your wife is. You must have me mistaken with someone else."

The mailman reaches his hand into his pocket. Francis is alerted and takes a step backward. The mailman pulls out a crumpled picture. Shows the photo to him and comments, "Look that's you on top of my wife! Don't try to lie to me."

Francis defends himself, "That's not me at all. That's my twin brother, Gerald. He was killed last week in a car crash."

"You goddamn liar. That is you with my wife!"

"You're sick, you know that? I don't need to defend myself against you. Sorry to hear your wife is a whore, but my brother is dead and I have no business with you. Get off my property and don't make me call the police."

"I'll leave, but let me warn you though. I have a Glock nine that's itching to be played with. Karma is an unfaithful bitch. If that is you in this picture, watch out for what is coming your way. If what you say is true, then I'm sorry that karma got the best of your brother."

Francis turns around and slams the door on his way inside the house. His big blue eyes fill with water. Tears drip down the sides of his cheeks. He makes his way into the kitchen and leans up against the refrigerator.
His legs give out from him and he slides down to the tile floor.

He asks, "What is this? Why did you have to die Gerry? I'm not ready for you to leave yet! How could you be so stupid to drive drunk? How could you do that to me?"

In a hyperventilating sob, he tries to calm himself down. Deep breathing, he begins to relax. He reaches for the television remote control above him on the counter-top. The television turns on, a pastor is preaching to his audience passionately.

"Take control of your life because you only have one shot to live! Oh Lord, the time is now! To be happy, you can only blame yourself for your negative situation! God Almighty gives us strength, courage..." Francis sneers and changes the channel to ESPN.