Excerpt:

Symptoms of Autumn

Drizzle

Today is a perfect day. A cup of coffee, and work all afternoon.

Later that day.

Yawn…

“How did I fall asleep if I drank a cup of coffee?”

I looked down. The mug was no longer on the desk; it was dry in the sink. Could it be that…? Huh? Ghosts? It seems I woke up earlier, but I don’t remember it.

I grabbed my laptop and walked a few steps across the living room until I felt something strange behind me…

“What’s that chill? Oh—I left the window slightly open. How careless.”

I walked over and placed my laptop on the coffee table. I closed the glass door and noticed a lipstick mark on the pane.

“A kiss? The cleaning staff must be losing their minds…”

Annoyed, I picked up my phone.

Outgoing call tone

…

“Yes? Hello, cleaning service?”

“Yes, sir. How may we assist you?”

“Well… I’m not sure how to explain this…”

“Take your time, sir. We’re here to help. What seems to be the issue?”

“It’s not exactly an issue… It looks like someone kissed my glass door with red lipstick during the weekly cleaning.”

“I see. May I have your apartment number and identification, please?”

“Sure… I’m… Who am I?”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing…” I glanced quickly at my credentials. “Eddie Harper, Apt. ****, ID **** **** ***.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve checked your file. Your visit is scheduled for tomorrow. No service has been performed yet, Mr. Harper.”

“I understand. Thank you for the information. Have a nice day, Mrs. Harper.”

“Hey, Eddie. We’re not even married yet and you’re already letting other women into your apartment.”

“W-wait, l-let me expl—”

“Likewise, have a nice day, Mr. Harper.”

Call ends

I sighed. “Why did it have to be her turn today…? I guess I’ll leave that thing there until tomorrow. It’s a little creepy… I hope this isn’t a joke from you, my love.”

Still, forgetting my own name was strange. Well, who knows—maybe my twenty-seven years are catching up to me. That night I slept poorly, as if something heavy were pressing on my body, something that vanished with daylight.

I followed my routine: breakfast, studying, work, the gym, and a drink with my girlfriend at a bar. After walking her home, I returned to my apartment. Dizzy, I opened the door, bumped into some furniture, and collapsed onto the couch. I looked toward the glass… the kiss was gone.

That made me happy, so without further thought I went to my bedroom. I turned off the lights, lay face down on the bed, and stayed still…

Very still.

“Why can’t I move? Huh? Silk?”

“Uh… there’s… there’s someone standing next to me. Who… WHO ARE YOU?”

“Why can’t I talk? Hello!”

Suddenly, the figure turned and began circling the bed…

Tap, tap, tap…

I grew more nervous with each step. I was drenched in sweat. Then her long black hair slid slowly across my temple. I still couldn’t move, and I was terrified of seeing her face.

I tried to close my eyes. I couldn’t. I was being forced to watch.

Burned skin… red eyes…

“Ahhh! I burned myself with the damn coffee.”

“You squeezed the cup too hard, sweetheart. What happened?”

“S-sweetheart? But I was in… where was I?”

“Here. With me.”

“Right… you’re right…”

“Do you feel okay?”

“I’ve had better days.”

…

Days later

Incoming call

“Love, where are you?”

“Love? Why are you answering but not speaking?”

“I bet you’re still staring at that thing on the glass. Seriously, call the police. Someone’s messing with you.”

“I’m not joking, sweetheart. I can’t even focus on work anymore. And strange things keep happening.”

We argued for a while.

I made myself a coffee and sat back down. I apologized. We made up. I picked up the mug, walked straight to the kitchen, and left it there untouched.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

“There’s something strange in my mouth,” I thought. I assumed it was food. I stuck my fingers in, applied light pressure with my thumb and index finger… and a whole molar came out.

My hand was covered in blood. I looked at myself in the mirror… and small insects crawled out of my right tear duct. A sharp pain followed. I splashed water on my face. The insects fell.

I smiled at the mirror and looked again at the tooth.

“Maybe it was already loose,” I thought naïvely.

I smiled again. My right eye seemed distorted.

“Huh? Why is it moving?”

The movement became more pronounced. A tear of blood fell, followed by something thin and black. The eye slipped from its socket, legs emerging from the cavity. Then the body followed: a spider, stained with the blood of my eye.

I panicked. I hit my face and began screaming, running around the bathroom. I grabbed the doorknob and opened it. Sunlight hit my eyes directly.

“Is it already daytime? But… right.”

I picked up my steaming coffee and freshly bought bread.

I left my phone on the counter.

I walked to the glass door. It was already routine to see the kiss there. I locked it and covered it with the curtains.

My day was normal. I felt tired, so I took the day off.

I turned on the news.

Reporter: “Yesterday, during excessive rainfall, several businesses were affected—”

“Typical. I’ll change the channel.”

“And in other news, regarding last night’s torrential rains—”

“Again? Chan—”

“A nameless grave was found exhumed overnight in the cemetery. There is no report yet. The only known detail is that it happened at night, and footprints suggest it was done by a single person.”

“Who was the lunatic?”

I smirked, wondering who it could have been. I glanced toward the entrance… and saw boots covered in fresh mud.

I began smiling like a madman. I turned back to the TV, then to the glass door, where suddenly a woman appeared, dressed in white, her skin corpse-like.

I panicked and ran to the wall. When I turned back, she was gone. Relieved, laughing nervously, I went to my bedroom, leaning against the walls.

The door was ajar. Mud marks grew more visible the closer I got. I opened it slowly, expecting a prank and—

“Happy birthday!”

Happy birthday, my love. Bet you didn’t expect this surprise!!

“Oh… thank you, my love…”

I kissed her, hugging her tightly. The small cake in her hand had a candle that flickered on and off by itself. She blew it out. She said I looked so worried she had to sneak in.

She apologized for leaving her boots at the entrance. It had been a difficult night. I told her she didn’t need to do this—that seeing her later would’ve been enough. She kissed me again and lay on the bed.

“Go get something to eat… maybe some beers. Let’s celebrate, okay?”

I nodded, smiling, surrendering to her. I left the room and noticed the coffee again, steaming in the kitchen. I ignored it.

I grabbed disposable plates and cutlery…

Phone vibration — Incoming call

“Yes? Hello?”

“Hi, love. I’ll be busy today, but we can celebrate your birthday later.”

“Wait… why are you calling me if you’re at home? I’m bringing the plates—you’re so impatient.”

“What are you talking about? I’m at work.”

I walked slowly toward the glass door as my girlfriend’s voice echoed through the phone, accusing, jealous.

I opened the curtain. There was no kiss.

“Love?”

“What?”

“There’s no kiss… it’s gone.”

“Well good for you. Now explain—who is that bitch?”

“But I was with you… in the bedroom. I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is a joke, right?”

“What joke?”

“Stop it… wait, I’ll end the joke myself.”

I dropped the phone on the furniture, still hearing:

“I’m not there… love?”

I started trembling as I turned around. The door was closed again. And when I tried to move—

Tap.

A strange sound came from behind me.

I turned, cold sweat running down my forehead. I could barely stand. On the glass, the kiss reappeared.

I unlocked the door and approached the mark. I touched the lipstick. It was creamy. Cold. I turned and leaned over the balcony. Nothing was visible through the thick fog.

Every instinct screamed danger. I heard my beloved screaming, pounding on the door. I felt a soft kiss on my neck. Then the air roared in my ears, in my body—because I was falling, pushed by a putrid body that stopped moving and stared at the landscape… impassive.

I closed my eyes, reaching out my hand, and everything went dark. I’m sorry, my love…

Months later

“Believe me, this is the best apartment on the entire tenth floor.”

“Really?”

“Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, and a living room.”

“Why is the balcony sealed?”

“Our construction company believes it’s safer for children, even if the façade looks worse. A worthy sacrifice.”

“And why is the price so low?”

“It’s… because the building is old. Neighborhoods change over time. Don’t worry—its value will rise.”

“Well, we’ll think about it.”

“In the car.”

“Do you think the price is real?”

“Maybe it’s a scam… but it doesn’t seem like one.”

“Turn on the radio. That mystery program.”

Radio sound.

“Oh, it’s just starting.”

Host: “This is the story of the dead girl who stared at the blue sky…”

Interference.

Tap.

“What was that?”

“No idea. Probably switched stations. Forget it.”

“You know I love you?”…

…"

–Continue reading in its original Castilian language at https://fictograma.com/ , an open source Spanish community of writers–