"29" :: Chapter 1

Everything around seemed to follow an under-water pace. They were all just passing by Fabrice, even the bumps were too slow to be felt. Like an endless swarm, the crowd was never-ending. The faces looked the same, with a plastic smirk spread over them. All the faces were somehow unnoticeable. Many had party caps on their heads. Fabrice could feel a reminder sneaking at the back of his mind, about the ongoing birthday celebration, which happened to be his.

A pair of hands clenched his shoulders guiding him through the crowded hall way. Fabrice could sense, it was his Dad. Thinking about his Dad, made another realization trickle in, this time reminding of the whiskey he had smuggled in with a faithful accompanist and a good friend. Fabrice could see back into time, and that familiar stare with which his dad had looked at him, before he had fallen like a crippled man on the couch. The party was ending now; this birthday had gone too far.

The view cleared out and there was a certain degree of coolness in the air. The pair of hands reached Fabrice’s head carefully leading him to the bed. Fabrice felt like his perception was being treated by a “fast-forward” button and when his realization caught up, the smiling face of his dad appeared before his eyes. The view blurred continually before the eye lids gave up and his consciousness sank in.

It felt like Fabrice had turned away towards a different view. With eyes shut, still some things appeared so clear. In an instant he went from lying down to sitting straight up. There was a steering wheel right in front, and the interiors of a car unraveled as if light was slowly progressing its way into the entire view. A funny feeling in his stomach, told Fabrice that he was falling.

‘What’s up with the slow mo?’ Fabrice felt funny that he could clearly think in this peculiar state that wasn't real, but seemed a little too real to be a dream.

The pace returned as the car hit the ground with a loud crash, Fabrice felt as if he would leap out like a dolphin due to the abrupt impact but his rib cage hit the steering wheel. A faint pain shot up through his ribcage. Fabrice, hunched towards the steering wheel, saw a clear “29” projected in the skies.

‘This birthday had gone too far’ he thought.

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...and so it begins again. Another attempt to weave a story. So jump in, hold on tight and let the ride take control.

Anyone after-thoughts are always welcomed, as it would reassure me that my shit is being read. Yep.