"Riiingggg, riiingggg, riiinnnggg"
"Tap"
"Another day, another day"
Riley muttered with a sigh as she turned her alarm clock off with a soft tap on its bell.
It had been 4 years since she graduated college and moved to the city. Like many others, she moved from her small town in the countryside to hopefully make it big. Things weren't going as planned though. Originally all was looking well, she had her new shiny degree in computer programming and theoretically, no shortage of job hirings.
She learned the hard way though that skill in the classroom didn't necessarily translate to the real world. She had a really good knack for pattern recognition which made it easy for her to know how to prepare for exams after observing how a professor constructed questions during quizzes and other minor assessments. Throughout her 17 years of schooling, not once did she ever need to actually think outside the box. All she had to do was think within the confines of what the professor wanted to see or hear.
Anyway, after a few weeks of working with them, an employer would notice her lack of proficiency and replace her. After all, just like how there were no shortage of hirings, there were also no shortages of fresh graduates. This cycle repeated a few more times until she decided to give up. She couldn't find it in herself to face the family that raised her so lovingly so she didn't go back home to the countryside. Eventually, she was able to find work as a cleaner in a nursing home and has been working there ever since.
All things considered, her situation wasn't too bad. Though small, her apartment was in a pretty safe part of town. She had good neighbors and was able to make enough to eat three meals every day. She even had a bit extra to spend on her pin collecting hobby. Most importantly, this way she was able to trick her family into thinking that she was living the good life.
Today was an ordinary day like any other. After psyching herself up for around 20 minutes, she took a bath, ate breakfast and with a heavy heartwent, set off to work.
The Golden Gate Nursing Home was a modest one. Its size is around two thirds of the main building of your average high school with nothing too much to note in its design. It was however, very well maintained.The owner was very hands on and it was reflecting on the building. The paint always looked new and any chips on the wallpaper were fixed within the hour. The place had power and water even during power outages and the hired staff were all very friendly.
"Morning Riley, how are you doing?"
Sam, her manager, said with a smile as he met her by the front door
"I'm doing my best as usual sir, so whats my itinerary for today"
"Its a bit different from the usual. Mark called in sick today so we distributed his tasks amongst you guys. You'll be in charge of the common area and kitchen as usual in the morning, but in the afternoon you'll be in charge of the upkeep of all rooms on the third floor, including Mr. Perez room"
"Wait that old man? Can't I be assigned to someone else, you know he gives me the creeps"
During her three and a half years working there, Riley had a lot of chances to get to know the residents and for the most part, she got along with them very well. In fact, the stories the old timers would usually share was something Riley began to look forward to daily, but Perez was a bit different.
"Sorry Riley, its a bit too late to reshuffle the schedule now. Plus you're not the only one who shares those sentiments"
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Sam had a point. It wasn't just her who was creeped out by Mr. Perez, a lot of the staff were too. No one would volunteer for the task so it had to go to someone. Riley was just the unlucky victim.
"Fine, but you better treat me to a drink later"
"Of course, as long as its only a bottle"
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"And do you know what happened next? He got up and ran for his life! Just from a few warning shots, can you believe it?"
Mr. Stevenson laughed as he animatedly recounted his story to Riley as she was sweeping the floors of the common area. He was one of the most talkative among the residents of the nursing home and a day wouldn't go by where he wouldn't share at least one tale.
"No way Mr. Stevenson, you definitely made that up!"
The old man always had the tallest of tales and she was convinced they were all embelished. One weird story was believable but for this old man to have enough of them to recount every day for 3 and a half years? Now that was a bit unlikely in the eyes of the young cleaner.
"Hey Mr. Stevenson, can I ask you something? How much do you know about the old man who lives in Room 202, Mr. John Perez?"
"Honestly not much kid, that guy never talks to anyone. Even when others try to start a conversation with him, he just brushes them off."
Mr. Stevenson said with a shrug. He was one of the most sociable of the residents in the nursing home, but even he had never heard the guy speak.
"I thought so, that guy is like a ghost. The older staff say he just silently came up to our front desk one day, paid enough money to cover his stay for a hundred years, and checked himself in. I wonder what his story is"
Riley pondered. For the most part, everyone in the nursing home was a pretty tight knit community.The staff and residents were more friends than anything. John Perez was the only exception. He never visited the common area or even spoke to anyone. The only time he'd ever leave his room was when he needed to bathe or get some sort of medical treatment he couldn't receive in his room. Otherwise, he'd idle by his room's window and just stare at the sky the whole day.
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Eventually after a few more hours of cleaning, chatting, and a lunch break in between, Riley couldn't delay it any longer. She needed to start the upkeep of Mr. Perez's room if she wanted to finish her shift on time. After giving herself a small pep talk she knocked on his door
"Mr. Perez, its Riley. I'm here to clean your room"
"..."
"Thought so"
Riley muttered under her breath. She didn't expect the old man to answer, not after all this time, so she reluctantly turned the doorknob and entered John Perez's room.
Inside, a bony old man sat on a rocking chair beside his window while gazing at the sky. His eyes were sunken and it seemed like no area on his skin wasn't riddled with some sort of crease or wrinkle. The room itself was almost empty as well. It had the necessary ammenities but that was it. John Perez had no personal belongings and he never requested any items for leisure like books from the staff either. The room was silent and monotone a stark contrast to the vibrant noise of the common area or even the iddle chatter of the old timers chatting with each other in the other rooms. It was as if it was an isolated space away from everything else in the nursing home, and this unsettled RIley to her core, but a job is a job and Riley needed food on her table.
She went through the motions as fast as she could. Changing the bedsheets, scrubing and mopping the floors, adding bleach to the bathroom's toilet, and so on. She did eventually finish and she spared no time collecting her things and getting ready to leave.
"I'm done cleaning now Mr. Perez, Mark will probably replace me again for your usual cleaning next week"
"...."
"Well I'll be off now Mr. Perez"
Riley continued, almost jogging towards the door, but before she could leave something unbelievable happened.
"Hey kid, don't be like me, don't give up just yet."
Mr. Perez murmurred in a weak raspy voice. It seems that the long years of silence took a toll on his vocal cords.
"Huh? What do you mean sir?"
"I think you know."
"Uhm, well thanks sir, I'll keep that in mind"
Riley replied, a bit confused as to what to say or think. She gave the old man a small bow, a policy of the nursing home, before leaving.
"Don't give up huh? From him it sounds weirdly convincing"
"Maybe just a few more times, I don't have much better to do anyway"
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The next day, Mr. John Perez would pass away. Due to his unique situation, the nursing home handled his burial. He was buried quietly without much fanfare in the local cemetery, with not so much as a funeral service held in his name. Over the coming years, no one would visit his grave. No one except a prestigious software developer who dedicated all of her success to him.