Apologize

“No Imari, wait! I’m sorry! I didn’t know you- I mean, I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!” you try to apologize as you bolt up the stairs after her trying to catch up. Once you reach the third floor you find her standing near the door. She looks firmly at the ground and her hands are clasped together in front of her skirt. You profusely apologize. You’d get down on your knees and bow, but that would just exacerbate matters. “It’s alright,” she says at last, “I know you’re not. . . like that.” While you would disagree with her, you’re thankful that it’s okay between you two. “Next time we take the stairs, I’ll go first,” you offer. “But we’ll be going downstairs and you’ll still be below me,” she points out. “Oh, right. Side by side then.” You nervously laugh out as you scratch the back of your head. She manages a weak smile and heads out the door. You follow after her.

“Okay, that’s it up ahead,” she points down the hall, “wait in here, I’ll send the receptionist away.”  She pushes you through the nearest door, before heading down the hall.  You look around the room you’re in.

 “She just had to pick the morgue,” you mutter to yourself as you see the doors lined up along the walls.  There’s a single steel table in the middle of the room with raised edges and a drain on one end.  A light fixture hangs overhead so the coroner can see where he’s cutting.  It’s off right now and the only light in the room is coming from a lamp on the coroner’s desk.  There’s a chill in the air and the only sounds you hear are a ticking clock and your own beating heart.  You can’t wait until Imari says the coast is clear so you can leave this tomb.  But then you wonder: if they brought you here, then maybe. . .

There’s a whiteboard on the wall.  On it are listed names and dates indicating who’s on what slab.  You look for the date you were brought in.  When you do, you see that there’s only one arrival: John Doe #387, slab five.  ‘Maybe just a quick peek’ you rationalize to yourself, 'maybe see what the big deal is.'  You head over and stand in front of his locker.  You hesitate while you wonder if you should keep going.  This is creeping you out a little.  Maybe you should just wait for Imari to come back.