Kindness – KURIS Litfest 2015
Illustration by Paolo Manghihilot
You find yourself walking down a dirt road in the province, enjoying the cool air breeze through your hair. You decided to have a little getaway, a break from the city life. The gray clouds lazily float along the horizon as you take in the view. Miles of grass and crops, the fields littered with goats grazing. You pass a few locals carrying the days harvest on their backs. As you trudge along the road, you spot a little house. Curiously, you approach the house and knock on the front door. You are greeted by the sight of an old man, who treats you with utter kindness and invites you in for refreshments. Not wanting to refuse the old man, you oblige.
He offers you a drink, and you two sit down to talk. As the time passes by, you realize the rain has started to pour. The old man offers to let you stay the night in his guest room and tells you that you can leave in the morning. Again, you oblige, not wanting to refuse the old man.
In the morning, you will wake up on the floor. The room will be dirty, and messy, with the wood rotting. You make your way down the stairs and find the rest of the house in a state of decay. You hear faint sounds of screaming coming from the basement door. If you attempt to peek through the door, you will see yourself blindfolded and strapped to a chair, being tortured by the old man. This will go on and you will be unable to turn away.
You will then wake up in your own bed with absolutely no recollection of the day before, and proceed to pack all your belongings and leave for the province. You will find an abandoned house by the end of a dirt road and renovate it.
You will forget about your old life and live in peace. A year later, a stranger will knock on your door, with a confused expression and you will be compelled to treat him with utter kindness, even offering him a drink inside.
