The Wall

Everett Smith is on his way home. The anxiety in his heart has him desperate to avoid interpersonal contact. “Good lord, work was really a piece of work today, pun intended. I swear it’s like everyone and their mother was trying to talk to me today. Good thing I’m gettin ready to clock out so I can venture off to my fortress of solitude.”

As Everett was motioning to clock out he was approached by his coworker Wallace. “Yo what up Big-E Smalls” Wallace greeted. “The only thing up is my blood pressure” Everett responded sarcastically. “Well you know I got the cure for that, E. So wassup man, you comin to my lil party later or what?”

“Most definitely the “or what” part.” Everett asserted. “You know parties ain’t even my thing no more.” “Ah, come on mr. Smith” Wallace sighed. You used to love comin to my parties on a Friday night.” “Well that was before I became overwhelmed with my hectic personal life. My social battery has been draining like crazy lately.”

“See, now I know you just makin’ up excuses” Wallace replied. “Maybe so, but I still ain’t comin” Everett responded sarcastically. “Ight then, Lame-E. I’ll catch you later.” As Everett parted ways with Wallace he quickly started making his way to his car. “Bruh I cannot wait to get home” Everett thought to himself. “It has been way too much human interaction taking place in my life on this beautiful Friday. Everett got in his car and drove from the parking lot of his job into a swarm of 4pm Friday traffic. He pulled into the parking lot and found that it was full.

“What the heck? Did everybody get off work with the same idea as me today?” He thought irately. Everett gabbed a park at the furthest end of the lot and got out. “Let me get in here and get this steak without having to kill anybody.” Everett made his way to the back of the store where the meats were and found that there were only a handful of T-bone steaks left. “Thank the man upstairs” he exhaled as he quickly grabbed one of the steaks and headed for the register. He sat in the self checkout line for what seemed like 10 minutes before he finally checked out his steak.

As Everett made his way back to his car he ran into a female cashier from the inside. He briefly pretended he didn’t notice her. “So you gonna act like you don’t see me?” The girl called out. “What’s up Kelly?” Everett sighed with a laugh. “I know you saw my text the other night” Kelly asserted. “I did, but not til I woke up in the morning” Everett responded. “I had a busy night that night so I passed out earlier than usual”.

“Yeah I’ll bet” Kelly responded in disbelief. “Well what you up to this weekend?” “Eh just cleanin’ up the crib” Everett replied. “I heard your boy Wallace was havin a party tonight, you’re not goin?” Kelly asked. “Nah” Everett began. “I’m pretty cooked from today”. “We’ll give me a ring later and let me know wassup” Kelly remarked as she went back into the store. Everett hopped in his car and made his way home with a drained feeling.

“I hate I have to keep dismissing everybody like this” Everett thought as he walked in his house. “I keep lying to everybody about my social battery being drained, but the truth is I avoid contact with the outside world and put up walls with hopes that no one can break them down. I try to stay away from people to avoid hurt, betrayal and abandonment.”

“I sit in this little apartment, secluded from the outside world that tries with all its might to get me to rejoin it, but I desperately try to avoid them. The friends who invite me to hang out, the girls who wanna date me. I know they’re all solid people, but my trauma scars won’t let me let them in. I know I shouldn’t shut them out, but it’s like I just can’t help. I don’t know how to let go of this wall.”