Reflected Souls

Chapter 3

Who the hell was that guy? And why the fuck does he look like me? I have no twin and if i did I would know about it. These were the thoughts that flooded Stan's mind as he stormed out of the building after talking to Robert. He was feeling angry, angry because that guy had a face that looked like his and angry because that guy seemed happy with his life. He looked like he was successful and had money and drove a big expensive car. I don't look like him. He looks like me. This thought calmed him down a little.

Stan lived alone in a studio apartment in Ngara. He had no wife, no kids and lived a life of solitude except for the occasional 'Jessica visits' he got from time to time. Jessica was his neighbor and short time girlfriend until they decided it was best to keep their relationship strictly beneficial. They would remove the labels and just give each other 'company' when either or both of them needed it.

On that Monday, Jessica had called Stan and told him that she wasn't going to make it that night since she would be having dinner with her parents, "Look for something else to do tonight, okay?"

Now what? He thought as he flipped through the television channels, it was a quarter past seven and Stan was bored he was just about to switch off the TV when a commercial popped up on the screen and announced a AA meeting that was going to be held at the I&M building in town. "Free dinner and helpful advice to alcoholics who are battling with sobriety." The announcer said in an over excited, over pitched voice. The AA meeting was going to start at eight and entrance was free.

Free dinner, why not?

Little did he know that his life was about to change forever.

A few weeks after that Monday night, Stan stood behind a tree a few blocks away from Robert's house, watching and waiting. It was around six in the morning and the air was chilly, the sun peeked out just enough from the clouds to send warm rays down to earth and the birds that had made that tree their home were chirping loudly at the intruder who dared set foot on their humble abode. Ever since that night, Stan talked to Robert, he had grown increasingly obsessed with the situation and had decided it would be harmless to find out what Robert did and where he lived but that turned into something much more serious . Stan started spying on Robert. He took pictures of where he went to work, where he went to secretly drink and where he lived. Then he started taking pictures of Sarah, the pregnant but still very attractive woman who lived with Robert. After a while his attention shifted from Robert to Sarah. The more he followed her, the more he wanted her and he hated Robert Delani for having her. Why should he have her? What does he have that I don't? It was these thoughts that were responsible for bringing him here today. He was going to get into that house when Robert left for work and make sweet love to Sarah.
After weeks of stalking someone the stalker gets an idea of the 'prey's' routine. Stan knew exactly what Robert was going to wear to work and was wearing the clothes himself, white shirt, khaki trousers and a coat. The shoes are the ones that had proved difficult to get but he was sure Sarah wouldn't notice. He also knew that Robert's car was at the mechanic's and so Robert would have to use the bus to go to work, this made his plan much easier. He smiled. The front door of Robert's house opened and out he emerged with a briefcase dangling in his right hand and a newspaper rolled in the palm of his left hand. He walked briskly with a stride that Stan knew all too well since he used that stride himself and went to the bus station just in time to board the 7:00 am bus to town. Stan hid behind the huge tree and watched Robert as he walked to the station and boarded the bus.

"It's show-time"

Stan stood up straight and tucked his shirt in, he then buttoned up the coat he was wearing and rubbed his hands together like a stand-up comedian anxious to get up on stage. He looked at Robert's house and hesitated, the thought of just going back home and forgetting about Sarah came to his mind for just a second but he brushed it of as soon as it surfaced. I have to do this... I have to.