How the Internet Works

June 24 2020

The internet is unquestionably one of the most influential innovations that shaped our modern lives. This massive network of computers had an extraordinary impact on our culture, economy, and everyday lives. It offers us instantaneous communication with loved ones and strangers alike across continents as well as endless hours of entertainment in all its digital forms. This network is able to transmit ludicrous amounts of data simultaneously between billions of devices across the entire planet.

So how did we manage to create such a reliable and automated system?

All data is a set of binary digits regardless of what type of information it represents. Images, audio, and all other file types are only differentiated by metadata which is a set of binary digits describing the nature of the data that follows. Therefore, transmitting data requires at least two signal states representing the ones and zeroes. The most common physical data transmission technology are voltage variations across a copper cable, modulated electromagnetic waves, and light pulses through optical fiber [1].

Transmitting one signal across a wire is insufficient. Therefore, multiple signals are modulated into different frequency bands that can be separated on the receiving end. The range of available frequencies defines the bandwidth and is mostly limited by hardware quality and the surrounding environment.

These physical technologies only enable the transmission of data between two devices uniquely connected to one another. So what happens when you have a network of billions of devices?

How does the data arrive at the correct destination in an acceptable time frame?

To ensure data reaches its proper destination in a complex network, data is split into packets of a specific size then preceded by more metadata according to specific protocols. The protocols that govern the internet fall into a hierarchy described by the OSI model. Each protocol appends specific information onto the data to be sent then the protocol below it on the OSI model appends more information and so on in a process known as “encapsulation”.

First, when an application running on a device decides to send data across a network, it structures the data according to a specified protocol like HTTP for web browsers or RTM for streaming audio and video. Compression, encryption, and other important operations are done after this step. Then the operating system allocates one of its ports to that application. Then either the UDP or TCP protocol is used in the transport layer to create a datagram specifying the port of the intended receiving application. TCP is the protocol responsible for resending requests if the previous ones are lost on the network and reorders data packets if they take different routes and arrive in the wrong order. UDP on the other hand is the simpler faster approach to sending data at the cost of part of it being lost.

More data is then appended to the TCP or UDP datagram by the network layer protocol which is almost always the Internet Protocol or IP which specifies the IP address of the recipient creating an IP Packet. Lastly, the data link layer protocol adds even more data to the IP packet. The protocol on this layer is usually either Ethernet or WiFi which specify the MAC address of the next device on the network.

After all those protocols are applied correctly, the data is transmitted across a physical medium to a gateway router. It then reads the metadata then checks its internal routing table which is a rough map of devices on the network and sends the data onward to what it calculates to be the next step in the optimal route. The next router on the network does the same until the data packet reaches its destination or gets lost on the way. But luckily it won’t just keep hopping endlessly since the routers would check its number of hops and eventually discard it if it exceeds a preset number.

If a device does not know the exact IP address of the device it wishes to communicate with and only knows a website name, for example, it sends a request to a DNS server. This server communicates with a central register of addresses that responds with the required IP address.

This way routers can efficiently understand millions of packets and send them properly to their destination. In addition to all these operations, each device on the network checks for random errors by verifying a CRC sum, and the final recipient checks for data integrity from tampering by verifying the Hash value. These operations are done in mere milliseconds in billions of devices without anyone noticing. The internet truly is a fascinating web of complexity.

Author: Wail Rimouche.

The Trend of Hating Popular Things

June 22 2020

mainstream, trends

Nowadays, there is a new trend almost every day. With how fast word travels through social media, something will always take the center of attention at all times. Be it a fresh web show on Netflix, the newest hit song or an up-and-coming artist. But with great popularity also comes great criticism. It is basically impossible for anything to receive positive feedback from everyone, as people have different tastes and cannot be catered to individually. Among these people are those who simply choose to dislike things solely due to their popularity.

Side note: Although I have written ‘criticism’ above, it is not the topic being discussed here. Constructive criticism offers suggestions for improvement and is often objective but is not synonymous to hate.

Currently, it is trendier to hate trends than it is to like them. And from a general point of view, that makes sense. Constant and repeated overexposure to the same thing on the internet is enough to make anyone inclined to hate it.

However, it has become more of blind bandwagoning than rightful dislike lately. As soon as something starts garnering popularity right now and looks on the way to being approved by the vast majority, some people will come out to publicly announce their disinterest in it, in an attempt to remove themselves from the generalization. And that is understandable when it stems from personal preferences, but not when the sole purpose is to look ‘cool’ or ‘different’.

Not long ago, someone shared a positive review of a famous romantic comedy in a private Facebook group. More than half of the comments were users attacking the person’s ‘boring’ taste. In recent years, people have been enjoying being the ‘exception’. Being called basic for having a tendency to lean toward all things commercial has become somewhat of an insult, that for some, it is absolutely crucial to stand out. To separate themselves from the herd.

An urgent strive for uniqueness is one of the reasons why people do this. Online, there are over a million and one ways with which social media insists on individuality; I could list countless quotes on that matter. But while being your own person is an essential personality trait, it is perfectly fine to be in the same category as the majority in certain situations. Giving in to the latest fashion trend or genuinely appreciating a new Pop song is not as terrible as people make it out to be.

Simply put, it is also a lot easier to just let people like whatever brings them joy. However, mainstream their preferences might seem. In fact, this sentiment, in particular, inspired comic artist Adam Ellis to draw the following illustration which has since gone viral.

Speaking to VOX, Ellis said: “It’s supposed to be about people who trash popular stuff to seem interesting or cool […] It’s criticizing people who seem to build their personality around hating stuff ” And when you really think of it, if something has managed to achieve wide popularity, it most likely has some redeeming qualities about it, even if very small.

At the end of the day, whether today’s music is generic or new movies are riddled with clichés, having a quirky taste puts no one in a position to shame other people’s own personal preferences.

Author: Nour Nachoua Nait Ali.

Acolytes of Darkness – Part Two

June 19 2020

fantasy, magic, short story

Click Here for Part One.

The moon shone upon the reddish soil and lifeless corpses—of both humans and skeletons. The silence was only broken by the cracking bones of the acolytes of the necromancer and the whooshing of Iudicium wielded by the silver mage.

“Solum, any survivors?” Corvox asked, shattering five skeletons at once.

“None…” the green mage’s eyes widened. “I don’t sense Levinus either.”

“Can I use fire now?” Fastur clenched his teeth, standing besides Solum. “They don’t need their houses if they’re dead!”

“Fine,” Corvox swung his greatsword, shattering what seemed like twenty skeletons jumped back to his comrades. Solum put his hands on the soil and raised them in the air.

“Vim Ignis, I call for thee…” Fastur aimed at the village, his hands igniting. “Release thy wrath and inflame thy foe!”

Fire erupted and streamed down the streets of the village, burning every wooden house and melting the skeletons down.

“You can quench the flames now,” Solum said, standing between Corvox and Fastur as they watched the village burn.

The red mage lowered a hand, scowling at the flames from above. “Extinguo.” The fire ceased and the atmosphere was shrouded in smoke. “Vacuo Fumus.” Fastur clenched his fist, and the smoke cleared.

Solum closed his eyes then opened at once and turned with a grave look on his face. “Behind us!”

They turned back and sighted the necromancer flying before them, his skin shining green, and his hands stretching in their direction.

“Solum!” Corvox shouted, his divine sword pointed before him.

“I’m on it!” The green mage began to descend the ground beneath them. Fastur raised his hands towards him, clenching his teeth.

“I’ll roast you off your skin!” he roared, his hands flaring, and whispered his spell.

“Stop, you idiot!” Solum shouted, but it was too late. Hellfire blazed towards the necromancer.

“Levinus!” Corvox shouted, staring upwards.

The necromancer casted his green spell towards them, besting and quenching Fastur’s flames. The mages barely got saved as Solum changed the direction of the soil beneath. Corvox jumped upward, his greatsword ashine in the air. A swing barely missed the necromancer. He turned back with a spin and missed again.

“Now!” Corvox shouted amid the air.

“Vim Naturae, I call for thee…” Solum clenched his teeth. “Grant me thy power to protect my compeers!”

Countless roots flew from the grounds towards the necromancer, piercing his body like needles. “Paralyze!” Solum shouted, and the necromancer froze.

“W—what was that?” Fastur asked, staring wide-eyed.

“He’ll be fine.” The green mage brought the necromancer to the ground, the broad white eyes staring hollowly. “He will not move unless I lift the spell.”

“Well done, Solum.” Corvox sheathed his greatsword.

“You two may rest for now.” He stretched a hand, staring deeply. The roots enveloped the necromancer’s body on his command. “I will keep an eye on him.”

The sun rose upon and the dawn greeted the companions. The green mage crouched. He aimed at the cocooned body, and the roots uncovered his head, flashing a sunny blond hair and fair, white skin.

“The curse has been lifted.” He turned his sight to his comrades, who then rose and walked towards him.

“Is he unconscious?” Fastur asked.

“Yes,” Solum replied. “He will awake now.” He laid his hand on the white mage’s chest, and the roots slid away.

Levinus’s eyes opened. He squinted at Solum crouching beside him, with Corvox and Fastur standing behind.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Don’t you remember anything?” Corvox said.

Levinus ran a hand on his head, feeling a headache. “I remember having a dream. People were screaming and calling for the four mages.”

His azure eyes opened fully. He raised his head and perceived the dawning sky then glanced back at his comrades, who had a grave look on their faces.

“Wait, it wasn’t a dream, was it?” No one answered. He peeked behind them and sighted the burned village. “Fastur, was your curse triggered?”

“Not mine, idiot.” The red mage glared, crossing his arms.

Corvox threw a look at Fastur. Levinus’s eyes widened, staring at Solum, whose lips pressed and green eyes saddened.

“I see… So it was I who destroyed the village.” His eyes watered, flickering blue.

Fastur shrugged. “Partly.”

“How do you feel?” Solum asked.

Levinus rubbed his eyes. “Like I was sleeping…”

“The fairy was sleeping while we couldn’t shut an eye!” Fastur spat.

“Enough,” Corvox roared, scowling at Fastur who challenged back with a stare. “We must move.” He walked towards the horses. “It will be best if we fight Sholreg before the fourth night.”

The four mages resumed their journey, riding towards Darce. Solum had told Levinus, who insisted to know, about how he turned to a necromancer with white eyes and green dark magic. The four had discussed strategies to control the cursed one when the time comes.

The sky began to darken, and the mages halted at the river, near the shattered kingdom of Fluvia. They faced each other; Solum prepared his paralyzing roots. Everything was under control.

“I think it’s not time yet,” Levinus said, his hands glaring.

Solum glanced at the sky. “It’s darker than when you transformed.”

“Do not hesitate to pierce us with your roots.” Corvox‘s grasp on Iudicium tightened.

“Understood.”

The cautious stare persisted. Their spells dimmed as though they started to wear off. Solum felt stressfully impatient. There wasn’t any sign. Perhaps he would be the one to transform. He released a sigh and drew more roots from the soil. His gaze turned at Levinus, who was staring at Corvox at his turn.

“Solum!” Corvox shouted, pointing at Fastur.

The red mage kneeled at once, as though he was being tortured. Countless roots flew towards him and pierced every part of his core. “Paralyze!”

“Well done,” Corvox said, digging his divine sword on the ground.

The three stared at Fastur, who turned black instantly. His clothes could not be distinguished from his skin. His head rose; his eyes were white. In fact, they were the only thing that wasn’t black.

“How could he move?” Levinus shouted, his hands shining towards Fastur. “Isn’t he paralyzed?”

“Solum?” Corvox’s face tightened, wielding his greatsword again.

“I don’t understand!” Solum exclaimed.

The warlock walked off the roots. He closed his eyes and disappeared within the darkness.

“A shadow mage?” Solum grinded his teeth.

“Can you sense him?” Corvox shouted.

“I cannot! He is not visible to nature.”

Levinus stared at his comrades; his hands beamed brighter. He raised his hands in the air and blasted a large light ball in the sky that exploded and illuminated the river.

“Corvox, behind you!” Solum shouted. The silver mage spun his greatsword, ineffectively slashing through a queer silhouette. The shadow struck Corvox on the shoulder. Blood erupted. Levinus blazed at the shadow; Solum laid his hands on the ground at once. The soil levitated but the warlock escaped the spell. They darted towards Corvox. He was bleeding, but did not utter a groan. The light dimmed and the river darkened again.

“You’re the only one who can affect him,” Corvox said, glancing at Levinus.

“Try to immobilize him,” Solum said. “We’ll distract him from you.”

The white mage glanced at his comrades and nodded. He raised his gleaming hands again, and illuminated the scene. The shadow mage was staring from afar with his white eyes. His skin turned grey, his coat dark and hands were shrouded with dark magic. He raised the palm of his hands, and his curse grew more intense.

Solum crouched and caressed the soil. Levinus stretched his arm toward the shadow mage. Corvox rushed, his greatsword flickering; he leaped forward, his sword swung with a loud whoosh, but an ineffective attack. The shadow struck back. Corvox blocked with Iudicium. A blaze struck the shadow, and another swing missed its target. Levinus pointed his hands at the shadow, his fingers lighting.

“Vim Luminis, I call for thee…” Levinus whispered; the ground beneath Solum mounted as he rushed forward. “Light upon thy acolyte and cleanse thy world from evil.”

Rays of light fired towards the shadow mage like arrows and pierced him and laid him on the ground beside the river.

Levinus rushed at once; his light arrows could fade at any moment. Solum casted an earth prison around the immobilized shadow, and Corvox pointed his sword at him.

“I will use my power,” Levinus said, “It will be more effective.”

Solum and Corvox stepped back as the white mage aimed his hands at the warlock. “Vinclum,” he whispered, staring deeply at his cursed comrade, and light chains began to appear around him. The shadow opened his eyes, but they were no longer white and hollow. Levinus lowered his hands as he recognized the eyes of the red mage.

“Fastur?” he whispered.

The brown eyes of Fastur stared at the white mage then turned white at once. The shadow flew towards Solum, penetrating his body. Blood erupted from both his back and chest. Levinus turned and rained light arrows on the escaping shadow. Corvox wielded his flickering divine sword and fixed him on the ground.

Levinus rushed to the green mage, his hands gleaming as the river darkened again. “Sanitatem Intra!” He put both hands upon his chest. Solum was silent. Not a groan, nor a moan, was uttered. His blood poured out. “Sanitatem Intra!” Levinus shouted repeatedly, but the green eyes hollowed, staring at the sky. Corvox’s pressed his lips, plunging his greatsword upon the shadow.

“You’ve been doing this all night,” Corvox said, standing behind the white mage, who was crouching before the shadow mage, his whole body gleaming. “Those magical chains appear to be strong enough.”

“I don’t trust my magic.” Levinus released a sigh, glaring at the motionless warlock before him. “Did you bury him?”

“I did.”

“Good,” Levinus whispered, “I guess…”

The silver mage stepped forward. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. I thought Fastur was going back to normal.”

“It’s not your fault, “Corvox said.

“It is,” Levinus exclaimed. “I shouldn’t have stopped the enchantment.”

The two mages sat beside each other, sharing their stress in a silent atmosphere. The sunlight flashed before them, both staring at the enchained warlock. None did feel relieved as their comrade’s curse lifted.

“Levinus,” Corvox said.

“I know…” The white mage rose to his feet and stretched down his hands. “Solvo.” The chains dimmed and disappeared.

The red mage adjusted himself and turned his sight towards his comrades. The sound of the streaming river tensioned the silence. “How was I?” he said dryly.

“Decently annoying,” Corvox answered.

“Proud of myself!” Fastur rose, sweeping dust from his red coat. He stared at his comrades then examined the place. “Where’s the lord of nature? Gone for a swim?”

Levinus glanced at Corvox; they both stilled, their lips pressed against their teeth. Fastur’s stare persisted, a smile upon his lips.

“He’s gone,” Levinus said.

“Gone?” Fastur’s brow rose.

“Buried… right behind us.”

Fastur glimpsed behind his comrade. The place was a battlefield—roots and soil extracted from the ground. He tottered towards the scene, followed by the two mages’ stares. He stopped suddenly, his eyes perceived red soil watered by blood.

“I buried him there,” Corvox said.

Levinus took a step towards the red mage. “It is I who must be blamed.” His head lowered. “I had you immobilized, but I released you.”

“Why?” Fastur clenched his fist.

“I don’t know. I thought—” A fist interrupted, landing on the white mage’s jaw, thumping him on the floor.

Fastur’s hands ignited. He stood tall before him and took a step forward before Iudicium walled between them.

“You can’t help but be useless,” Fastur whispered, his eyes flaring, staring down at Levinus. “I thought you were weak, but you’re even worse.”

“Fastur, don’t you dare…” Corvox started.

“I will not kill him,” Fastur interrupted, “though I should. It’ll make one less acolyte for Sholreg.” He walked away, quenching his hands.

The remaining mages arrived at Darce in a dusky evening. Nothing had happened on the third night, which appeared to be Solum’s turn. They entered the high dark castle—no underlings had they met, since the dark mage didn’t need any. They strode down the hall and saw Sholreg in a fancy dark throne he had made.

“My darlings!” Sholreg shouted. “I am delighted to see you.”

“We must be quick,” Corvox whispered, wielding his divine sword. “Attack him as soon as he moves.”

“Don’t worry, mage of Altumons.” A giggle echoed in the hall. “I won’t attack my underlings.” Levinus and Fastur uttered their spells, their hands stretched towards him. “One… two…three…” He pointed at them pensively. “And… where’s the peasant?”

“He shall slay you on the other side.” Corvox charged, his greatsword gleaming. Fire blazed in Sholreg’s direction, and light arrows followed.

“Things are getting interesting”—Sholreg leaped, dodging Iudicium that split his throne—“But not enough.” He stretched his hand, quenching Fastur’s fire and fading Levinus’s arrows. Corvox pivoted, whirling Iudicium forcefully. Sholreg kicked the side of the greatsword and landed on his feet. Another rain of arrows befell him, but barely missed. Fastur rushed, his fists burning. He joined Corvox in the close combat, both fire fists and Iudicium missing their targets.

“Join us, my successor!” Sholreg glanced at Levinus. “Let us dance all together!”

Levinus stretched his arms towards them. His teeth grinded and his eyes flickered as he lighted his hands, emitting a large energy sphere. “You will perish now!” he shouted, discharging his spell.

Fastur and Corvox turned their sight and perceived a large light sphere towards them. They halted at once and barely dodged, as Sholreg leaped backward. The wall smashed and the wind blasted between them.

“Who are you trying to kill?” Fastur roared, glaring at Levinus.

“You were on my way!” Levinus shouted. His blue eyes glared at Sholreg, who had once made him shiver.

“It’s more entertaining when you fight each other!” Sholreg laughed. He stared out of the hole on the wall. “It’s not the time yet, but I’m growing impatient…” His hand rose towards Corvox. Dark energy emitted. Levinus and Fastur aimed at the dark mage, but their spells quenched and faded again with a sketch of Sholreg’s other hand. He threw a smile at the silver wizard, who lifted Iudicium before him and positioned himself to block the spell. “You fool.” Sholreg grinned widely and casted his dark spell. “Tenebrum.”

Corvox watched the dark spell reaching him; his divine sword dimmed. The curse struck and shrouded him. His knees weakened and found the floor; darkness devoured him.

The silvery coat became darkling red as the shroud cleared. The warlock rose to his feet; his eyes were red. Iudicium turned black and had fearsome red lines, as though it was forged with steel and blood. He raised his hand, which wounded as he produced an inky red energy.

Levinus gaped at his cursed comrade, his light dimmed. “A blood mage?” He swallowed bitterly. “How can we defeat them both?”

Sholreg scanned the cursed mage, his eyes flickering. “Splendid! This one is perfect!”—his piercing voice echoed—“Well done, Corvox. You are my favorite!”

Fastur clenched his fists. “I have no choice,” he said, straightening his hands towards the blood mage. “I prefer to see you dead than like this.” He released a deep frightening groan. “Vim Ignis, I call for thee…”—his hands ignited with hell fire—“Release thy wrath and inflame thy foe!”

“What are you doing!?” Levinus yelled, scowling at Fastur, scorching from the incredible heat.

“Quiet!” Fastur roared, his hands blazing. He glared at the warlock, who was right behind the blood mage “Ignesco,” he shouted, and the flames grew denser. “Pereunt.”

Flames erupted from Fastur’s hands like a volcano, and the blood mage casted his dark spell. The flames and blood curse collided, creating a tremendous energy between them, but the flames were bested, and the red mage barely dodged, releasing a dreadful groan.

Levinus darted to his comrade, who was lying on the floor. His leg was cursed, as though the blood was poisoned. “Sanitatem Intra!” the white mage shouted as he laid his hand on the leg.

“Join me now and you will not suffer,” Sholreg said, smirking at them. “Look how powerful and dreadful Corvex has become. He must be very happy inside this…”—he glanced at the blood mage beside him, smiling—“beauty.”

Levinus bit his lip sharply. He rose to his feet, glaring. He raised his hands in the air, uttering his enchantment, and his coat gleamed along with his body. “Vim Luminis, I summon thee…”—a dazzling bow appeared in his hands—“Light upon thy acolyte and cleanse thy world from evil.” He aimed the bow towards them, Fastur gazing at his comrade. “The light shall smile upon the virtuous.” He stretched the bow—a dazzling light arrow appeared—and fired towards them.

The blood mage raised his greatsword, but the arrow was quicker. It pierced his chest and dropped him motionless.

Sholreg stared at his acolyte who was thrown behind him. “Good job,” he said dryly. “Now I will have only two underlings.” He rolled his lips.

“We will never be your underlings,” Levinus said. He sat beside his comrade, who had been gaping at him, and healed his leg.

“You will,” Sholreg insisted. He walked towards them then stared behind his shoulder to sight the blood mage moving. “Forget what I said. Corvox hasn’t forsaken me.” He smiled widely. “Arise, my dear warrior!”

The warlock rose to his feet and staggered forth, staring at the two mages. He cursed his greatsword, which gleamed red as it consumed his blood, injuring his face and arms.

“Good boy,” Sholreg said, turning to the two mages. “Now go and play with your comr…” He groaned deeply. His face stared down and found the cursed greatsword out of his chest. “You… you’re under my curse…”

“Did you believe your curse can control the divine mage?” Levinus said. “A warrior like Corvox can never yield.”

Sholreg vomited his blood and released a loud cry as the blood mage drew the sword from his back. Blood welled from Sholreg’s chest.

“You are finished,” Levinus said. He rose to his feet, along with Fastur, and walked towards him. “The light has prevailed.”

The dark mage stopped from groaning as his eyes rolled and his face found the bloody floor.

“Was it because of your arrow?” Fastur smiled.

“Partly”—Levinus glanced at the silver mage—“but mostly because of the voice of the heart.”

The blood mage’s curse was lifted. He was leaning on his greatsword. His brown eyes sighted the smile of his comrades as they stood before the defeated dark mage.

Author: Mahieddine Ouafi.

When I Died – Short Story

June 12 2020

afterlife, death, short story

I was on my way home when I died. It was a car accident, nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. It was a painless death, the medics tried their best to save me, but it was pointless. My body was so utterly shattered, I was better off. I was not aware I was dying until I died. I did not know I was not in the physical world until the medics took my shattered cadaver in the ambulance and I stood there on the pavement like a passerby curious about the accident ahead of me.

I stood there as the police arrived to direct traffic, and the fire department to distinguish the flames and clear the road from debris. I did not know where to go, I died, but I was not gone yet, that must have meant something. I do not know why, but I kept thinking of my deceased mother. I remembered the last day I saw her, the day of our last visit to the hospital.

I was 13, I went with my father to visit my mother in the hospital; we got there in the morning, during that time the room was crowded with relatives. My mother asked me to come closer, she whispered to me some words I could not understand, then she laughed so I laughed with her without telling her that she actually did not understand what she had said.

Everyone in the room that day tried to know what she said to me, and I would not tell anyone because my mother told me and it is a secret. This made her smile, and no one including her knew that I was truly just as oblivious as everyone else. After returning home I was really upset that I did not hear her, this secret is just for me yet I do not know what is it?

The next morning my mother died. The first thing that came in my mind when hearing about her is the secret, maybe it would have guided me throughout my later days, or it would be just a joke that would make me laugh for the rest of my life. Ever since that incident, I felt my memory disconnected, a terrible hurdle, a grave mistake, like an architectural error, which was seen only after finishing construction. That was a lifetime ago, 29 years to be exact. And that day stayed a vivid imagination in my head.

I stood there under the rain, observing the red and blue colours in the distance, the sirens sound, the passing cars slowing down to get a glimpse of what happened. And, that is when I met him. I did not see him properly, just a figure and unlike the living, he was seeing me I heard his authoritative but calm voice “you do not have any regrets, do you?”

Next thing I knew I was in an entirely different place. A place with vague appearances; it seemed like a building, a train station actually. Yet, no walls were in sight, though some columns stood to the right with such grandeur supporting what it seemed like a non-existing ceiling. Besides the columns stood a number of chairs with the same vague appearance and greyish colour, they were there as an extension from the ground. No wood, no metal, just a shape of a long arms chair coming out from the ground. A near edge that seemed to be the train pathway, I did not go for a look, but I had a sense of what it was.

I was alone in an odd white place. And, that is when I met him, again.

“What happened, where am I?” I asked,

“You died!” He said, “matter of fact, no point in mincing words.”

“There was a truck and it was skidding,” I said.

“Yes,” he replied.

“I died?” I quickly inquired.

“Yes,” he answered passively” but don’t feel bad about it, everybody dies at some point”.

I looked around; there was nothingness, just him and me.

“What is this place?” I asked, “Is this the afterlife?”

“More or less,” he said.

“It seems more like a train station,” I said with some hope of not being mistaken.

“Hum” he seemed to consider my remark, “each person sees what he likes” he broke after a moment, “but it does seem like a train station,” he said smiling to me.

“Are you god?” I asked.

“Not quite,” he replied.

He must be an angel then, I do not know why I jumped the divine hierarchy straight up to god, “You are an angel then, the one of death I mean!”

“Not that either.” He said to me amused by my excessive tries to know who or what he is. “It does matter what or who I am, you would not understand even if I told you, what matters is you and what are you doing here.” He said, contemplating our surroundings as if never been here before.

“Me? I died. What’s more to it than that?” I exploded with a bit of fury then I remembered, “My kids, and my wife, what about them?” I asked,” Will they be alright?”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he said,” you have just died and your main concern is for your family, that’s good stuff, right there.”

I looked at him with fascination; to me, he did not look like God, or anything similar for that matter. He looked like some very old man with some vague authority characters. He was wearing a long sleeping gown, a hat that rotated at the top. A pair of oval glasses and a very long beard that was tied up somehow in the middle.

“Don’t worry” he started,” your family will be fine, your kids will remember you as perfect in every way. Your wife will cry on the outside, but she will be secretly relieved. To be fair, your marriage was falling apart. If it’s any consolation, she will feel very guilty for feeling relieved.”

“Owe, so what happens now?” I asked with some oddness for feeling relieved, “do I go to heaven, or hell or something?”

“Neither,” he said simply, “you will be reincarnated.”

“Ah, so the Hindus were right?”

“All religions are right in their own way” he replied to me, “walk with me.”

He started moving away so I followed along as we strolled through the void. Or through that odd train station in my perspective.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Nowhere in particular,” he said, “It’s just nice to walk as we talk.”

“So, what’s the point then, when I will be reborn, I will be a blank slate, right? A baby. So, all my experiences and everything I did in this life won’t matter, would it?”

“Not quite so,” he replied and continued explaining, “you have within you all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives, you just do not remember them right now.”

He stopped walking and took me by the shoulders. His touch felt human; he was not looking at me in the eyes, but his eyes were fixed on something behind me as he went on explaining.

“Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you could possibly imagine” he started again, “the human mind can only contain a fraction of what you are. It is like sticking your finger in a glass of water, to see if it is hot or cold. You put a tiny part of yourself into a vessel, and when you bring it back out, you have gained all the experiences it had. You have been in this one for the last 42 years. Therefore, you have not stretched out yet, and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we stay here long enough, you will start remembering everything, but there is no point in doing so between each life.”

“How many times have I been reincarnated then?” I asked as if it was the simplest thing ever.

“Oh, lots, lots and lots, and it’s lots of different lives. This time around, you will be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 A.D.”

“Hold on, what do you mean by 540 A.D.? You are sending me back in time?”

Author: Oussama Aba.

Long Nights – Short Story

June 4 2020

mystery, short story

I can’t remember the last time I saw her smiling at the world around her. I don’t know when that distinct sparkle in her eyes faded away, or when the lights around her dimmed. Or maybe I do. We drifted apart, slowly, gradually, then all at once.

It’s way past midnight. I know it, but I also know better than to try and check the time.

I’m certain this will turn into another of those long sleepless nights. It has been the case for the past week and I’m used to it by now.

It was hectic the first few nights. I would turn off the lights, my phone, and everything that could possibly keep me awake, close my eyes and wait… It has never worked.

I would always end up tossing on every side, like a fish out of water. I tried everything I could think of, even sleeping pills at some point, but sleep just wouldn’t show up. And I had to give up waiting for it. That’s when the rules came. I figured that, if I was going to live through the night’s endless hours, I needed to set my own rules. And so, rule number one: Never check the time. Or was this rule number two? I can’t remember. Anyways, it was one of the first things I learned, that checking the time would only make it stretch even more. And that was the last thing I needed.

I put down the book I was reading for the past two hours and walk to the window on the opposite wall of my room. A cold breeze greets me as soon as I open the frames and I welcome it, taking a deep needed breath. The night view from this side of our house has always been my favorite. Endless velvet black sky, swaying trees, ghosted streets, turned off lights, and silence… It’s amazing how darkness envelops everything at night. The way every color turns into a darker hue, melting together into an astonishing monochrome painting I could never get tired of looking at.

I lean against the window sill, close my eyes and try not to think of anything, but it’s almost impossible. My brain is all over the place. No matter what I do, it keeps taking me back to that one night a week ago. The night I could no longer sleep.

It started with a message I received as I was laying in my bed, scrolling down my social media account.

Ariel: Callum, R U THERE?

I kept staring at the screen of my phone for several minutes. I couldn’t decide what surprised me more. The fact that she used my full name or the one that she even texted me in the first place.

Then just as I was about to reply, another message came.

Ariel: Can I call u?

Ariel and I were close friends, well, as close as she allowed us to be. I met her back in our first year of college. That was 5 years ago.

Our friendship was unusual to say the least. We knew enough about each other, things we didn’t usually share with other people. But once outside of Facebook, we were a little close to strangers. Our paths were naturally bound to cross multiple times a day since we had the same classes. Most of those times, she would barely acknowledge my existence. And on rare occasions, she would nod then shoot me a discreet smile. A smile that reaches her eyes and freezes everything around her. She had her own way in delivering her thoughts without using a word and I was used to it. She has always been a mystery, one I wasn’t sure I wanted to solve.

Me: Hey! Yeah sure!

Few seconds later, my screen lit up with an incoming call and I answered it right away.

“Hey Ari, what’s up?” It hit me for a second that it may not be the right thing to say to someone you haven’t talked to for more than four months. After all what happened… But then I heard her voice.

“Nothing much I guess. How have you been?” Her voice was a little distant but it was everything you would expect from someone like her. Soft, soothing and confident…

“It’s been great, nothing to complain about. How about you, how have you been?” I was trying to sound casual but I was nervous. My brain was already buzzing with thousand scenarios, questions of why she would call me after all this time. But none of them made any sense.

“Circling around…” She said and suddenly I was at ease. Circling around, this has always been her reply. She told me once that she was named after a moon that rotates around Uranus. That her purpose in life was to find her right orbit to fall into. Until then, she’ll always be circling around. I remember thinking that she didn’t have to, that she shone so bright she could be her own planet instead. But I never told her any of that.

“Look, I’m sorry I’m calling you this late, it’s just… I was feeling so very out of it and I didn’t know who to talk to and I needed to get out of my own head…”

“Hey. It’s okay, really! You can call me whenever you want, I don’t mind” I said trying to sound reassuring.

She was silent again. I could hear my own heart beating so loud in my ears. Or was it hers? There was a cicada on the tree next to my window; its distinct sound was filling the room. A clock was ticking somewhere near, another rhyme added to the deafening silence. It was a soothing symphony I didn’t want to end. But then it did.

“Why do you think he did it?” it was a whisper but I could hear it very well. And it wasn’t a question because she was fully aware no one knew the answer. Not even her. Four months ago…I remember thinking it was a prank when I first saw the news on TV. “A tragedy in the Scotts household, a man kills his wife, his son, and then takes his own life.” I ran to her house barefoot that day and I was met with the police cars circling the whole area. It wasn’t a prank or even a nightmare, it was true.

I don’t know how anyone was supposed to react to losing their family that way. But I know she was never the same after it.

“I’m so sorry you had to live through all that.” I didn’t know what else to say.

After the accident, everybody kept their distance from her, and I was no different. She was strong I would tell myself, she has always been and she never needed my –or anyone’s help. I thought I was being thoughtful but the truth was, I was just scared. We all were for one reason or another. The truth was, we were a bunch of cowards that gave up on their own friend in a moment of need. No excuse in the world could ever cover for that.

Another silent pause. There was so much I could say then. I could apologize for starters, for giving up on her way too soon. Sooner than she probably needed. I could apologize for never visiting her when I knew she was admitted to St. George’s mental hospital, or when she was released. I could apologize for so many other things I did wrong but I didn’t. It was selfish, but I was hoping she could forgive me without having to voice it all out.

“It just doesn’t make sense you know?” She suddenly said breaking the silence. “We talked that morning and he hugged me the way he always does. And he was actually pretty excited about his new job! We were going to move into a bigger house…And mom…Oh god, he loved Mom so much! And Leo…” Her voice quivered, and the pain in her words was almost palpable. “Did you even know that they couldn’t prove he did it? Just…what in the world is wrong with this town! And they say I’m crazy…huh” She sighs heavily.

I think of something to say, anything, but nothing comes to my mind. Mr. Scott was an amazing guy indeed and everyone in town loved him. He owned a restaurant a few blocks down the road. It was my mother’s favorite. She would always speak of how much she loved the Scott’s, and how cozy their place was whenever she was in town. I remember how devastated she was when we heard the news.

“It never made much sense to me either,” I finally said.

“I was looking at it the other day and I found something. It was… Oh my god…” She said with a hushed tone, just as a loud screech sound made its way to my ears. Her sentence remained hanging in the air, unfinished.

“Ari? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” Silence.

I tried to listen closely again but there was nothing. My heart beats were loud, louder than ever. The clock, the cicada on the window, the sound of my breaths and a weird noise of a passing car coming from the other side of the line. A passing car…she was outside!

“Was that a car? Ari, where are you?” It was 3 am and she was out. A weird feeling was slowly creeping up my chest, a very bad one. I was worried, scared, or maybe both. Her voice came back in a whisper after a while, but it did nothing to calm my raging heart.

“Something came up. I have to go. Bye” her words were rushed and barely understandable.

“Wait, what do you -” beep, beep “Hello? Ari!”

I tried calling her again but it went straight to voicemail. She was gone.

And that was the last time I –or anyone in this town– heard anything from Ariel Scott.

I went to her house the next morning but she wasn’t there. She was nowhere to be found, and no one knew anything when I asked around. In two days, I had already visited every place I could think of. I even broke into her room to see if she left any clue. But there was nothing aside from the faint purple walls, standing so tall, so lonely, and cold. As if they never contained a human soul. I didn’t even know where she was staying after she was discharged from St. George’s.

“Sometimes, we think we want to be lost, but all we really want is to be found.” Her words from the day we read “All the bright places” together keep replaying in my brain.

She was a mystery I wanted to solve, but I was helpless.

I step away from the window and my reflection on the glass faces me. My eyes look tired, and my hair is sticking in every direction. I’m instantly reminded that it’s been so long since I last shaved, or even looked in the mirror. I go back to my bed and the book is sitting still where I last left it. My room looks pretty much the same since that night last week. Except for the clock, I don’t know when but it stopped ticking. I grab my phone from the nightstand and it lights up instantly.

2 incoming messages.

I open the first one, it’s from my mom

Happy birthday darling!! I missed you so much. You’re probably asleep by now, but it’s 8am here already. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it today, there’s still so much to do but I promise I’ll be there by the weekend.

I love you!

My birthday? It’s the 14th of May! And today is still… It’s today… I can’t believe I forgot. I try to type a reply but then I think against it. She would know I’m still awake. I open the second message instead. It’s from an unknown number. I read the first words and my heart drops.

It wasn’t him and I can prove it! Freddy’s, 3pm

A.S

I jump from my bed instantly. It’s her. It’s Ariel. She’s still out there! My heart is beating so fast I think it might stop and my hands are shaking nonstop.

I read the message over and over again. Freddy’s, that’s the restaurant in the outskirts of our town. I spend so long checking for directions on Google. I can’t afford to be late.

It wasn’t him. The words are racking my brain and burning its every cell. My head is pounding and I feel dizzy. I can finally see her. I will…

I startle at the sound of a loud smash coming from somewhere in the house. My eyes take time to adjust to my surroundings, and it takes me a while to realize that I was sleeping…I slept! I look at the window to my right. Rays of sunlight are creeping into the room, drawing beautiful patterns wherever they land. Slowly, they reach the spot where I’m laying on the wooden floor, warmly kissing my skin then move further. There’s a bird singing in the tree nearby. The window blinds rattle with the wind and dust particles float in the air, dancing to the soothing melody.

I get up from the floor and instantly reach for the nightstand in front of me when my body starts to sway. I try to steady myself, and slowly make my way out of the room. My body feels too heavy for me to carry but at the same time, I feel like I’m floating. With every step, my feet don’t quite reach the ground. I can’t believe I slept on the floor last night. I pass the living room on my way to the bathroom when something catches my eyes, or someone to be precise. It’s Mom! When did she get back? I notice her luggage sitting next to the couch near where she’s standing, frozen. Her hands are covering her mouth, and she’s looking at something playing on the TV. She doesn’t notice me at first but when she does, she rushes to me instantly and envelops me in a tight hug. She’s crying. What’s wrong?

“Oh cal…” She says and her voice comes out strangled. Everything is happening too fast, or maybe my brain is taking too long to process whatever is going on. There’s broken glass and spilled water on the floor where she was standing a while ago. Things are slowly adding up. I lift my eyes to look at the TV screen. It’s the local news and they seem to be talking about a murder. My pulse quickens. Apparently, someone found a body lying on the side of the road a while ago. The picture and the name of who they think it belongs to fill the screen immediately. I recognize it right away, and I feel my blood freezing inside my veins. My hands instinctively reach out for the spot in my chest where a stabbing pain takes place.

I’m on my knees and no longer in my mom’s warm embrace. It’s dark and I’m thinking, maybe it’s just a dream. Maybe if I close my eyes long enough it will be. Maybe…

I couldn’t remember the last time I saw her smiling, or when the lights around her dimmed. But I remember the first -and last time- I heard her voice. She was a mystery I once thought I could solve, and now I know I can’t.

Monthly Archives: June 2020