"True, one's life is unpredictable but, perhaps, it would be wiser to avoid unnecessary risk taking?" Serenity thought to herself.
"Do you like diving, by the way?" the Stranger has inquired.
"Yes, I do submerge my face in my bathtub from time to time when I take my herbal baths."
"We seem to share the exact same passions in life except you are a minimalist unlike myself. Last time I dived into the depths of the ocean was exactly a year ago together with my girlfriend and then... her oxygen tank malfunctioned..."
I no longer know what to reply to this person. So I lower my head and keep quiet.
After a silent moment the Stranger added: "So... I am single now."
He walked towards the lakeshore and started drinking handfuls of water from it.
"If a woman drinks water from a natural source with me that means she's is the One for me."
What a "profound philosophy of love" from somebody who has gone through so many self-imposed traumatic experiences that seemingly have left a mark on their psyche.
"Please, have a taste of the natural water with me."
The lake is artificial. The Stranger has obviously no ability of discerning an artificial lake from a naturally formed one. He knows nothing about the microbial and chemical quality of the water content and is not wary of drinking it. While the water is transparent on the spot further up and down the lakeshore its of a green color from algae.
Are sunglasses distorting the natural color palette of the landscape for him? In addition, there is the unmistakable powerful stench hitting my nostrils. Can't the Stranger also sense it? Or is he entirely enveloped by the notes of his own perfume?
"Thank you for your sincere offer. I am very intrigued by it. However, since I'm used to drinking the ordinary water I won't be capable of appreciating the unique taste of the water from a natural source. Shall we turn back, please?"
The Stranger's mood has started darkening. He kept pacing in silence ahead of her. Few minutes later she has noticed that the inner seams of the Stranger's sparkly white pants started turning brown. The brown area on his pants kept rapidly expanding. Simultaneously, the overpowering smell of the exuding intestinal content arose and engulfed the two.
Is this what I think it is? Most likely the consequence of drinking contaminated water from the lake.
"My apologies. I need to urgently excuse myself and leave you by yourself," the Stranger has mumbled and started running towards the direction of the exit from the park.
Oh well, hopefully, he gains some common sense after this experience regarding the drinking of water from unknown sources. Now I am free to walk and relax by myself a little longer .
On her way out of the park an hour or so later she noticed a couple of crows circling above the dense bushes. That pair of crows "are regulars at the park".
Let's go and check what exactly has caught their attention. It's that person, the Stranger lying face down. It seems he is still breathing and must have fainted due to excessive dehydration. Their handgun is gone though. He could have lost it somewhere in the grass in such an imbalanced state. Let me call the ambulance.
After paramedics have left taking the Stranger in their ambulance Serenity has returned to her flat.
What a start of the day...
Mobile phone starts ringing.
"Hello, Auntie, what an unexpected call! I'm almost sure that something urgent must have happened."
"Hello, my dear, yes and no. Do you have some free time now?"
"Yes, I guess, I do."
"The thing is that I need to tell you something in private and for that you need to come to the University Hospital right now. I will be waiting for you. Please, give me a call once you are there. Bye bye."
Beep...beep...beep...
An hour later at the University Hospital.
"Hello, Auntie, I am already at the hospital where do you want me to meet you?"
"Glad you're here. I am at a General Surgery Department, ward two-o-three."
"Here are some flowers for you, Auntie. What has brought you to the General Surgery Department?"
"It's a long story. Two days ago the evening was rather warm and pleasant. Hence, I kept sitting on my garden swings. It was past the sunset and quite dark already. Which is why stars were visible and I kept admiring them when I unwillingly overheard an argument or a debate, shall I say, between your parents regarding your mother's alleged indiscretions. Being a well-wisher and of concerned heart for the well-being of others by nature I tried to approach your parents' house. Just to make sure that everything is alright between them. While hiding in the shadows behind their green hedge I overheard your father say that he set some secret trap in order to catch the alleged "sneaky younger lover" of your mother. I wanted to learn more details about that trap and the next thing I know is that I have accidentally tumbled down the open manhole of the water drainage well. The same one your parents have cleaned a few weeks ago. But I wasn't familiar with its location in the darkness of the night. Luckily, I am quick witted and didn't panic. Have discovered the tiny service ladder by touching the walls of the manhole and managed to climb out unaided and unnoticed. As a consequence, my ankle got sprained or so I initially thought. At the hospital it was discovered that my ankle bone was broken and I needed the surgery. My point, however, is that I fell into the drainage well wearing my late husband's plastic slippers. And you need to fish them out of the drainage well asap. Your parents have left for their countryside property early in the morning. I am sure nobody had time to notice that there was a pair of old plastic slippers floating in the drainage well. Please, retrieve them for everybody's peace of mind: for your parents' peace of mind, for my peace of mind since I need my late husband's memento back."
"Alright, then I must go there and do what is has been asked of me."
"We have some time, since your parents are away anyway. Could you be so kind as to get me some coffee from the cafeteria, please? We are only served mineral water at the hospital ward."
"Sure, as you wish."
At the cafeteria a couple of nurses from the Gastroenterology Department keep discussing the latest admission.
Nurse 1: "That patient whose white loungewear was soaked in the content of their intestines has complete achromatopsia and congenital anosmia.
Nurse 2: "How do you know? A passer-by found him unconscious in the park and has called the paramedic team. Has he regained their consciousness yet?"
Nurse 1: "His relatives have informed me. By the way, he was wearing an empty handgun belt on his waist. Is this a new fashion fad or something? Have you noticed anything like this trending on socials somewhere?"
Serenity has ordered a green cocktail and some green tea with almond milk for Auntie.
It seems the nurses have been discussing the case of my walking companion from this morning. Due to his medical conditions, he has no sense of smell and couldn't smell the stench coming from the algae in the water at the lakeshore. In addition, he also has some condition related to the perception of colors. That's why he so bravely drank the foul smelling "natural water" from the lake this morning... This makes me think about how many limitations I must have that I am not even aware of and that's why I keep unintentionally putting myself in the risky situations that are not consequence free.
Parents have been away for their yearly stay at their countryside property. Hence, it was "safe" for Serenity to go "on recovery mission of the plastic slippers" out of the water drainage well. There is only one manhole by the green hedge and it is covered by a heavy cast iron cover. Auntie's late husband's slippers could have fallen only into this particular drainage well for there is no other. And the manhole has already been covered with a cover by somebody.
By whom, I wonder?
Ward two-o-three at the General Surgery Department.
"How are you today, Auntie?"
"Getting better, thank you. Have you recovered my late husband's plastic slippers yet?"
"I have tried looking for them. However, the manhole where you have tumbled down has been covered with a heavy cover. I cannot lift it."
"You should have tried using some lever in order to open it up."
"Sorry, Auntie, physics wasn't my forte in high school. Even if I am given a lever and a place to stand, I wouldn't have been able to move the manhole cover."
"What do we do now?"
"Hello, Ladies!" the Beekeeper, parents' countryside property neighbor has entered the ward.
"Good afternoon, Sir. What a surprise visit!"
"Today is the Farmer's Market day in the city. Hence, I have brought some honey to sell. Upon hearing about your hospitalization from our common acquaintances at the market I have decided to pay you a visit and bring some fresh honey for faster recovery."
"Thank you very much. That's so thoughtful of you."
"Serenity, I haven't seen you in a while since you have not joined your parents on their countryside visits lately. How have you been thus far?"
"I am fine, thank you."
What else can I reply to this question: despite not being fine, I keep saying that I am fine.