Postcards from nowhere
Creative Writing Piece
Postcards are such an outdated method of communication in todays world. Though I would argue they are much cooler compared to letters. Anytime I go to antique shops, I look through any postcards they might have, and usually find some neat ones to grab. My last trip might have been my downfall...
All the old postcards I have found have clear postmarks and return addresses, though it isn't necessary. Until I stumbled upon a new shop. Honestly the vibes were a little spooky, but far be for me to complain about Halloween in February! When I came across the bowl of postcards, I did my regular check, but these were different. None of them had return addresses, which is not a big deal, but they also had no delivery addresses, which is odd. It was though these came from one persons personal stash of postcards that they never sent, but even weirder was that they had different handwritings on the cards. The discovery sent goosebumps across my arms, and my survival instinct was screaming at me to leave, so I did just that.
I thought it was weird, but I forgot about if soon after and went back to business as usual. But then I got a postcard. Not at my house though, no, I got this postcard slid under my door at the motel I was staying at for a night on my road trip back home. At first I thought it was a prank, but after I read it, it didn't feel like a joke.
"Tomorrow. A red coat. Don't let her borrow your lighter."
No return address, no stamp, no name as to who it was for, and a cryptic message. I wanted to throw it in the trash, but something told me not to, and instead I tucked it into my handbag, and went to sleep, but not before triple checking the door locks.
The next morning as I was packing my car and drinking shitty motel coffee, a woman in a red coat approached me. To say I choked on my coffee would be an understatement, I practically water boarded myself when she walked up. She asked to borrow a lighter, and I hesitated. I didn't normally carry around a lighter, as I have never smoked, but I had just picked up a novelty lighter I had in my pocket at that moment. I told her sorry, I don't smoke. She seemed frustrated but said nothing more and walked away. I glanced away for just a moment to wipe coffee off my face and when I looked up, the lady was gone. I know, totally normal, she walked away and then I don't see her. But I was parked in the middle of the lot! She would have had to sprint away for be able to disappear from sight in the second I looked away. In that moment, I think the postcard saved my life, though I don't know what danger I would have been facing.
I write this now, several weeks after the fact, so someone will know my story, especially if it ends much sooner than I would have liked. A second postcard was slid under my office door at work, while I was in the office, I saw no shadow come or go. On the postcard?
"2 days. Chambers Street. 9pm train, don't be late."
That train station has been abandoned for years, there are no trains that run that route... I think I'll go, though I don't know what might be there to greet me. I hope to update this when I return... I hope I return.
