It was another humid evening, the sweltering heat of Florida’s summer taking its course as Evan laid his head on a hard, wooden desk. There was a breathy sigh that could be heard amidst the roaring AC unit that sputtered chilly air into the room. 

Evan was a simple delivery man, mailing the fine locals their unanswered love letters and boring tax forums. Despite such a simple life, Evan was content with his lot. He had recently moved out of his parents’ house, finally enjoying his independence at the ripe age of twenty-eight. 

A small shift in Evan’s body weight turned the swivel chair underneath him, his body swaying amidst an aimless current with dull, brown eyes staring up at the ceiling. Before Evan could let out another bored sigh, a sudden buzzing from his pant pocket sent him into a slight startle. 

As Evan brought his answered phone to his face, the name on the caller ID caused him to flinch. 

“Laura?” 

Evan wearily spoke into the phone. 

“Hi, Evan.” 

The womanly voice on the other end was distant, but warm. 

“It’s been years, Laura…” 

The crack in Evan’s voice held a hint of sorrow. 

“Do the parents still ask about me, Evan?” 

The tone of the caller was calm, soothing, and rhythmic. 

“All the time…” 

There was now an audible shake in Evan’s small voice. 

Finally came silence, and for Evan, time stood still in a stretched moment. 

Memories of Laura, his older sister, flashed before his eyes. His bottom lip trembled as he tried to speak, only for the silence to continueing to assault him with bitter nostalgia and regret. 

“…The corner of your eye, Evan, remember?” 

At this point Evan choked back a sob, the sweet voice echoing into his heart, causing him to drop his phone onto the wooden floor beneath him. 

How could Evan forget? 

Clear as the hottest day, by Laura’s protective side, Evan’s knee had been scraped from a gnarly bike fall. He had a lot to cry about that day. The parents audibly fought the night before, their voices reaching the two young siblings’ ears perched atop Laura’s bunk. 

Evan’s mind was innocently entangled with a melody from his favorite Saturday morning cartoon. 

Then, Evan heard Laura’s own whispering tune, always saying her strange words. 

“Look for me in the corner of your eye, and I will be there.” 

And that day, in his childhood turmoil, Evan slid his eyes to the corner of his being. To see Laura’s hand outstretched in front of him, her tender smile, and empathetic eyes… 

It healed him… 

…but then Laura vanished. 

Tears rolled down Evan’s face as he sat completely still in his swivel chair. He suddenly looked down at his fallen phone only to see it had disappeared from view. In a confused daze, Evan’s guided gaze averted his eyes to the nightstand, his phone gently resting on its surface. 

No words could be formed for how Evan felt at this moment. There were a few sniffles and warm tears, but his body felt light and airy. Upon getting up from his seat, there was a spring to his step, Evan’s stagnant fatigue becoming one of a delightful glee. 

After sorrow there was only joy. It was Laura. The same feeling Evan held so close to memory now began to wash over him in a tangible bout of energy. 

Evan paraded around his room, the scuffling sounds of feet tapping to a personal melody that was steadily rising within him. He danced, twirled, and jumped with laughter mingled alongside untold happiness. 

From out of his room, to the open kitchen and living room, there were two doors, his bathroom and bedroom door roundabout as Evan marched at a steady tempo near the kitchen island. 

But amidst Evan’s spontaneous joy, directly out of the corner of his eye… 

…an unknown third room appeared.