The Schizophrenic Man (Short Story)

Day 365, it’s been one of those days when I have the feeling that everyone knows me.

Today, I went to the supermarket. I bought fish and eggs. I wanted to buy some milk for pancakes like I usually do but there was a lady near the refrigerators looking at me non-stop. She was waiting for me as if she knew I was going to make a stop precisely at the refrigerators. I couldn’t look at her anymore. I evaded her gaze by turning towards aisle 24, where the toilet paper is usually stored. Turns out, there was this guy with carpenter overalls, asking me with such a tone of familiarity, which toilet paper brand was better for camping. I replied, “how should I know???” My heartbeat rising. My hands shaking. He replied, “man, it’s all good. You do what you do best. Keep us entertain.” I replied, “what???.” I started to panicked. On top of that, in that same aisle, there was a bear trying to charm me. I got scared. I freaked out. I took off running with fish and eggs in hand.

When I arrived at the register, the cashier greeted me nonchalantly. She said, “I hope, I’ll be the star in your story today.” She then winked, asked me if this was all I was going to buy? I nervously replied, “Uhmm,.. no.”
I started shaking again.. I paid. The cashier looked at me perplexed but not as perplexed as I looked at her. I grabbed my fish and eggs. No, i held my fish and eggs as if my fish and eggs were my everything. Everyone at the registers stared at me. I pulled the eggs and fish closer to my chest. I shouted: “these are mine. I paid for them.” And I took off running to my car.

When I arrived to my car, the man parked beside me pulled down his window and said, “Just so you know, those were my work boots, not heels. But nonetheless, great job. I love your work, man.” And took off.

I remember seeing him at the park near the construction site. I wrote about him wearing heels with shorts not long ago... I began to breath heavily. I then got in my car and came back to you, my dear diary. Ever since I found you personaldiary4every1_2C.com, it’s like everyone can read my mind.

Prompt from Reddit: “A paranoid schizophrenic man thinks he is keeping a personal daily diary but for some reason people keep approaching him with intimate knowledge of the contents and telling him how much they love his work” by Briar_Thron