Thought is a wonderful creation machine. A sort of abstract little ship piloted by our conscience and this in turn is a little voice that tries to say without a voice that can be heard and yet there it is; shouting silences or whispering screams, as you prefer. Rubens barely looks at the amber liquid in the glass, he downs it punishing his throat with the strong liquor, he is not yet accustomed to it. Being alone allows him to react with an ugly grimace on his face at the impact of the drink. The smoke from a red hollyhock swirls in the wrinkles on his forehead and rises to the corners of the tears of the lamp that must be fifty years old hanging in that dimly lit room. Another sip, another grimace. His inner voice wanders around the hands of the wall clock, there the minutes melt away on the pendulum that draws moons in its tired swing. Rubens thinks; that faded dream turned into a premonition said that exactly that night at 8:25 p.m. he would pass. He uncorks the bottle, fills the glass while the carpet in the entrance drowns out the sound of approaching footsteps… You continue...

He looks at his watch again, he feels that his movements are slower, as if he wants to stop. No, don't stop, you must go all the way. I must finish this.
His hand began to tremble, he avoided looking at the clock, he picked up the glass again to pour himself a drink.
What if I call Ramiro? He must know how to get out of this mess and if this premonition I have is real, I can't end up like this.
He looked for his mobile phone in a drawer without hands, dialed a number, ‘your credit is insufficient for this call’. Rubén squeezed the device hard and threw it on the bunk.
He took another drink, felt it tearing at his throat. He felt like laughing at the absurdity of it all. He remembered the last thing he said to his wife.
-Where are you going, Rubén?
-I have a business, it's good, we need the money.
-You never bring anything but headaches.
-This time it'll be different, I've never had anything like this before, you'll see.....
-Yes, I'll see, I always see the results of your business...
Everything had to go wrong, I had to disappear, Ramiro brought me to this little room, locked up. Nothing will happen to you here, Rubén, you'll have what you need to live. I lost track of time. I always hear this message: you no longer exist, Rubén, that's all.
-Who am I? Who am I? -he shouted.

He dropped onto the bed, closed his eyes and when he opened them, the clock was still there. It seemed to stare at him with its tired minutes, he didn't dare throw it on the floor, tear it to pieces and then what. It was the only thing that told him he was still alive. He remembered the steps he took on the street, it wasn't so lonely, there were other people, men, women, some young people, all victims of vice, he thought that it could be hell and he was dead.
He only talked to Moncho, he had a shop selling food and other things, like bottles of liquor, cigarettes, he didn't ask anyone any questions, he didn't give any answers either.
Rubén only received what he needed to live.
-To live! What irony!
This time, Moncho had a message for him:
-Remember, at 20: 25, Tuesday... You'll know what he wants to tell you and don't worry, take whatever you want, everything is paid for. This street is full of dead people, do you remember your name, sir?
-Ruben, that's my name.
-Ha ha ha ha! Wow, you're a man of stamina.
Rubén went back to his room and heard something ringing. It was his mobile phone, he scrubbed his eyes to see who was calling.
-Ramiro!
-Man, how are you? I hope you're well... you can't talk, just listen. Tonight's the thing, we're finally going to get out of this, you, relax, they're going to look for you, you have to be ready. If all goes well, you'll be free. These businesses have some dangers, but they leave good profits, get ready! I'm just saying... you just relax a bit, in the end your family will thank you...
Some memories crossed:
-I don't know what you're looking for with that Ramiro, he gives me a bad feeling. -His wife said to him.
-He's going to get me out of this situation, you'll see.
-Yes, he's going to get you out, what I don't know is where to...’.
-Don't worry Rubén, everything is going to be fine. But we've reached the end, it's not that fast, do you know what it takes to create a ghost? It takes time... I won't be able to see you, but I'll be close, don't forget anything, you just carry the bag, and it's better not to be curious, bye friend. Trust me.
He hung up.
He opened his eyes and there was the watch. Well, it seems that everything comes to an end, he felt the footsteps in the corridor, he remained silent to listen, and he counted: one, two, three, four, five, six.
He got up as fast as he could and opened the door, no one was there, just an old backpack. He took it, in the outside pocket he saw the note, there it said the place and time, 20: 25 don't miss. A motorised vehicle will drop him off at the place.
Although he bathed and put on an old suit, his appearance was pitiful. If you saw me son, you wouldn't recognise me, I look like someone else. The biker was waiting for him.
-My friend, now I'm going to have to run to drop you off at the appointed time. Get on.
Ruben said nothing, he felt the breeze hit him, he held on tight. He felt a little dizzy.
The motorbike stopped in an area with many buildings.
-I'll leave you here, you have to walk to the red building, there, there is a wide staircase, it's the only one, wait there.
Ruben nodded. He grabbed his backpack tightly and walked, he turned around for a moment.
-And what am I going to do there?
-Just wait, they will contact you. Remember it's at 20:25 and it's already 20, bye.
Ruben walked to the building and sat down on the stairs, his mouth was parched, he took a bottle out of his jacket and took a swig. My son would be happy running around this place, I hope my wife can understand that.

He heard a bustle coming from the door of the building, a group of people were coming out, they were arguing, they passed by him as if he wasn't there. He had another drink and remembered what Ramiro had said, creating a ghost costs money. What will be in this bag? Stop being curious Rubén, this is where it all ends, I can go back to my family. I have to trust.
He heard other voices and thunderous laughter. Some men came forward, they were in a hurry, he felt the effect of the liquor.
-Who is that? - someone asked.
-He is just another drunkard in the crowd.
He looked at the watch he was carrying, it was 20:22, three minutes, that's what's missing and I don't know what for. It's the last thing you're going to do, trust me Rubén, it's all going to be over.
As the other men passed him, he felt what it was like to be a ghost. For an instant, his existence was a shadow. a doubt shook him and with fury, he took another drink trying to drown a sudden fear, he looked at the clock, it was the last second of the set time, then came a flash, everything went white for an instant before vanishing into the darkness, in that last second he understood that it was never about him.