0006: Get to Monday

0006:  Their feet grind into the dislodged pieces of pavement.

Everly’s senses are on high alert, listening, gauging if anything lurks in the sloping doorways or the murky shadows.

They wobble past a tiny white fence framing an overgrown yard filled with broken lawn mowers and white sculptures with empty eyes.

Ahead, Everly spots the apartment. She yanks Hayley's arm up the sidewalk and pushes open the door.

Several other couples mill around the dingy living room. Everly guides Hayley to a brown sofa and they slump into the cushions.

It’s past midnight on a Saturday evening. Clearly, her roommate abandoned designated driver duty. Is she sober enough to drive? Her last drink was over 4 hours ago.

“We’re leaving. Give me your keys.”

“What? Why? We can spend the night here with Lucy. And her boyfriend. They’ll let us.”

Everly doesn’t want to stay here. She needs a good night's sleep. She has a big day tomorrow and on Monday–

-Well, the thought of Monday sends a shiver of excitement cascading up her spine.

She can not believe he finally wrote her back.

Everly’s fingers stroke the soft fibers of the sofa as her mind drifts. Her pointer finger absentmindedly swirls in the abyss of a cigarette hole, caressing the hidden rough fibers.

She yanks her hand back.

Gross.

Everly looks at the table for something to wipe her palm with. Crumpled beer cans, Smirnoff bottles, and an array of Arby’s wrappers decorate the table.

The last time Everly ate Arby’s was when she was seven at a rehearsal for Alice in Wonderland. Acting was, ironically, the only time she felt like she could be herself.

Everly stares at the grease-splotched Arby wrappers.

An uninvited memory swells over her…

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Written by Michelle Lang
Image by Mid Journey

Copyright 2024 Michelle Lang