T H E C A R R I E Rc h a p t e r 1 : p a r t 1
Have you ever done something that you instantly regretted? Something that made your stomach cringe with guilt and your palms sweat. I try to forget what I had done every hour of every day, but of course, I am always unsuccessful. My past seems to haunt me everywhere I go. There have been times when I wish that I could go back in time and change everything and take it back, but I know that that would and could never happen no matter how hard I wished it.
“Miss?” Someone calls, tapping me on the shoulder, “Miss?” I look up from my thoughts and into the eyes of an older gentleman that goes by Orville. “Um … Sorry, sir. Yes sir?” I ask, trying to be as polite as possible. I did not want to get on any ones bad side in this town. “I just wanted to make sure that you were alright. You’ve been staring intensely at your coffee since the barista brought it out to you an hour ago.”
I smile politely up at Orville and take a sip of my, now cold, coffee, “Oh … I had not noticed. I assume I was just deep in thought. I apologize for worrying you.” I reply, trying to sound as smart and kind as I could. “You’re okay, Miss Mary-Rose. Just looking out for you, that is all.” He says, patting me on that back before returning to his seat.
I look around at the hotel’s lounge area in which I now sat. Candle lit chandeliers illuminated the room as the sun fell down the sky. More guests had appeared since I had last taken note of the other guests that accompanied me in the room. A small cabal of younger looking men sat chatting secretly in a dark corner, two older women chatted animatedly over coffee and some pastries, a family of four silently nibbled a late dinner with remorseful looks on their faces, and of course, Orville sat at the coffee bar chatting with one of the baristas.
Everyone seemed to be either secretive or oblivious about the current international crisis that was impacting every living person. I assumed that most just wanted to act like nothing was happening … that was what I was trying to do at least. That gut twisting feeling returned as the mere thought of it came into my mind.
I lay a small tip on the table where I had sat and take my coffee cup up to the coffee bar before returning to my room where I could think without being interrupted by Orville or any other curious person in the room. I take the stairs to the tenth floor where I was currently staying. Sometimes I liked to get in a bit of exercise, and take ten flights of stairs seemed like the only was to do it. I walk slowly down the hallway to my room, trying to catch my breath, and enter my room, shutting the door quietly behind me.
“Why? Why? Why? Why?” I mumble to myself as I rub my face in anxiety, “Why Mary-Rose Clark?” I say falling onto the lone king size bed in my room. I stare up at the ceiling hoping I would have something to count to pass the time, but there are no tiles, dots, or bricks for me to look at … just a plain white ceiling.
I shut my eyes and wished that I were back home with my family. I could barely believe that I missed my twin brothers … they always seemed to grate at my last nerve. My family never seemed to take my warnings, neither did my friends, instead they just laugh at me, tell me I’m being over dramatic … that I am insane even. No one would listen, but I am almost positive that they would listen to me now.
I assume that by now, one would be wondering what exactly I am freaking out about? Well, it started about three years ago. A new bacterium was found in a small little town in New Mexico that spread quickly across the state. Soon enough it was moving across the country, developing more and more deadly symptoms as it went along. I had heard about a small town where many people across the nation seemed to be retreating to keep themselves disease free.
I knew that the disease was coming closer to my home, and becoming more lethal the closer it got. I tried to get my family to move to the small town where things were on disease lock down. But they were completely oblivious to what was happening. Don’t ask me why I left … because I would mainly tell you that I regret that I had done it. I still regret that I had done it. I constantly think about how my family is, if they are sick or not.
I sigh and climb under my the heavy bed sheets and squeeze my eyes shut, mentally preparing my self for the long day that I had ahead of myself tomorrow.
I hope that you all will enjoy this little work of fiction that is bouncing around in my head. If you read all of this... *cyber hugs* I love you so much right now. You made my day. I don't even care if you favorite it... as long as you read it I am happy :)