“Oh, I’m sorry, sir!” She bent down and retrieved his glasses. She inspected them as she stood up, her breath misting gently across the clear surface. She immediately felt tired. “They’re not broken or scratched,” she constructed a relieved smile.
He barely glanced at her as he took them back, but she was not surprised. She knew that dismissive look. She had seen it plenty of times before. Because her face was too gaunt to be considered pretty. Her hair was thin and greying despite her age. Her eyes no longer held the life she had once felt so strongly.
She watched as he walked away, still talking on his phone, his white shirt crisp and bright, his leather shoes clicking importantly with every step.
“Did you do it?”
“I always do,” she replied without turning to look at the man who appeared at her side. She stumbled slightly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.
“Good girl,” he kissed the top of her head. His lips were cold.
She remained still, used to his treatment.
“Let’s go,” he pulled her to his car.
She opened the door and sat down, immediately rolling the window down as she stared outside. She ignored his irritated glance.
The apartment building that they approached loomed with leering glass panels. She shivered despite the summer heat.
She did not bother rolling up the window as she exited the car. Her arms remained folded as they rode the elevator to the top floor.
The door recognized his fingerprint and allowed them into his apartment. And it was his apartment, not theirs. For he owned everything that she had.
Sharp edges and walls of glass glared as they entered. He pushed her towards the office, and she sat facing his desk. She picked up the notepad and pen. He sat in his chair and watched her, his eyes greedy.
Knowing better than to delay, she closed her eyes, and began to see. A screen flashed, a name, numbers. Her hand moved, a steady stream of red across the page.
She opened her eyes with a shudder as her hand trailed from the page. The pen dropped to the table and her hand fell to her lap. The world spun and she felt exhaustion creep in sluggish waves.
Her eyes drooped. She saw him take the pad, his smile cold, his mind already calculating. Soon, she knew, he would be millions richer, and a man would wake to find his accounts empty.
“Good work,” he praised.
She felt nauseated as she stared at his handsome face. At the lies behind his smile, behind his every word. The lies she had so foolishly trusted. The smile that had drunk in her deepest secret, one she had been so glad to finally share. The face that had been honest until it warped and its cruelty was revealed.
By then it was too late, the bars had fallen, and she knew that she would regret it for as long as she lived. Her only relief, she sighed as sleep lowered her eyes, was that it would not be too much longer. Her life drained as his greed grew and one day soon, she knew, she would be free.
—
Another in my series of Breath themed stories.
In no order:
I’m in awe of your writing ability. I think I’ve said this before but, Why the hell aren’t you a New York Times Bestseller?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much!!! Seriously, your words are so encouraging!
I’m working on other projects that I do hope to publish. This blog also forces me to practice writing and to continually improve. Hopefully I’ll have a novel out there soon though! 😀
LikeLike
Amazing. I actually held my breath while reading the last few paragraphs. The writing is beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
LikeLike
Wow.
LikeLike
Thanks! 😀
LikeLike
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
Seriously, I agree with Philip. While we appreciate you sharing your work with us, why aren’t you publishing your stories professionally? They’re more than good enough.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ahh thank you!!! I’ve started saving works that I want to publish, as well as working on my novel. I have been a bit hesitant to submit to e-zines and contests though, but I really should just go for it, eh.
LikeLike
A ton of work, but for you, totally worth it!
LikeLike
What I wouldn’t give to have written that!
LikeLike
Thank you so much!! I’m just happy that you enjoy my writing!
LikeLike
That was a fantastic and refreshing read. Well done.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
Excellent as always! Put the darn things in order and publish this, I want to read the book, BOOKS. I love a series 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha yessir! I’ll start working on that! Would certainly be fun to expand on these.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Amazing! I feel like I really know the characters, even after a relatively short piece.
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m glad you were able to get into it!
LikeLike
I want to keep reading! Such beautiful writing. Thank you so much for sharing. I feel privileged to follow you.
I agree with M. Zane. Books!
LikeLike
Thanks so much!!!! I’ll start working on it 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Here I just wandered over, expecting nothing and curious to check out your blog.
You had me hooked from the very beginning! I love the subtle way you introduce concept of Breath — it’s not in your face or didactically explained, it’s just there, and it just fits.
This was very engaging glimpse into a world I’d like to explore further. I’ll definitely be back.
LikeLike
Thank you!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I try not to be too overt with my explanations. It’s fun to see how I can slip in ideas without outright telling too much :D.
I hope you continue to enjoy my writing!
LikeLike
You are a natural, well written
LikeLike
Thank you! 😀
LikeLike
awesome story and looking forward to read the series….
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m thinking of an anthology of short stories with this theme.
LikeLike
beautiful…. good work..
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Beautiful. This story itself lives, breathes. A truly gorgeous bit of writing, Miss Christine.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m glad to read your encouraging words!
LikeLike
I enjoyed reading that. Thanks for the good story. Your prose was especially good plus I really liked the setting.
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I hope you continue to enjoy my writing!
LikeLike
As usual, grabbed me from the first sentence and held me by the throat til the end. Great!
Kathy
LikeLike
Thank you! 😀
LikeLike
quite revealing, i’d say … as they all are … as everyone’s is …. i was gone for some moments in time but am back with some normalcy … there are words to read awaiting … please? ks
LikeLike
Many words to come!
LikeLike
Powerful, impressive writing.
AnElephant loves it.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear it!
LikeLike
Wow, great story!
LikeLike
Thank you! 😀
LikeLike
I really dig this story, Christine. Thanks for checking out mine, as well. Great stuff you have on here!
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m so glad you liked it! I hope you continue to enjoy my posts! 😀
LikeLike
Bloody hell, this was great. And beautifully written!
LikeLike
THank you so much! 😀 I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
I like the way you observe small incidents in your characters’ lives to hint at their psychology. It gives your writing an intriguing depth. Do you write longer pieces too, maybe drama since you often let the dialogue convey much of the story?
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m working on a novel, and I’ve done a few short stories, but never actually any drama.
LikeLike
I am envious indeed. This flows so nicely and the fine detail are so naturally constructed.
Matt..
LikeLike
Thank you so much! Lots of editing 😛 hehe
LikeLike
Can be so bold as to ask how you maintain discipline when editing and not to strangle the life out of it with constant changes?
LikeLike
Hmmm, I often change a lot when I edit. Mostly deleting words I don’t need. I also give myself a deadline, and when that deadline passes, it’s time to let go, and move on to something else. Of course when I look back on old writing, I cringe and think of all the further edits I should have done. But if I don’t do this, then I’ll hold on to it forever.
LikeLike
TY.
LikeLike
Ha!! Anthology be blowed! This is worthy of a complete novel all of it’s own. I am envisioning so many twists and turns until she defeats him in a most delicious and painful way 😀
LikeLike
Thank you!!! I do feel like I could go somewhere with a lot of my flashes :D.
LikeLike