Winona's POV (point of view)
I wake up and look out the window beside my bed. The forest looks back at me with a dull, soggy expression. When I open my window, the chilling air hits my face softly. I sigh and close my eyes, time to wake up, I think to myself drearily.
I get dressed in a plain, grey t-shirt and work pants, then I grab my keys and drive to work. Traffic is quick-moving so I get there a few minutes early.
As I pull up, I smile at the familiar sign on the front of the building.
"AROMA ROSE TEA"
I've been working here for over 3 years now, and while the pay is average, the work is steady and my coworkers are nice enough. It's enough to pay my rent every month, and survive, so I'm not complaining really; I'm more fortunate than some.
I head into my work, and I grab an apron from the hook beside the entry of the kitchen. I look to my right and read the clock.
"10:42, MORNING. 10 DEGREES F."
I'm not scheduled to clock in until 11 a.m., so I've got a few minutes to kill.
Are any of my coworkers here yet? I saw my manager as I walked in, but I haven't looked around much. I wonder if Bee is here.
I sit at an empty table, and play on my phone until I hear someone else come in. I look up and see Toni.
"Hey Winona...are you doing okay?" She asks me carefully.
"I'll...I'll live." I smile awkwardly and rub the back of my head. She smiles and looks away, then hurries into the back kitchen quickly.
Toni is my ex best-friend. We were close in middle school, but we grew apart due to jealousy on her part. I was boy-crazy at the time, and she was, well, me-crazy. I didn't see it until it was too late. Recently she told me about it, we argued, and we've been awkward since then.
Suddenly, the door opens again and I turn to see My friend, Bee.
Bee. Thank god, a relief in the awkward tension. I sigh in relief and smile at her. She smiles back at me and runs up to me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
"Hey, how you doing little sunflower?!" She smiles even bigger and sweeter.
"I..I'm doing okay I guess. But I'm not little, I'm only a year younger than you!" I frown and roll my eyes back.
"Oh hush, you're my little sunflower friend, just deal with it!" Bee shakes her head and lets me go. "Let's get to it, buttercup." She walks towards the front counter and preps the teacups.
"Buttercup? Sunflower? Make up your damn mind, woman." I laugh and follow suit.
Bee is my best current friend. I haven't known her as long as I knew Toni, but our friendship has been solid throughout the past few years.
-6:00, EVENING-
The workday passed quickly, and the customers kept me busy enough to keep my mind off of my problems.
"Alright Winnie, goodnight. See you this weekend?" Bee asks me this as she locks the shop doors.
"Yeah, I come in at 6 a.m." I grimace and wave goodbye, then I get in my car and drive home.
In my apartment, my cat runs up as I enter the doorway. He meows consistently until I reach down and pet him. "Hi Berry, have you been good today?" I smile and talk with him about my day, as I fill his food and water dishes up. He purrs then goes about his business. I feed my little school of fish, then I walk into the living room and plop onto my couch.
Sigh.
Another day of average ventures. Another day of avoiding my thoughts. And yet at the end of each day, I can't ever escape the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and emptiness. We work and work until we die. And nobody will save you but yourself.
I sit and reflect, as I turn on the television and fall asleep to mindless cartoons.
YOU ARE READING
Sinking in Broad Daylight
Teen Fiction"The bruising is soft, I'll be fine." "The mental trauma is irreversible, you need to be more careful." She's fine. She's okay. He's fine. He's never been better. Life goes on. Winona is a 19-year-old introvert, trying to survive the real world out...
