Roommates

Chapter 3

As Evangeline curled her blonde hair into beach waves, she avoided viewing her reflection in the steamy mirror. She hid behind the drops of condensation from her blistering shower. She already knew what she would see: bags deeper than a new LV purse and flush pink cheeks with no remedy. She spent hours crying last night. Chloe left this morning, just like she said she would. She escaped the apartment without Evangeline even noticing.

Evangeline sighed at her pathetic grief, gathering another strand of her long hair. She knew she'd be late for work, but the consequences felt inconsequential. She had dedicated nearly eight years to her current job and she was practically untouchable. Arriving half an hour late wouldn't tarnish her reputation; she could get away with almost anything. Her commitment contrasted sharply with the high turnover rate at the grocery store.

Idealistic college students hoped to make ends meet in the city, only to be met with the harsh reality that Washington's minimum wage couldn't cover both groceries and rent. Evangeline, despite being paid well, still struggled to afford her two-bedroom apartment. During the three years she shared the apartment with Chloe, her roommate covered half of the rent payments.

Evangeline hissed as the curler scorched her skin, jolting her back to the harsh reality of the day. She swiftly slipped her finger into her mouth, letting her hair cascade down. Frustrated, she cursed at herself, checking the time on her phone. With a hasty motion, she gathered the top half of her hair into a bun and unplugged the iron. Groaning in pain, she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.

Her drive to work felt pitiful. No volume of music could drown out her thoughts. Chloe was gone, on a plane back to Salt Lake City. Despite the evidence, there was a lingering disbelief. It seemed absurd that Chloe would simply leave without a word. Could it be a late April Fool's joke, she wondered. Chloe was known for her playfulness, her silliness. This had to be a joke—a really fucked up one.

Evangeline wiped tears from her eyes as she pulled into the parking lot at her work. She took a deep breath and patted her eyes dry. She wiped the smudged mascara from under her eye. Her weak foundation didn't even try to cover the black bags under her eyes. She sighed and got out of her car. She ran into the building, escaping the icy rain. 

As she entered the grocery store, the familiar scent of fresh produce mingled with the sterile chill of refrigerated air. She took a moment to collect herself before walking towards the employee area. The overhead lights buzzed with a faint hum, casting a harsh glow on the wet floor. Her uniform, a faded black polo shirt with the store's logo, clung to her body. She even remembered to put on her name tag today; yesterday she had forgotten it.

She swiftly dodged the runaway meat rack that her coworker had let slip out of his hands. She knew the ins and outs of the store like the back of her hand. She expected his carelessness. This grocery store was both a haven and a prison, a place where she found solace in the routine yet felt trapped in the monotony. Every day was the exact same for her.

She entered the break room. Evangeline forced a smile, adopting her sing-songy work persona, concealing the emotional turmoil beneath the façade.

"Morning, Eve!" called out a younger coworker, oblivious to the storm raging within Evangeline.

"Morning," she replied with cheer. Evangeline headed to the time clock to punch in, her fingers mechanically entering her code.

Evangeline headed out onto the sales floor. Work would offer a temporary distraction, but Chloe's familiar presence lingered, casting a shadow over every mundane task ahead of her. She was greeted by a few customers on her way to the supervisor's cubicle. She entered the double doors and found herself standing face-to-face with the store manager. Her boss. "Morning, Jeff."