Roommates

Chapter 49

Clocking in for work, Evangeline lowered her head. Somehow, despite everything going to hell in a handbasket, she'd have to face the day. Ready or not, the store had to open. Despite being painfully present in the moment and aware of her uncharacteristic behavior, she didn't have it in her to even pretend to smile. Evangeline was unable to cope with the events from last night. It all happened so fast and her groggy mind still can't put two and two together for why Aurora would leave like that.

How could she just walk out?

A single tear fell from Evangeline's eye and rolled down her cheek. As she tried to catch it, the door opened behind her and a man shouted. Startled, she cowered down, nearly falling to her knees. As her heart raced, she anticipated either a hand on her shoulder or an, "I'm sorry," but neither came.

Prying open her eyes, she turned around to find nobody standing there. There wasn't any evidence of someone opening the door and she had not even felt a gust of air against her back.

The door had never opened and there was no man.

Collecting herself, she headed to the service desk, skiddish and tense. Jeff smiled and waved to her as she passed by. He was busy with another employee, so she carried on. She tucked herself inside the service desk and began putting things in order so she could get the store opened.

She hadn't slept a wink last night and she was feeling it today. Her hallucinations raged and she struggled to keep her thoughts straight. She couldn't even count the safe properly due to the intrusive thoughts distracting her.

This was day four of her manic episode and she was now dreadfully aware of her worsening condition. She wasn't acting herself and she felt off. Everyone else may have known since the beginning, but the problem with bipolar disorder is that Evangeline doesn't know what pole she is in until she has already destroyed everything stable in her life. At this point, she feels helpless to stop her demise.

She's already lost Aurora, what else does she have left to lose?

To get her attention, Jeff whistled and waved his hand in front of her blank stare. "Good morning. Happy New Year's Eve."

Over Jeff's shoulder, she watched a figure slither across the floor by the front doors. It was grey and ashy, and it moved like smoke. Her heart pounded and her mouth ran dry as it disappeared into the floor.

"Eve!" Jeff said firmly, setting a hand on her shoulder. When she snapped out of it and looked at him, he sighed. "I was going to have you train Aurora today, but, instead, I'll have her keep an eye on you. She comes in at ten."

Ten o'clock. Evangeline only had to make it until ten o'clock, then she could talk to Aurora. There was so much she needed to tell her, but how could she remember what to say when there are gunshots going off in her mind every few minutes? How was she supposed to function?

How did she go 23 years without medication for this awful condition? She had missed her last three doses and she was becoming terrified of her own mind. Things were getting worse when they are supposed to be getting better. She couldn't risk missing tonight's dose.

At the very least, with Chloe trespassed from the apartment, Evangeline didn't have to worry about Chloe throwing them down the sink again. She says Evangeline doesn't need them, but the whispers that are always behind her say otherwise.

Add that to the reasons Evangeline is better off without Chloe.

Chloe blatantly abuses her by destroying her medication and she makes it impossible for Evangeline to be in control of her own prescription. Evangeline's father used to do that to her mother, and it is no wonder Claire killed herself. This condition can be so difficult to manage, and without medication, it is nearly impossible.