My Inner Demons Fanfic/Rewrite (Oaksariaha)

Ava: Chapter 2

The lights filled the apostrophe from the neighboring windows, the sidewalk bathed with a white hue. The dim sky hides its stars behind the clouds. The bustling street was covered in somber footsteps casting somber shadows on the pavement. The streets wafted with the delectable smells of salt and fried food from the nearby vendors closing for the night. The leaves of Central Park whispered in a hush frozen tone to rhythm with the wind.

A young woman with long ebony hair and captivating mauvish eyes lounged on her plush couch, phone propped in her hand, casting a ghastly blue hue over her tan face. A tabby cat perched on the carpet, gently nudging her outstretched hand in a display of affection that hinted at a demand for attention.

"It's getting pretty late already, isn't it?" She murmured, her knuckles massaging the faint shadows below her eyes. Reluctantly, she stood up and the cushions gave way beneath her. "I better go, I should really try to get some sleep." She stifled a yawn, giving a half hearten smile to the camera.

"Are you still having trouble sleeping, sweetheart?" A man asked through the screen, his voice carrying a note of concern and compassion. "If you need us to, we can schedule another doctor's visit to get you better medication." The woman lethargically crossed onto the hardwood floor as he spoke, yanking her fridge door open.

"I don't think another visit is going to help, Papa." She then tiptoed on a step stool, her small hands stretching high to reach for a cup on the bottom shelf of the cupboard. With a gentle grasp, she placed it on the counter top, appreciating the intricate granite design on its surface. "We've already tried all the drugs the doctor has recommended. Besides, don't you and Dad have enough on your plate?"

"Please, don't refer to your prescriptions as drugs, Ava. You know me and your Dad will always be here for you even when we're busy!" As her Papa's encouraging words continued, Ava's thoughts drifted away from the present moment. She placed the cup of freshly poured milk in the microwave, her mind already lost in tomorrow's tasks. "Maybe we should look into getting you a new doctor-"

"Papa, focus. We've tried everything, medication, meditation exercise, I even gave up caffeine." She met the camera's sight with a defiant challenge, her steady eyes daring him to waver while her confident demeanor masked the inner term oil of exhaustion. "I'm an adult, I can handle my own problems."

He took a moment to consider her argument like a dejected puppy with slumped shoulders. "Could we at least get you another incense burner?" He mumbled dishearteningly, his eyes still drifting away from the screen.

"So I can leave scorch marks on my counter tops again, after I inevitably start a fire using one of those things? No thanks." Ava answered mockingly, she took a final gulp of warm milk, relishing the rich flavor, before offering the last few drops to her patiently waiting cat.

"Don't worry about it anymore tonight! I'll talk to you later, okay?" Without waiting for his retort, she abruptly hit the screen. She let out a weary sigh and sauntered into her bedroom. She quickly swallowed her medication and allowed herself to sink into the soft embrace of her sheets, feeling the warm, fuzzy presence of her beloved pet beside her. Her senses dulled to the sound of her cat's purring, lulling her into a state of blissful relaxation.

___________________

An obnoxious blaring plays from a top her nightstand vibrating the shelves underneath in rhythm. The curtains fail to hide her face from the sunshine peeking in, causing it to flood the room with light. Ava groggily smashes the alarm clock with a pillow knocking the nearby lamp off with it. Another thing ramps up later, more muffled than the previous attempt of disturbance. She mumbles vaguely word-like sounds of annoyance before hitting the snooze and laying back down.