Kiss of Fate

Shift Change

I didn't expect Hots to ask me to cover the day shift while he took over the night. It caught me off guard. I was ready to decline, to stick to my comfort zone, but the way he asked... something in his voice made me pause. He wasn't demanding, just hopeful, and it got me thinking. Before I knew it, I said yes.

What was I thinking?

As the reality of the situation sank in, I found myself pacing around my room, stress building in my chest. My fingers tugged at my hair absentmindedly, trying to find some way to calm the anxious energy swirling inside me. What if it went wrong again? What if the criticism got worse?

At least the place I work at agreed to let me keep my job for a bit. I had that safety net, something to fall back on if everything went south. But still, the idea of being out in the daylight again - exposed, vulnerable - made me uneasy. I wasn't built for that.

The familiar shadows of the night had always been my escape, a place where I could operate without the constant pressure of eyes watching, judging. Now, I was stepping right into the spotlight I'd been avoiding.

I stopped pacing for a moment, leaning against the window, watching the city streets below. The hustle of daytime life carried on, oblivious to my internal struggle. My reflection in the glass stared back at me, eyes wide with uncertainty.

What had I gotten myself into?

As I leaned against the window, lost in thought, my phone buzzed on the nearby table. Hot Guy had texted me, his message popping up on the screen:

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. You've got this, cutie. Daytime's not as bad as it seems. You just need to get used to it. Trust me."

I stared at the text for a moment, feeling a mix of reassurance and doubt. He made it sound so easy, like stepping out into the daylight would suddenly be comfortable, like the weight of a thousand eyes wouldn't feel as heavy.

But the truth was, it did feel heavy. Even now, in the safety of my apartment, the thought of walking into the daylight again tomorrow filled me with an uncomfortable knot in my stomach. I appreciated his encouragement, but I wasn't him. Hot Guy thrived under the sun, while I'd always preferred the quiet, overlooked corners of the night.

I tapped out a quick response:

"Thanks... I'll try to keep that in mind."

But as I hit send, my mind kept racing.

I had to get ready for the day, and the thought of stepping back into the chaos of daylight made my stomach twist. A shower seemed like a good place to start, maybe to clear my head, if nothing else. I walked into the bathroom, letting the sound of running water fill the space, hoping it would drown out the anxious thoughts swirling in my mind.

As the hot water hit my skin, I leaned my head against the cool tiles, closing my eyes. I tried to focus on the present-just the water, just the steam-but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was stepping into a role that wasn't mine. Daytime was a different world. It wasn't just about dealing with more people; it was about being seen, really seen, in a way that made me uncomfortable.

I sighed, letting the water run down my face, trying to ground myself in the moment. Today was going to be different, whether I liked it or not. I just had to figure out how to handle it.

After a few more minutes, I shut off the water and stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. The steam fogged up the mirror, but I could still see my reflection, blurry and unfamiliar. I wiped a hand across the glass, revealing the tired eyes staring back at me. I couldn't help but wonder if Hot Guy really believed everything would be fine, or if he was just trying to convince me-and himself-that it would be.