Me Time

Water poured out of a chrome spout, steam rising from the white tub enamel. Candles lined the rim of the claw foot tub, the dim light bouncing around the small bathroom. Monica sat on the toilet seat, hunched over with her hands under her chin just staring at the rising water. She wasn't one for baths but this had been an extremely rough week, she had her wine and bath bomb already.

The hot water handle shrieked as Monica twisted it off, Slowly she dipped her foot into the tub, it was the perfect temperature so she sank right in. Something is not right. Her eyes glanced around the water's shifting surface. Damn. Monica reached over the side of the tub and fumbled about on the side table feeling for the bath bomb. The gritty surface skimmed her fingers, she grabbed it and tossed it into the water.

A reaction started in the warm waters, foam plumed under the surface and scents bubbled and emerged. Outside the bathroom windows, the sounds of city life acted as white noise to ease Monica into relaxation, until a garbage truck's hydraulics hissed causing her to jump slightly in the tub. Her heart thumping in her chest she reached out from the pleasant water to grab her glass of wine.

Sliding the glass to her lips Monica took a very long and well-deserved sip. Clattering garbage cans rang out in the alley as the garbage truck finished with them. Beep...Beep...Beep. The reversing tires crackled on the concrete as the truck moved. Monica let her eyes close in the soothing water, she sighed and took another sip of wine.

Shadows began to dance around the inside of her eyelids, grabbing her attention, Monica looked out. A flashing and flickering light lit the room like a strobe light and then with a buzzing in the air, the lights died completely.

Shit, did I blow a fuse? Quickly that thought was devoured by the next. Where did all the noise go? Stretching her torso attempting to hear or see anything, something about the silence was genuinely unsettling to her. A hum shot through the room like a bullet, and lights ticked and creaked back into action. Monica gave a deep thankful sigh, except as she leaned back into the tub, warm water wrapping around her, she still didn't hear anything through her window. No traffic, no scuffing shoes on the sidewalk, not even a single barking dog. Silence.

I don't like this. Monica started to lean towards the window once more, but something about the bubbles caught her eye. She stared into the oil-slicked bubbles bouncing around in the water, when she focused on the reflection, it was different, every bubble had a different reflection. A look of confusion crossed Monica's face, her eyes and brain not understanding. Curiosity grew and caused her to bring her finger over and tap one of them.

What in the hell? It feels like gum, why does it? As Monica's finger began to push into the bubble, a much larger indent started to form from the ceiling, bending and pushing out, it was like the wood and drywall that made up the room were nothing more than rubber. Her wine glass sliding from her light grip clanged against the white enamel of the tub before sliding into the water.

Stunned, her eyes opened wide like a yawning lion, and Monica's finger lost interest in the bubble. The inflated ceiling started to shrink and within seconds it was back to normal, the paint didn't even have any surface cracks. Still looking bewildered she went to take a sip from her wine, her hand just sat in front of her mouth for a few seconds before it clicked. Monica shook her head and took three deep breaths trying to focus. Ok, you're not going crazy. Something strange is going on.

She raised her finger and gently pressed it to the bubbles glassy surface, a small indent formed around her finger. The ceiling warped and changed again, in perfect sync with her movements. Lightly she dragged her finger over the bubble and started to push on its left side. the left wall of the bathroom inflated, tiles and grout moving in impossible ways. It is me, Ok, well this can't be real. I...I don't, no, no! I'm fine, it's been a very long week and I just need some sleep.