Stop It

Chapter One

I slumped over, my elbows on my knees as I looked out the large window beside my bed.

Rows of traffic clustered the streets as everyone drove to get to work on time. I smiled gratefully, thankful that all I have to do is sit at home all day.

I stretched and yawned, standing up from my bed and heading downstairs to make breakfast.

It was the typical, bacon-egg-pancake trio, nothing really special. I ate slowly, thinking about what I should do today (other than record of course). Maybe I'll just have a lazy day. Watch some Netflix and eat a bunch of junk food. Maybe I could talk to Bob or Wade? Or Felix? Possibly Arin? I don't know, I guess I'll see what happens.

After I finished breakfast, I made my way up to my bathroom. I stripped myself of my clothes and turned the water on lukewarm, stepping in carefully so I don't slip like last time.

I let the room temperature water wash over my body and I sigh, raking my fingers through my hair. The dye draining from it, leaving my hair a brighter color than it originally was. I reached down for the hair soap and drizzled some into my palm, watching as it slowly spread to the edges of my hand. It poured over eventually, the cool substance dripping onto my feet. I sigh again and lather my hair with the soap, then step under the water and let the soap wash from my hair. I use my hands to speed up the process, wrenching the soap from my hair gently. I repeat the (almost) same process with conditioner. After washing my body off, I stepped out of the shower.

Nearly slipping as I got out, I quickly latched onto the bar sticking out of the wall to catch myself.

"Jesus," I gasped. This was getting old. I have to be a lot more careful or one day, I'll just slip and crack my skull. No one will be there to come save me before I black out and die. I rebalanced myself before reaching for a towel to dry off.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I left to my bedroom. I sat on the edge of my bed, letting out a sigh of... Annoyance? Frustration? Maybe it was just a short, sleepy yawn? Why would I be annoyed or... Or frustrated?

Right...

I have to record today.

Another sigh found its way past my lips and I stood again, quickly drying off before getting dressed.

It's not that I hated recording or anything, it's just that I've been so, so stressed lately. I'm not sure why, but I have been.

Slowly, I made my way into my recording room and, yet again, I sighed.

I love my job! I really, really do! I love my fans, the video games, making new friends, everything! But I just can't handle the stress of it all.

I'm a generally happy person. My fans, friends, and family love seeing my beatific smile, so I try to keep one on my face every day. Just for them. Because I love them all to death, and without them... I'd be nowhere. I'd be so lost and alone.

I teared up a bit, then.

Not because I'm sad, no. But because of how thankful I am for everything I have.

My foggy vision finally cleared once three, fat tears slid down my cheek and dropped off my chin, splattering once they hit the wood floor beneath me.

Sighing (again), I pull my seat out from my desk, sit in it, turn my monitor on, reach for the record button on my camera, and press it.

I breathe in and shout out my introduction. A large beatific smiled laced on my face.

*