Bucket List

Chapter 6

"This is your room," Ethel switches the light on to illuminate the small bedroom. On the left was a bed with a small night stand next to it. On the right, an armoire  sat, the doors open to show it's emptiness. "Your first shift is tomorrow morning at 5:30. You're working in the clinic, with Samuel."

"Bathroom?" I asked.

"Across the hall, dear," She smiles, pointing. "And if you need anything, I'll be right across the hall."

She goes to leave the room.

"Goodnight." I called as she left.

I heard her retire into her own room as I grabbed my toothbrush and paste, before heading to the shower. After a long day of traveling, I was excited to feel the warmth of the water on my bare back.

I waited for the water to heat, and took off my clothes. I looked at my naked body in the mirror that was tinted with steam and rust on the edges. My ribs protruded slightly, I had lost weight after Bailey died. My skin was pale from lack of sun and the roots of my hair showed it's true color.

I stepped into the shower and felt the day's stress melt off my skin. A sign on the corner of the shower caught my eye as I grabbed my shampoo.

Showers should not last more than 5 minutes, for water preservation

I sighed sadly as water splashed on the laminated paper. I quickly washed my hair and scrubbed my skin raw.

I jumped out at about seven minutes, waiting for Ethel to burst through the door, kicking me out of the house. She never came.

I wrapped myself in a towel. I brushed through my hair and swiped my teeth clean. I grabbed my dirty clothes on the ground and bunched them up to my chest. I opened the door and glanced at the dining room below me, down the stairs.

Rahim and Samuel were speaking in hushed voices as I watched them. Sam was holding an ice pack against his head as he talked. He looked up from the table and noticed me at the top of the stairs. He smiled crookedly but only for a moment, before looking back at Rahim, who didn't notice the glance.

I quickly walked into my room and shut the door behind me, throwing the dirty clothes towards my backpack and shutting the lights off before going to bed.

An alarm that I don't remember setting woke me up early the next morning. Without a window, I wondered when the sun came up or if it already had. A knock on my door urged me to rise from my bed. I stumbled in the dark and switched the light on, opening the door in the process.

Samuel stood in front of me with a t shirt and cargo shorts, with a smile plastered on his face.

"Ready for your first day?" He asked. It took me a moment to comprehend what he said, as a strange English accent became apparent in his voice. I hadn't heard it till now.

"It's so early." I mumble back, rubbing my eyes.

"Get ready quickly," He orders with a grin. "I want to show you something."

*****

"Hope you like coffee." He handed me a mug as I walked into the kitchen.

"Anything with caffeine." I answered, taking a sip.  

"You ready for your first day?" He asks.

"As much as I can be this early in the morning." I answered with a humorless smirk.

"Drink up," He orders.

I chug the last of the coffee and set in the sink.

He opened the door and a flash of hotness filled the first floor of the house. He walked out and I shut the door behind me as I followed him.