They're Always Watching

Human Connections

Chapter Two

I wake up to the sound of police sirens wailing on the road near my apartment. I lay on my bed in an area slightly apart from my kitchen and dining and working table. There are no doors in my apartment besides the ones to my closet and bathroom, so when I wake up each morning I can see the sunlight pouring in from the window just outside my room that leads to a large terrace balcony. Only, this morning I didn't wake up to any sunlight. I frown. How strange. Could something be wrong...?

I roll out of bed, walk out of my room area and make a left turn to see that it's dark outside. The night-time city lights are so beautiful from my rooftop studio. I realized I didn't even bother looking at the clock when I first got out of bed. How foolish of me. I turn right, facing the chimney, and read the vintage analog clock. My jaw dropped. It was 9 in the afternoon! I rarely sleep more than eight hours. Something is not right here. Could I have been drugged? Maybe someone slipped something into the water I was drinking last night. 

"Hello?" I called out. There was no response. "Is anyone here?" I questioned. "Relax, Skyler. You're just imagining things. Take a deep breath in," I say as I breath in. "and let it out," I finish whispering as I exhale. That horror book I was writing was getting to my head. Maybe things are getting to me because of being locked in my apartment for so long. But also spending hours looking at a computer screen, or any screen for that matter, can make a person feel off, but that's not describing how I feel now. Or maybe it's because I haven't stayed in contact with the outside world. "That has got to be it," I thought aloud. I'll just make a phone call to remember the sound of another human voice. 

I went back into my room area to get my cell phone off of the low, but long nightstand next to my bed. I also need fresh air. I'll just go outside and make the phone call. I feel so stupid for feeling so paranoid. I've been in this apartment for months without leaving. If someone was to come in I would most likely spot them. 

I checked myself in the long mirror positioned on my nightstand. I look like a complete disaster. I need to brush my hair, brush my teeth, wash my face, put on deodorant, gain some of the weight I had lost l back and most certainly change into decent clothing. I will probably run into someone I know outside, so I really do need to make myself smell and look presentable enough. 

The first step is to change my clothes, so I put on a nice blouse and a black pencil skirt. I passed by the window door and chimney, and took a right turn into my bathroom. I quickly run a comb through my dark brown wavy hair, only use mouth wash, spray myself with perfume and put some powder matching my medium toned skin on my face to hide all of the oil. As I exit the bathroom I no longer have the fear that someone will see me and think I look like a disgusting pig.