D.I.D. You Know We Love You?

C Cut It

I stared at the clock and willed time to stop. The small red number switched to the next digit and the radio came blaring on. I didn't move. I was still so tired from the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that. I told you we should have just killed ourselves. Shut up.

I crawled out of bed and climbed into the shower to try and wake myself up. The hot steam at least relaxed me and the smell of my bodywash was pleasant. Imagine if we slipped and fell? We could crack open our head on the handle or smash our skull on the tile floor. Stop it.

I got out and dried myself off on a fluffy black towel. My hair stuck out in all directions as I stared at myself in the mirror. Jesus Christ you look awful. You lost weight again. If your eyes get any more bruised from lack of sleep it will look like eyeshadow. I couldn't disagree. So I brushed my teeth instead.

I put on one of my new suits, not that it looked any different than my old suits. I had to buy a size smaller this time. It made me look less rumpled though than when my old suit started getting baggy. You looked like a kid playing dress up. Hmmm. I suppose.

I drank a glass of juice and picked at the fruit bowl on my counter, deciding not to take anything after a moment. Nothing seemed appetising. I grabbed the wrap on my fridge shelf and a yogurt, shoving them into my lunch pail with an ice pack. It was much cheaper than the cafeteria. Cheapskate. I like the cookies.

I pulled on my outer jacket and peered out the window. She was standing at the end of her driveway, flipping the newspaper around in her hand. At least the mutt is dead. She glanced in the direction of my house and I slipped back into the shadows. Fucking stalker. Doesn't she know how gross she is?

I grabbed my cell, slipping it into my pocket. My keys were already in my briefcase and I tucked my wallet into my back pocket. I took a deep breath and opened the inner door. My smile wobbled a little as I went outside, but strengthened as the neighbour waved on her way back to her door.

"Hey there. How are you this morning?" She said in a strange tone. Fuck no. Please God no. I can't do this.

"Hello there. I am fine, thank you." I was almost to my car when I saw her approach my driveway in her bathrobe. One shoulder was slipping a little and I saw both her peeling fake tan and the lace strap of her negligee. Gag me. Who does she think she is? A desperate housewife? It looks like leather. Maybe she would make a good couch.

"It is such a nice day; I almost hate to go inside." She drawled. I threw a look at her over my shoulder as I opened my car door.

"Ah, well, I have to be getting to work now." I got in quickly and shut the door, ignoring whatever she was going to say next. Isn't she old enough to be your mother? Maybe she saw your grey hairs and thought she had a chance. My hands were shaking as I worked my way through the traffic.

"You have got to be kidding me." I did another loop around the parking lot and realised there were no spots left. I sighed and turned out into the street, down the block, and pulled in the far overflow lot. I grabbed my briefcase and jogged back down the street to the office, sweat making my shirt cling to me awkwardly.

"You are late." My boss glared over at me from his door as I passed by. Fucker, your computer isn't even on yet.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir. Won't happen again." I puffed out as I hurried to my cubicle. I pulled out my training manual and flipped to the next module as my computer booted up. I ran through the tutorial and then did the exercises. Then I worked slowly through the files on my desk. We barely know the program, so why the fuck are we in charge of these?