Hymn of Elys

Chapter Eleven

Her arms were heavy as she battled the door, trying to unlock it. She was soaked through, her clothing clinging to her and making everything impossible. The door finally gave as she chewed the inside of her cheek.

Alice threw down her purse as she stomped through the front door of her apartment. Her heart was heavy, and full of malice as she continued to think about that single voicemail that had ruined her whole afternoon.

"Thank you for your patience, but we have decided to continue with another candidate." Without knowing it, the man had given her another hit to her ego, and to her dreams. Exactly how many times did she continue to have to be turned down?! Was it her voice? Her appearance? Was she just too average?! Her hands balled into fists, her temper rising.

Her chest heaved as she stared at the purse laying on the linoleum. The diamond pattern on the cheap flooring started to blur together as tears filled her eyes. Being passed over seemed to be a repeated theme in her life.

Burying her face in her hands, she released a wordless cry as she sank to the ground. Muffled sobs filled the room, but she stifled them as best as she could. The sorrow and despair that had filled her heart started to overflow.

In the middle of a bare kitchen, she wailed and cried. She was finally letting her rage and frustration spill over. With each sob, the tightness in her chest began to ease.

Soon, a new sound joined in harmony with her whimpers. A shrill ringtone filled the air, bringing Alice to her senses. It served to remind her that she was in the open; her roommate could get home at any moment to see her crying like a pathetic fool.

Sniffling, she stretched out her legs, wincing as she strained the muscles. She held one hand to her mouth, using her other hand to dig through the pockets of her dress for her cellphone. Alice pulled out the translucent device, the large rectangle of the face alight with the profile picture of her foster mother.

Somehow, parents always knew when the best time to call was. She bit the inside of her cheek, even as a small tear escaped her eye. Bringing the phone to her ear, she willed herself to calm down and appear normal.

"H-Hey, Evelyn," she tried to sound upbeat to the older woman, but her voice was choked, her throat constricted. God, she sounded as if she had been strangled.

The earpiece was silent for a few seconds, and for a moment Alice thought they had been disconnected. "Eve-?"

"What's wrong, Alice?" Straight to the point, and no-nonsense, that was her mother. Alice chuckled lightly as her gut rolled. She didn't want to explain to her mother that she felt like a failure.

With a few movements, she scooted herself back against the counter so that she could rest her back against it. Leaning her head back against the hard wooden surface, she let her gaze rest on the water-stained ceiling. She could feel the bite of a metal knob digging into her back, but she didn't try to readjust herself.

"Why would anything be wrong? I'm in the city now!" She laughed, but it sounded forced and dispirited.

Again, there was silence. Then a sigh. "Tell me the truth, dear." Evelyn sounded pained, as if she was feeling Alice's own heartache.

It came slowly, the tears. One, followed by two. Soon, she was sobbing once more. She pressed her left palm against her mouth, trying to muffle the depressing sounds. "I just-." Alice gritted her teeth, her hazel eyes squinting as she glared at the ceiling. "I just don't know what to do, mom."

On the other end of the line, Evelyn tutted at the young girl. "Alice." Her voice was clear, and strong as she imparted some advice upon Alice, "Just believe in yourself, just like Jed and I do."