THE VOID

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕖𝕟

           {Alice and Josephine's apartment, 10 am}

((Hero slowly wakes up, his breath rapidly increases. His eyes dart around the room, out of the corner of his eye he sees the lily he gifted Josephine. The night before sneaks up on him and invades his thoughts and he feels the bile travelling up his throat. He takes a deep breath and sits up. His eyes are drawn to a small wooden chest that resides by the foot of the bed. He stands and walks over to it))

Hero: "Is she serious?" ((He asks himself while smiling, he blocks out the thought that he's only getting this treatment because she saw him cry))

((Two small towels sit on the chest with a small note saying 'Dry with me (don't worry, I'm clean)' next to it a tooth brush and a note 'Brush with me (don't worry, I've never been used)'. Grabbing both he sees the door to the on suite is ajar. He heads to the bathroom and steps into the shower. After he's finished he steps out and wraps the towel around his waist and dries his hair with the other one. He brushes his teeth and then heads back to the bedroom. Carrying the small notes she left by the hair products and body wash. 'Wash your hair with me (I smell like honey)' and 'Wash your body with me (I also smell like honey, don't you just love honey?)'. He's about to put on his clothes from yesterday but sees a small pile on top of the dresser. The note saying 'Wear me (Alex dropped us off this morning)' and with that he takes his clothes and puts them on. Placing each of the hand written notes in his pocket. He fears Alex might now know about his breakdown))

Josephine: "That's interesting, so when's the project due?" ((She asks politely taking a sip of her coffee))

Chris: "In two weeks" ((he sighs looking at Alice)) "We'll be working every spare minute on it now"

Alice: "It won't be that bad!" ((she says with a forced smile))

Hero: ((approaches the kitchen warily)) "Morning" ((he says taking a seat next to Jo))

Alice: "Coffee?" ((She asks pouring herself a cup)) "Chris this is Hero, Hero this is Chris" ((she adds pointing between the two))

Josephine: "They work together" ((she adds more context, placing a croissant on a plate and moving it in front of Hero))

Hero: "Nice to meet you" ((he says shaking Chris's hand, he gives a subtle smile to Josephine)) "May I have the jam?" ((He asks and Alice hands it over, with a huge grin. What is this atmosphere? Why is everyone being so nice?))

Chris: "So Hero, Josephine says you're a writer?" ((He asks, before biting into his scone))

Hero: "I guess, I write for a gallery in Shoreditch" ((he answers adding Jam to the inside of his croissant))

Alice: "He's actually pretty good!" ((She praises which surprises Hero. He can't help but feel Josephine told the whole neighbourhood about last night))

Josephine: "He's alright, I guess" ((she jokes knocking Hero))

Hero: ((Finally some normality, a jokey insult. He smiles, still confused by this entire scene. He had assumed Josephine would have harassed him about what happened last night but it's like nothing even happened)) "Yeah, I'm alright" ((he responds lightly rolling his eyes))

((Hero eats his breakfast, awkwardly glancing around the room. Why hasn't Alice made a big deal of his staying over? Maybe because her colleague is here? And Josephine, she was so concerned last night. He can't get that troubled face out of his mind))

Alice: "We've got to head out, the group is meeting at 11" ((she directs at Chris))

Chris: "You're right!" ((He says checking his watch)) "I'll bring my girlfriend around the gallery sometime, she's a bit of writer herself" ((he adds before saying goodbye to both Hero and Jo))