AURIC

Chapter 1: Ancient This and That's

         The whole point of a double life is to keep your options open, isn't it? When you can't decide which way to go so you take both paths just long enough to choose which to commit to. Seemed like a reasonable plan to me before, but now look at me. I've some how committed to both and cannot find the strength to be loyal to either. I have become two people and my heart is split perfectly down the middle,resulting in a crushing heartbreak no matter which path I chose to hold onto. Is it possible to have two souls? Can you be in love with two people at the same time? My experience proves you can.

My name is Michaela Star, and I am a lot like you! Or was. I worked at a shitty job, made shitty wages to pay for my shitty school and had to put up with my shitty family. I don't quite stand out much from your average 22 year old, but there was one thing I probably had that most would envy me for.

"So did Ewan get back to you, yet?" Asked Linda, my only friend right now. She's asking about my boyfriend, who is the example of what a perfect mate would be. He's kind, generous, cute, a budding architect, and always putting me first. I was so lucky to be his girlfriend and I was not ashamed to voice that to anyone.

"Yeah,he's taking a late shift at work so look's like it's just me and you." I told her.

"Good. Pass me those Corn Dogs, then." She pointed to the shelf behind me.We were shopping at the shittiest groceries store in the area because as I mentioned before, shitty job equals shitty wages, therefore shitty shopping experience.

I threw the Corn Dogs into the shopping kart hesitantly, despite the dust on them, because we were trying to live on a budget but I wasn't prepared to argue with her. Despite the meaning of her name, Linda struggles to live up to that with her eating disorder and carries on too much weight. Because of her self esteem problems, she's developed a bit of a tough girl attitude to cope but once you get passed all that, you'd find a very kind, and sensitive person. I met Linda at work. She's one of my coworkers at this shitty restaurant called Ossos de Peixes, which literally means Fish Bones, gross. We came to be friends quickly because we were usually the sarcastic ones at work with negative attitudes, so we sorta wallow in misery together there. The difference is, I have Ewan to cheer me up at the end of the shift.Linda does not have that luxury.

She threw all kinds of frozen foods into the shopping cart and named each label on the boxes before tossing them in and sometimes throwing in doubles as I put them back without her noticing. We were shopping for both of our homes but were in the process of moving out of our parents houses and moving in together. I don't have a good relationship with my parents, and they don't have a lot of money so I feel like it would be easier for everyone if I went on my own. As for Linda, she loves her family but because of their shitty financial situation too, they are moving back to their foreign country but Linda wants to stay and finish college.

"Pizza?" Linda asked, holding the frozen box over her chin and making googoo eyes at me.

"Fine." I said as she cheered, "But seriously, Lin. That's it."

It was important to be responsible with our money, especially if we will be sharing rent soon.

"...What would the Pharaoh say?" She asked me. She's referring to a fictional character I made up. One time at work, we were so incredibly bored that we started inventing an imaginary universe with characters that we could turn to for fun. It just kept growing from there and eventually we've come up with a whole cast. Sometimes we would ask ourselves what these characters would think of us and our judgments, and it would actually influence our decision making for the better. It was almost like these characters were alive.

"He would tell you to put the pizza back." I said sternly. The Pharaoh character is one that to me, would be the perfect man. He is a merciful and honorable ancient Egyptian king who is handsome, wise, spiritual, generous, powerful, and everything you would want in a leader. I'm in college studying archaeology because I have a huge fascination with ancient civilizations, so that definitely influenced the creation of my favorite character.