The Arsonist

Two

Gray had a difficult time falling asleep that night. It was as if sleep and herself were playing a children's game. Every time she would reach out to grab hold of it, it would run away. It was too fast and eventually, Gray gave up.
She walked out of her small bedroom and into her, even smaller, kitchen. The apartment was small, but it was all she could afford. Plus, the owner was nice and would allow Gray to pay her rent late every once and awhile.
I need sleep if I'm going to deal with Jean again, she thought to herself.
However, sleep didn't let Gray win the game they were playing. When morning came she was a wreck. After three mugs full of coffee she was somewhat back to herself. She drove to the hospital and tried to mentally prepare herself for what may come. What she didn't know was, no amount of mental preparation could prepare her for Lyle Conley.

Gray walked into the glass doors of the hospital five minutes late with an thermos full of coffee and bags under her eyes.
She said a quick hello to Tanya and practically ran through the door and into Dr. Lawrence's office. She didn't even think about knocking before barging through the door.
"I'm so sorry, Micah," she said.
He looked up at her from his computer. "For what?"
She stopped panicking.
"I was late-"
"Oh don't worry! You're fine. Do you still remember how to get to your ward?"
"Yeah. Floor 14. Thank you Dr-I mean, Micah. It means the world."
She watched as he laughed and sat back in his chair. "You're welcome. Now go, you have work to do."
"Yes, sir."

It wasn't a matter of getting to the elevator or remembering the floor, it was dealing with Lyle.

She walked into the elevator and took a deep breath before it took off. She tightly closed her eyes and held the rail as she tried to relieve her stress.

Ever since she was little, it was simple for Gray to calm down. The only thing she had to do was remember a good memory of her past in as much detail as possible and she'd settle, That's what she tried to do in the elevator.
*
The world looked much smaller from her height at seven, but somehow it made things simpler. She remembered skipping down the sidewalk, feeling the cold winter breeze caress her face as she "flew" down the strip. She had loved hearing the sound of her recital shoes clicking on the ground like a horse.

"Gracie, wait up please." She stopped, her light brown (?) hair whipping around as she faced a tall boy in a suit walking behind her. She ran over to him, laughing giddily. He grabbed her hand as they continued to walk.

"You can't just run off like that, Gray." He said slowly chuckling to himself.

"Sorry Gordon," When Gray talked to her brother she drew out her words as if she were trying to make every little phrase into iambic pentameter. For example: (1) But (2)Goor- (3)dan, (4)whyyy (5)not?

Gray looked up to see Gordon smiling as they approached the building marked Miss Annie's music shop. Gray, disregarding Grodan's requests, took off again, barging into the building.

Gordon ran after her. Standing in the doorway, was an angry Miss Annie standing tapping her foot, arms crossed, and strawberry blonde hair wrapped up in her regular bun.

"Do you two know how late you are?!" She asked and grabbed them both taking them back stage. Gray could hear music coming from the stage, muffled violin, the player going a bit sharp here and there.

Soon it was Gordon's turn and he played the piano beautifully, Gray was always jealous of him. Sure, he was older but, she had always wanted to be better.

After Gordon, Gray went on stage, her hands shaking as she placed them on the appropriate starting keys. Gray always went into a certain daze once she started playing, like a certain sixth sense that only decided to make itself known after she was five notes in.