It All Started With a Bang

An Introduction

Like any other day, Joanna wakes up to the bland darkness of her room. It's so early that even the birds aren't chirping, and no light filters through the dust swaying by the open window. Of course, living in New York means it isn't totally quiet; the streets still alive with the smooth chug of train cars in the distance and the faraway beat of a party that isn't quite over. Rising this early guarantees the girl dibs on the bathroom and an opportunity to take in a breath as another day lies ahead of her.

   Breakfast is far from her mind as she tries to massage the last signs of her deep sleep from her tense shoulders. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, she stares into her own deep-set brown eyes, akin to her mother's, and sighs deeply. Her brown skin seems almost translucent under the faulty lighting and under deeper inspection, dark circles and stress filled acne have covered her full cheeks again. Shaking her head, she finishes her quick morning routine and fixes her hair, getting ready fast because she knows the terrible two will be up in minutes.

   Hearing a rustle from the other room, Joanna goes on to the kitchen to make coffee, knowing it will be necessary. Two girls appear in the doorway, rumpled clothing and swollen cheeks, making the scene a touch domestic, as they smell the rich scent of their daily boost. Mornings are usually silent in the home as everyone fights the convincing pull of sleep behind their eyelids, and they smile at Joanna with a lazy wave as they make their way to the bathroom. The two are undoubtedly close and they maneuver around each other to use the bathroom at once, already comfortable with sharing.

    Joanna takes that as her cue to head out. Working the opening shift at the local game store meant they barely ever got customers before the afternoon but the owner, a Korean guy in his late-twenties, loved to have them open anyway. Joanna's day starts at 6 am and doesn't end until well after midnight with all of her work, college, and internships. She values what little time she has in the empty mornings at the shop to study and listen to old tracks, as yet another way to relax after her rough sleep. To some, it may be too much for a 23-year-old but to her, it's something to fill her day and keep her busy. Her day passes the same as they always do until one day they don't.

A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first Wattpad story, so I hope it'll meet your expectations. Please don't hesitate to comment or suggest anything you see fit. I'm always open to constructive criticism, and I would love to receive feedback from you all. Thank you for reading!