story

Her eyes snapped open as the thud resounded throughout the house. Sleepily she looked around the darkness of her small bedroom. The quiet darkness revealed nothing to her as she sat up in her squishy full sized bed. Listening she thought she could hear the quiet murmurs of people talking just down the hall. Pushing the bright pink down comforter back she silently slid out of bed and began tiptoeing across the hard wood floor to her door. Pressing her ear against the dense white wood of the door she could swear she heard people having a conversation along with another noise she couldn’t quite place. Turning the brass knob she opened the door just enough that she could peek her eye out through the crack between the door and the frame. Seeing that the hallway was still dark she opened the slowly opened the door and slid out into the silent hallway.

Looking to her left she noticed the light coming from under her parent’s bedroom door. Cocking her head to the side she padded down the hallway towards her parents room. As she crept towards the door she could hear the sound of hushed voices becoming clearer along with the sound she couldn’t place… it was almost like the sound of her puppy when she really has to go outside. Grabbing the hem of her light blue Little Mermaid nightie she continued to sneak down the hallway. As she reached the far end of the hallway she held her breath and pressed her ear to the white pine double doors that protected the entrance to her parent’s bedroom.

“-told you I wouldn’t let you get off that easy. This is probably going to be one of the best things I ever do in my life,” a hoarse voice whispered from the opposite side of the door.

“But, please don’t all we have done is try to help you. I don’t even know what happened to you after he did that-, “she heard her mother whimper. 

“SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!!!” the women screamed. Taking her ear off the door the little girl started to turn the knob, opening the door just enough to peek through. Light immediately filled her eyes and poured out into the hallway. The overwhelming smell of pennies filled her nostrils and made her gag as she fell to her knees, tears filling her dark grey eyes. The girl collapsed onto the hardwood floor of the hallway and began sobbing uncontrollably at the sight in front of her face. Her tear streaked face looked up into the bright light of her parents room, her dark chestnut hair falling into her face. She screamed and beat her small fists on the floor, splashing blood everywhere.

Nothing she was seeing made any sense, nothing she was hearing made sense; lights, bright lights, white hallways, white beds, white coats, the smell of disinfectant, the sound of a million and one people talking, screaming, crying. A blur of a leg, red stained bleach blonde hair, a furry tail-

“Serena are you okay, baby?” Chase whispered shaking the women from her nightmare.

Opening her eyes Serena looked around at the familiar bedroom she had been sharing with Chase for the past three years. The dark purple walls with a thick black stripe running along the top, the bright, white, luxurious carpet, the huge, dark oak four poster bed. She ran her hand over the smooth wood post and tried to shake the fog of her nightmare off. Serena rolled over on her side so she was flush with Chase and inhaled the familiar smell of Irish Spring and Barbarsol. Staring straight ahead she watched the dust dance in the golden rays spilling in through the floor to ceiling windows. Looking past the spectacle of dust and watched the commotion of the city carrying on in the early morning light. Just beyond the madness of the highway she noticed the serene atmosphere that surrounded Central Park.

Stretching her slender limbs and pushing the heavy white comforter off her body Serena climbed out of the bed. Giving Chase a quick kiss on the cheek she quickly strode over to her walk-in closet. She flipped on the overhead light and glanced around the seemingly endless space.  Striding to the back she opened one of the many dark oak drawers built into the wall and pulled out a pair of short neon yellow running shorts. Closing the drawer she opened the one just above it and pulled out a black sports bra. Shrugging out of her purple NYU sweatpants and black tank top she slipped on her shorts and bra. Turning Serena examined herself in the full length mirror at the back of the giant closet.

She frowned at the image of the person frowning back at her. Her dark grey eyes had dark circles under them and her skin had taken on a ghost white appearance. She ran her hand through her chest length dark chestnut hair. She watched as it fell limply back into stick straight defiance. She rolled her eyes at the thought of Chase always saying she was his angel.

“Yeah,” she whispered to herself, “his angel of death….” She frowned deeper at her own thoughts. Her friends were always telling her to lighten up and stop mopping around. Sighing she strode back out of the closet and towards the tall maple doors that lead out into the hallway. Closing the door silently behind her Serena padded down the beige carpeted hallway to the extravagant white marbled entry way. Pushing the call button on the elevator Serena searched around for her black running shoes. Opening the small shoe closet to her left she noticed the shoes were thrown all over instead of in their respective cubby holes. Chalking it up to Chase being his usual messy self, Serena rummaged around and pulled out her running shoes. Slipping the ultra-light, breathable shoes over her white, socked feet, she gently ambled onto the elevator.

Closing her eyes Serena listened as the thick metal doors closed behind her. Breathing deeply she listened to the whir of the elevator as it traveled 13 floors down to ground level. With a small ping the metal doors slid slowly open. Turning around Serena surveyed the dimly lit lobby. Everything from the faded red carpet to the tan walls had a gloomy appeal today. Looking out the towering front entrance doors she could see the ominous black clouds threatening another storm. Shrugging her bare shoulders she dashed toward the huge glass doors her chestnut hair bouncing lazily behind her. Reaching the door it swiftly swung open and the green suit clad doorman gave a stiff nod to Serena as she jogged past.

Tearing down the sweeping grey stone steps in front of her building Serena was hit with the smell of car exhaust and dirty shoes. As much as she loved living in the middle of New York’s Upper East Side, Serena still hated the sounds and smells of the city. No matter what time of day it was, there were always cars, or buses, or people making an abnormal amount of sound. And everything, outside of her favorite place, smelled like diesel fuel and dirty feet.