((Just the skeleton of my short story, details and more actual story telling to come!))


Living in a Rut

The radio murmured to life as it always had, every morning, for the last several years. She rolled out of her bed to the left like she always had, smiling softly to the sound of the track that had greeted her for several years. Her routine was precise and well timed; every action was the same as the day before – no exceptions. Pulling her hair back gently and pulling it into a bun she hummed softly to the music in the background. It was set to eight, always was.

Her morning began with the usual slinky movements she made to the bathroom, caressing her body as she gradually made her way to the door. Her red nails painted the night before perfectly done. As always the first thing was to reach for her crimson red lip-gloss, the application was slow and seductive as she still swayed to the music that played from her room.

Moving onto her eyes with a well placed application of liquid eye liner, the same brand she had always used. She closed her eyes for but a moment to apply to the cool liquid to her upper eye lid. Still humming softly as she always had, not a worry in the world.

That’s when the man moved past the bathroom door, his reflection in the mirror missed by the all too comfortable woman. He had watched her sleep all night, and even now watched her do what she did every day.

She continued, oblivious. Her foundation, blush – all of it the same order it had always been done. The same strokes made the morning before, same direction and the same thickness of application. Dancing over to her radio, her delicate hands increased the volume by a regular amount of two points. It could then be heard from the kitchen.

The routine continued as she made her way to her kitchen, grabbing an apple and a shake prepared the night before. Then she made her way to the window of her apartment and watched the world wake up with her. Always watching the parks first, and gradually making her way to the right side of her view.

The man watched her watching the world. She was blissfully unaware of the man in her apartment that had been watching her. His cold eyes running over her body like her eyes did the city. He moved silently behind the counter.

Still moving in a slinky fashion she approached her closet and wore the outfit that had been prepared the night before. Dropping her night gown and gradually dressing her self.

The man watching her licked his lips and made his way behind the couch, all the way watching her dress. Behind the couch he made him self comfortable, no fear of being caught.

The woman had finished dressing her self and danced over to the radio, turning it off as the song came to its end, perfect timing as usual. Brushing herself off she made her way for the front door her left hand swiped the keys off of her granite counters and she made her way for the front door.

As per usual her cell phone rang as it always did, her friend calling to ensure that she as on her way to work. The call lasted the usual fifteen seconds. Though this time as her phone call ended the plastic bag was quickly slid over her head.

The man had come up from behind her while she talked and now suffocated her to death. Her red nails grabbing at what she could to try and save herself. In vain she struggled, and her last breathe was a drawn out one. The life had faded from her body slowly… she had been freed from living in a rut.