DeElla Part 13

Anna tugged at her hood, blocking her view of their judgmental eyes. Anna broke into a run as the rain began to fall harder, her boots splashing dirty water onto the backs of her legs. She rushed into a building, shoving past the yelling doorman; though she had been here so many times that she knew he recognized her. Her lungs burned and the clutched the sharp pain in her side as she made her way up the stairs to the third floor. Anna hammered her fist on the door of apartment 308. She fell backwards against the wall as the first sob escaped from her throat.

The door opened slightly, and an eye appeared above the chain, “Anna? Holy shit, what happened to you?”

The door closed, the chain rattled, and Sabrina flung open the door and dragged Anna inside.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?”

Anna sank onto a white couch, shaking her head and trying to catch her breath.

“Let me get you a towel,” Sabrina said, “how about some coffee too?” She was out of the room before Anna could answer.

As Anna slowed her ragged breathing, she looked around the pristine apartment. The white furniture and brightly colored pillows seemed softly nestled within the warm caramel walls. Lamplight reflected off of framed photographs of Sabrina – Sabrina camping with her family, Sabrina holding a diploma in a graduation gown, Sabrina glowing in a white wedding dress. Anna had met Sabrina seven years ago while they were both working at a dirty neon club in the city; Anna had bills to pay, while Sabrina was rebelling against an oppressive, conservative family. Anna still could not believe they were friends, but despite all of their differences, they shared a bond over their painful pasts.

“Here Anna,” Sabrina offered her two fluffy towels, and set two steaming mugs on the coffee table. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”

When dinosaurs ruled the earth

I would like to start a commune so that I will not have to deal with taxes or rent or crying children when I am trying to find the laundry detergent at the grocery store. It would have to be somewhere rather warm because I am not a fan of the cold weather. In fact, when I get cold and I am outside, I have a tendency to just lie down and give up until someone finds me. No one ever comes, so I have to eventually bring myself indoors and just feel bitter about the whole situation. Also, I am going to have to recruit people who have specialized skills, such as house-building or cooking. I have many available positions for all types of people, including the village idiot, the town cryer, and the perfunctory person-in-the-stocks to warn others of the punishment of crimes such as knocking down someone else's hut. I have christened myself the commune seance-holder/namer. I will hold all of the rituals to speak with the dead, while also offering my services to name things - like pets, trees, etc. It is imperative that I find someone with the ability to manufacture deoderant, because I cannot live in a small village in a tropical climate with sweaty people who have no anti-perspirant. Bring on the applications....