Emily decided to take a long walk home, her feet carrying her through the familiar streets as her mind replayed the events of the day.
The cool evening air was a welcome respite from the tension that had gripped her earlier. She walked for what felt like hours, her thoughts meandering through her mind. As she finally turned onto her street, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.
When she arrived home, she drew a long, hot bath, adding a generous amount of lavender essential oil to the water. As she soaked, she let out a deep sigh, feeling the tension melt away from her muscles.
Afterward, she wrapped herself in a plush towel and padded into the kitchen, not feeling up to cooking a meal. Instead, she poured herself a bowl of cereal, savoring the simple pleasure of a quiet evening alone.
For the next few days, nothing at all out of the ordinary happened. She read some books and paid her bills, but she never went out of the apartment. The days blended together in a haze of monotony, each one a carbon copy of the last. She woke up, made herself a cup of coffee, and settled into her favorite armchair with a book. She paid her bills online, feeling a sense of accomplishment with each payment.
One afternoon, as she was taking a short nap on the couch, she was roused by a knock at the door.
Groggily, she stood up, running a hand through her hair and taking a quick glance in the mirror to ensure she looked presentable. Normally, she would have checked through the peephole to see who it was, but today she didn't bother. Why bother when she could smell the person's perfume wafting through the door even before she got to it? The scent was so familiar it made her stomach churn.
Emily opened the door "Hi Christine, what's up? You never just show up unannounced. Is everything okay?"
"Hey Em! I'm so tired of being single, I need a night out. Let's hit the club tonight!" Christine replied excitedly.
" Clubbing? That's not really my scene these days, you know that."
" Come on, Em! Live a little! It'll be fun, I promise."
Letting out a deep sigh, Emily pressed her lips tightly together before she looked at her friend.
"Fine, but I'm definitely not getting all dolled up for this."
"Trust me, Em, you'll thank me later. You have to look the part!" Christine mentioned with a wide grin of triumph on her face.
Rolling her eyes Emily said "Alright, fine. Let me go get changed…. And oh no matter what I come out wearing I'm not going to change."
"A little makeup never hurt anyone, right?" Emily asks playfully
" So it turns out you're not boring after all!"
"Maybe, and by the way Christine, your perfume is a tad bit too much. And I might just bring out my inner child."
"Remember back in college when you were the life of the party"
"Don't even get me there let the past stay in the past"
Christine was a whirlwind of energy and perfume. Her arrival shattered the quiet monotony Emily had built around herself. A familiar, but unwelcome, scent preceded Christine, announcing her presence even before Emily opened the door.
Her friend's vibrant spirit was a stark contrast to Emily's current mood, and Christine's enthusiastic demand to hit the club felt like a challenge to Emily's self-imposed isolation.
In college, Emily was a stunning beauty with a wealthy background and a trail of admirers. But despite her popularity, she felt alone.
Guys only talked to her if they wanted to date her, and girls kept their distance, intimidated by her confidence. Then Christine came along and befriended Emily, and the two became close. Some people snickered, calling Christine "Emily's pet," but Christine didn't mind. She saw beyond Emily's glamorous facade to her kind heart and genuine spirit.