Train and Break

Train

Jodie walked up the subway steps and into the crisp New York air. It was 7 PM. She was heading to her best friend’s house. It was only three blocks away, three long New York City blocks that is, but she didn’t mind the walk. She didn’t like Ubers or Lyfts. The idea of being in a stranger’s car with said stranger and potentially picking up even more strangers was very unsettling to her. Sure, she carried a taser that was made to look like a typical smartphone. It lived in her pocket. But she never wanted to actually use it. There was one time where she thought she might’ve had to, but thankfully a bystander intervened. She didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if they didn’t. Living in the city her whole life, she’d heard way too many firsthand horror stories about the things women went through on a daily basis. She was honestly surprised that she hadn’t had more negative experiences. That was a really sad thought to have. Why was she surprised that more people had NOT been assholes? Is that really how bad the human race is? Is that how bad she expected them to be? Sometimes Jodie wished she was a dog. Dogs have it so easy. They’re born, and then more often than not, given to a loving family. They get all the food and belly rubs they want. They just lay around and get loved on all day. They don’t have a care in the world. The last time Jodie didn’t have to worry about anything, she was in diapers. She didn’t have any bills to pay, appearances to keep up, or people to pretend to want to impress. And now, the only people whose opinions she gave a quarter of a shit about were her friends’. She smiled as she arrived at her destination. She’d been looking forward to this sleepover all week.

Break

Andrew sat on the edge of his bed, tying his shoe. He was getting ready to go for a run with his fiancé, Erica. It was one of their favorite activities to do together. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, 6 AM sharp, 6 mile loop at Central Park. That’s where Andrew had proposed to her. At the end of a run, 4 months ago, he kneeled and pretended to tie his shoe. Then he pulled the ring out of his pocket when she turned to look at a truck that had made a loud, sudden noise. When she faced him again, she saw the ring staring back at her. Her face lit up, tears of joy starting to flow uncontrollably, it took everything in her not to break into a fit of “yes I will” before he could actually ask the question.

Andrew smiled as he reminisced on the fond memory. He stood up and walked to the kitchen to refill his water bottle. However, slight confusion soon settled onto his face. He found his water bottle standing right side up on the counter. He picked it up, inspected it. He looked at his drying rack. Andrew knew he left the bottle on it, upside down with the top off so it could dry. He pulled out his phone with his free hand, opened his notes app, and typed “September 20 - found water bottle on counter when I left it on drying rack”. He sighed as he skimmed the list of previous incidents, then put his phone back in his pocket, moved to the front of his fridge, and filled up his water bottle.