Your Perspective

     I had just about finished my shift as Marnie, my boss and basically only real friend, called me to the back. I worked as a waitress, so there weren't any real offices in the building. Just a back storage are big enough for about four people, plus a little room. I didn't really know why she wanted to talk to me, but I suspected it was because I had accidentally broken a few things in the past couple days.

     Marnie gave me an odd look as I walked into the room. It wasn't blaming, but more sincere and questioning. She patted the top of the overturned box across from her, as she was sitting on the only stool in the there. I reluctantly sat down.

     "(Y/N), I've been meaning to talk to you," she began, sighing a bit.

     "I know, I broke a couple things yesterday and I didn't tell anyone. I'm really, really sorry. I can totally pay for them if you need me to-" she interrupted me.

     "No, no," Marnie chuckled a bit, "That's not what I wanted to talk about. I know you can be very clumsy. I wanted to ask you why you've been coming in so early and leaving as late as possible."

     "Oh." I suddenly quieted down, "That. Well, would you believe me if I said that I've just really been in the working mood lately?"

     "No."

     "Okay then."

     "Please. I want to know that you're okay." The woman grabbed my hand, making me feel so small compared to her.

     "Well," I sighed, "If I have to tell you, things with me and Brady aren't going . . . smoothly. To put it nicely."

     "Has he been aggressive at all?" she asked, squeezing my hand slightly.

     "No! No, no . . ." I pulled my hand away, "Well, I guess."

     "(Y/N), why do you still stay with him?"

     "Because he's the only family that I have left! After what happened with my mom . . . and my brother . . ." I trailed off, tears starting to form.

     "Hey, hey, I know. It's okay (Y/N). It's okay."

     Marnie reached across the empty space pulled me into a tight hug, rocking both of us back and forth slowly. She was basically my replacement mother, even though she was thirty. Only five years older than me. But it worked out for both of us, who each had limited family. She had been there for me ever since I started working as a waitress at that restaurant, about three years before.

     "That's all I need to know for now, okay? Thank you for at least telling me. If you want to, you can even stay at my place tonight. I don't mind," she said softly, still rocking back and forth with me.

     "No, it's okay," I sniffled, pulling away from her, "I should probably be heading home soon anyways."

     "Okay sweetheart, but you know that my door will always be open."

     "Thank you Marnie. For everything." I gave her a warm smile.

     "Well, that is my job," she chuckled, ruffling my (H/L) hair a bit.

     "Actually, your job is to be manager at the restaurant. And I'm pretty sure you should get back to it before Derek spills another drink on a customer."

     "You're ri-"

     She's interrupted by the sound of a clatter, smash and the following sound of yelling. We both burst into laughter as she gets up and walks towards the noise, wishing me a goodbye. I changed out of my work clothes before grabbing my bag and walking out the storage room door. I waved and giggled to Derek as he tried cleaning up the mess. And, saying goodbye to the rest of the familiar staff, I walked into the warm spring sun.

     I passed by everyone on the sidewalks, saying a friendly "Hello" here and there. I really loved living in London. All the people I passed were in the same pond as me, and I made it my duty to know at least some of them. I knew all of the shop owners on my walk home from work. Even a few of the kids that were regulars at the candy shop that Abbey owned. I gave Hank the street-dweller a dollar, just like everyday.

     "You still with that boyfriend of yours?" he would always ask.

     "Yes, Hank. But if I wasn't, I would obviously be with you," I would joke in return.

     And everyday he told me that I deserved better than him and Brady combined. I would laugh and tell him what a sweet man he was before heading the rest of the way home. As I reached my and Brady's apartment, I grabbed the mail and began the long ascend to the top. I unlocked the door, noticing some boxes outside of the room across from mine. I shrugged and walked inside, greeted by the strong smell of alcohol and pizza.

     "(Y/N)? Is that you?" Brady half yelled, half mumbled in my direction. He was slouched on the sofa covered in grease and playing some first person shooter game. COD or Halo . . . I wasn't sure anymore, they all looked the same to me.

     "No, it's the police, we are here to confiscate your weed," I joked.

     "Don't say that so loud, idiot!" he scolded me.

     "Sorry, I was just trying to be funny," I mumbled, walking off to the kitchen.

     "What was that?" he asked, pausing his game and walking towards me.

     "N-nothing. It's nothing I promise," I stuttered, a shiver creeping up my spine.

     "I heard you say something, tell me. Now!" he demanded, raising his hand.

     "I said it was nothing!" I almost shrieked out of fear.

     He slowly lowered his hand, walking back to his game and mumbling, "Dumb fucking bitch."

     I walked into the kitchen, soon realizing that there was obviously nothing interesting there. I sulked, hungry and tired, up to my room. I called down the stairs, telling Brady that I was going to bed early. I got a grunt of approval and figured that it was enough. When I got into my room, I silently grabbed my laptop and headphones from underneath my mattress.

    'If Brady saw that I had this, he would just sell it for weed money again,' I thought, reminiscing what had happened with my old one.

     I opened YouTube and started mindlessly browsing, when I got a notification.

     Daniel Howell has just uploaded a new video. "Moving."

     I excitedly clicked and watched all seven minutes of it. Basically he had talked about how he and Phil were moving to a new apartment together. I had a slight heart drop, because it meant that it was the end of an era. But I smiled because I knew that they would make their new place instantly feel just like home. As the video ended, I felt my eyelids getting heavier.

     I fell asleep to the sounds of loud yelling and virtual guns shooting.

What a "wonderful" way to end the day