"Do you still think about him?" Anna asks quietly, stroking the hand of the small blanketed bundle in my arms. I nod, meeting her eyes. "I do. Every day," I sigh. "I really thought I'd be able to build a life with him. Get married, have kids..." I look back down. "...have something like you and Ben do." Anna chuckles softly. "Be glad you can wait a little longer on the having kids part." She takes the baby from my arms and lays him in his crib. "Leo has quite the personality of his own already," she says, admiring her son. Motherhood suits her. I've never seen Anna glow the way she does when she looks at her child. I take one last look at Leo, my godchild, sleeping soundly before following Anna back out into the living room. I sit down on the couch across the room from her, folding my legs beneath me and hug a pillow to my chest. Their home has finally come together, the last touches being Leo's nursery. The living room and kitchen are now an open floor concept after my destruction
Name: Kristine Chase Age: 25 Location: Chicago Career...Education...Political Views...I purse my lips and stare blankly at the questions before me. I'm getting tired of repeatedly sharing this information, and each time the questions appear to grow more specific. Bumble, Tinder, Match. App after app, failed date after date. What's the point? I lounge comfortably on the couch in the living room of my small, one-bedroom Chicago apartment, enjoying the company of my best friend, Kate. It's a Saturday night and the lights of the city shine through the open window, flowing in with the cool spring breeze. I'm dressed comfortably in leggings and a loose sweatshirt with my hair tied in a messy bun on the top of my head, the usual attire for a girl's night in. Kate emerges from the kitchen, drinks in hand. She places a glass of wine on the coffee table in front of me. I drop my phone onto the couch and pick up the glass, swirling the red liquid around a few times before taking a long swig
We arrive at the stranger's apartment; a small building located a short distance away from the club. My body floods with a pleasurable warmth that settles between my legs. Every inch of me seems to buzz with excitement, eager to continue what we'd started at the club. This is something new, an impulse I've never be confident enough to act on, and I've never felt more alive. He fumbles with his keys and I shift my weight between my feet, impatient for us to be alone. The door swings open and he takes my hand in his, leading me inside. Before the door has the chance to close, I'm suddenly pressed against it, feeling it slam shut by the force of his body against mine. The cold wood is a welcoming feeling against my sweaty back. He leans down and traces the tip of his nose from the base of my neck up to my ear. Again, the lightness of his touch sends chills through my body. I sharply inhale and a soft moan escapes me.God, I've missed this feeling. The stranger's hands explore my body;
I inhale as I roll over, extending my arms to stretch out my sore muscles. The faint smell of sex masked by men's cologne fills my nose, a scent I'm very unfamiliar with. I rub my eyes on the back of my hands to wake myself up, as I pull them away, I notice dark streaks of make up across my skin. Since when do I go to sleep with make up on? Sunlight creeps into the room through a dark gray curtain, illuminating the dark room. I take in my surroundings and realize I am not in my own bed. I look around the small space, it's bare other than a few shelves and pictures hung on the walls. Where am I? I glance down and see my bare body covered in a white sheet. I sit up and pull it closer against me, as if it offers some form of protection. What did I do last night? I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to filter through the hazy memories of my evening. A shallow snore comes from the mattress beside me. I look over my left shoulder and notice a man there, fast asleep. The memories come floo
I drop my purse onto my desk and place a full cup of coffee beside my computer. The morning light floods into the room from the window behind my desk, I open it slightly and admire the sun reflecting off of the tall Chicago buildings. With my office being on the twentieth floor I have a great view of the bustling crowd below and also of the highest parts of the city. The small room is painted a light gray color and minimally decorated with pictures of myself and Kate, my family, and my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work framed proudly in the middle of it all. There are still empty spaces on my book shelf where small picture frames had been removed after my break up. Sometimes I feel that empty space taunts me.I ease myself down onto my chair and rest my head in my hands, groaning quietly and regretting the lack of sleep I had gotten. I should have gone to sleep earlier, but I just couldn't help myself. I hear three swift knocks against my office door and it opens. "Are you doin
I step into my underwear, pulling it back up to cover the lower half of my bare body. I cover my breasts with my bra, reaching behind and attempting to re-clasp it. "Here, let me help you." I feel E's soft fingers against my back. He moves my long hair over one shoulder and lines up the hooks on my bra. "There you go." He steps back to admire his work. "Though I prefer you without that." He smirks. "Oh, I'm sure you do." I run my fingers through my hair, making an attempt to comb it out. "If you would like, you're more than welcome to join me for dinner. I was thinking of ordering something..." He rubs the back of his neck, waiting for my answer. "I appreciate the offer... But I really should be heading home." I finish redressing myself and hook my purse onto my arm, avoiding his gaze. My face flushes with warmth as it settles in my cheeks. Not wanting him to see his effect on me, I turn my head slightly away from him. E nods and walks me to the door. He opens it and I step out
"Stop... Stop Alex!" I hold my sweater close to my body, frozen in place, unsure of what else to do as I watch him throwing armfuls of clothes into his suitcase. "Can't we just talk?" The warm tears stream down my cheeks. Alex turns to face me and scoffs. His blue eyes are callous as he draws his top lip over his teeth. "Well you already found out about her, what else is there to talk about?" He stumbles toward me, the suffocating stench of alcohol wafting from his breath. "Jesus, you're drunk," I spit at him. "What is wrong with you?" "I don't want you anymore, Kristine. I'm happier with someone else." He pushes past me to retrieve more clothes from the dresser drawers. I stare at him dumbfounded, jaw dropped, desperately searching for words. "What about this!?" I hiss as I hold up my hand, hovering my engagement ring in front of his face. "Does this mean anything to you?" "No, it really doesn't." He hiccups. "I thought if I gave into your bitching about getting married... May
I close my laptop and sigh. I have thirty minutes to recollect myself before diving back into my work. I'm exhausted after tossing and turning for the remainder of the night. An ongoing sense of anxiety gnawing at me all morning. After nightmares like the one I'd had last night, I'm left emotionally and physically drained.Only a few more hours to go, Kris. I tap my fingers against my desk before retrieving my phone from my bag. The screen lights up, indicating that I have a new text. E: I hope you're having a good day. I smile and reply to his message, softly gliding my thumbs across the screen. K: A bit stressful... But I'll survive. Yours? E: Busy, but I find myself to be a bit distracted this morning. K: Distracted? How so? E: Just thinking about a beautiful woman who was in my shower the other night... My heart skips a beat and I drag my tongue across my bottom lip. K: I'm sure she was a very lucky girl. E: Or I was just a lucky guy. I rub my neck for a moment b