chapter 1

Early mornings in offices are just as haunting as late nights.  Emma always noticed this, as she was always the first to arrive in her building.

Her footsteps echoed in the hallway as she made her way past the generic art, past the one constant flickering light, past the woman’s restroom she frequented.

She would always pause at the doorway, think quickly of a reason to turn back around, but ultimately pull out her keys to unlock the office and begin her day.

With every click the office illuminates, brighter and brighter, chasing away the dimness; replacing it with eerie incandescent lighting, and that hum.  That familiar, yet unpleasant hum.  Perhaps the root of where humdrum derived.

“Humdrum…” Emma spoke aloud as she drops her tattered shoulder bag to the floor. “What I would give for humdrum.”

She quickly sits at her desk, starts up her computer, and drops her head down onto her desk.  Already she knew it was going to be a long day, especially with only three hours of sleep hanging under her eyes.

She closes them, her eyes, and the smell of french fries and coffee envelop her.

“We have to break up.”

“What?”

Emma stared across the table at Jayden.  Her soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend.  They had met up for a late night dinner since Emma had to work overtime, again.  It was their favorite diner.  The food was sub-par, and the service was less than that.  Still, it was the only place open late and the first place they had gone to together.  It’s tragic how quickly sentimental monuments can change.

“I’m pregnant.” Jayden went on.  She played with the french fries on her plate.

Emma’s face froze.  She stared, her eyes beginning to glaze over from not blinking. “What…does that mean?”

“It means…I’m going to have a baby…” Jayden had stopped looking at Emma. Her eyes focused on the salt and pepper shakers, the extra menu, the grease stains on the table, anything really.

“Oh, fuck you.”

“What?”

“You’re trying to be funny at a time like this?”

“I’m not. I mean, I wasn’t trying to. You know I’m a very literal person.”

“And apparently, also, a slut.”

“That is not fair.” Jayden looked up finally. Some fierce determination in her eyes to not let Emma put her down. It was a reflex.

“Are you going to offer up an explanation now? Or should we just chalk it up to immaculate conception?” Emma spoke quickly as she threw her hand in the air. “MORE COFFEE! PLEASETHANKYOU!”

“I want you to calm down first.” Jayden reached across the table for Emma’s hand, but it was already retracting from the table, situating themselves across her chest.  Jayden knew this was Emma’s defensive stance.

“I’m calm.” Emma said, calmly.

“This isn’t easy for me. You know, I love you…” Jayden started out.

“Please don’t say that.”

“What?”

“That you love me, when you don’t.”

“But, I do, Emma please…”

“Whose is it?”

“What?”

“The baby. Who is the baby’s daddy? Ashton? Lee? Sam? JESUS? Who!?”

“Does it matter?”

“Do you not know? Is that why you won’t answer? Holy fuck, where is my coffee!?” Emma breathed heavily, she was trying to stop herself from hyperventilating.

Jayden reached across the table again, this time snatching away Emma’s hand and clasping onto it, tightly.

“I’m sorry. I never thought something like this would ever happen. You have to believe me.” Jayden spoke as she squeezed Emma’s hand.

Emma leaned in closer to Jayden, her eyes now beginning to water.

“You don’t get it. You were the only thing I loved in this world. And you’ve broken my heart.” Emma pulled her hand away and slid herself out of the booth. She stumbled past the other customers, her vision now blurred.

Emma blinked. Blinked. Blinks again.

She raises her head from her desk and looks at her computer. It is 8:56 a.m. The rest of the staff would be arriving soon, and she would have to go get their coffee orders.

In the four minutes of silence she has left, Emma slides her finger across today’s Daily Memo, giving herself the worst paper cut she has ever gotten.

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