The Key To Eternity

Chapter 1-2

Lia fumbled her key in a keyhole that refused to catch. She sighed. So far, everything has been fine, but now the door doesn´t want to open. It’s laughing at me, that’s it.

She shook her head when she realized what she was thinking. This isn’t like me at all. Ever since my boss told me about this trip, I’ve been feeling off.

She tried again, keeping her breathing under control. The key clicked and the door opened. Finally!

She entered the dark space and probed the wall for a light switch. The living room of her home for the next few weeks came to view: tan walls, high ceilings and crown molding painted white. Two paintings of abstract geometric patterns hung on the walls. The brown leather sectional that faced the 80s style gas fireplace, with its tarnished brass fixtures, did nothing to brighten the space.

Lia brought in her wheeled suitcase and closed the door. Something feels wrong.

“Oh well. It’s only a month or so,” she reminded herself to dispel the uneasy feeling. “What if it looks like a cardboard box? I´m not here to stay.” Oops, she realized. My cat’s not here, so I’ll have to keep the self-talk to the minimum.

She carried the bag to the nearest bedroom and tossed her carryon with her sketchpad and pencils in it onto the bed. Sending a quick text to let her supervisor Jerry know she’d arrived, she headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Afterwards, she felt almost human and decided to call Clarissa. Her best friend answered at the second beep.

“What took you so long?”

“I needed a shower.”

“Ah. Yeah, sticky is bad. So… everything peachy?”

“Yeah, you could say so.”

“Don´t bullshit me. What´s going on?”

I should never sugarcoat anything with her. She sees right through it all. “Nothing. Not really. The condo looks like a cardboard box and gives me the creeps, but, nothing.”

“Mmm. I´m laying down a short Tarot spread for you. Hang in there. I see problems, and maybe even danger, but oh, so much fun in your future.”

Lia snorted. “Yeah, right. You see what you want there. You don´t fool me.”

Clarissa chuckled. “I know. That´s how it works.”

Lia smiled. She always finds a way to make me feel better. “All right, big day tomorrow. Better go to bed.”

“Night. Don´t forget to brush… and use condoms.”

Sure. Not that I’d mind a fling but… She looked down at her plump body and bit her lip, humor fading. “Bye, Clarissa.”

“Bye.”