Abi In Wonderland

Abi glanced at the little square digital clock on the wall—8:30 p.m. "Huh… time really does fly when you're doing absolutely nothing," she muttered as she tied her brown, not-so-long hair into a messy bun. She hated her split ends—complained about them every single day—but instead of letting her book a salon appointment, he kept buying her fancy shampoos and even offered to cut it himself. She'd laughed, refused instantly, and rolled her eyes so hard the sound should've echoed. Almost two years. That's how long Miss Abi hadn't stepped foot outside the house. And no, she wasn't kidn*pped. She was simply… the queen of her own private hermit kingdom. She slipped out of the loose dress she'd thrown on that morning and stepped into her antique-aesthetic bathroom, carefully avoiding the delicate bottles and jars she'd nearly shattered a hundred times. She turned the tap, dropped in a cherry-scented bath bomb, and sank into the cold, foamy jacuzzi. "Isn't this life," she whispered, a soft smile on her face—too soft, like it was hiding something. She inhaled slowly, letting the sweet fragrance envelop her. "Smells like home," she breathed, eyes closing as old memories tugged at her… ones she'd avoided for years. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist. There was only the cherry water, the bubbling hiss, and Abi—alone with herself. --- "I just got back… shift it to another day." She heard a voice—distant, muffled, like someone speaking through a phone underwater. "Just cancel it then, Havier." The voice came again, clearer, firmer this time. It jolted her, snapping her out of her trance. She blinked, sat up, and took in her surroundings. The cherry scent was gone. Replaced by oud—deep, sweet, musky—the kind that clung to old wood and expensive coats. It was Zev. "W-when did you get here?" she asked, surprise blooming in her voice. "Well… what happened to 'hey, how are you?' Or 'thanks for saving me from almost drowning in the bathtub'?" His tone was too smooth, like he'd practiced it. "I didn't drown," she teased lightly. "I fell asleep. That's it." "Oh really?" His voice dropped an octave. "Because when I walked in and saw you like that, I thought you died. I felt… not good." For once, he didn't polish his words. They just came out—raw, real. He inhaled sharply, exhaled, and turned his face away again. "I have to go, baby. Something came up." His eyes stayed fixed on nothing, like he was trying not to feel. "If only you got me one," she murmured, sighing as she climbed out of the bed. "One of what?" He turned slowly, eyes narrowing. "A phone," she said, heart skipping, the air thickening. His gaze locked onto hers—sharp, unblinking. "I mean… for emergencies. Think about it, baby." She spoke again, firmer this time—bargaining. "There won't be any emergencies at home that would require me to call you." He cut in, sharp yet calm. "What if I slip and fall in the bathroom and no one hears me call for help?" Her voice rose slightly. "Or—or what if I slip and die?" she added, louder now. Zev rubbed his face with his palms before letting out a low chuckle that slowly bloomed into quiet, almost wild laughter. "Oh, woman," he said. "How would you wake up from the dead to tell me?" The question hung there, making her feel foolish for a moment. "Really… it's sad," she continued. "I don't know what's happening in the world anymore." She inhaled heavily before going on. "I don't know what's trending, what my friends are doing, what people are wearing—nothing." "I just know you come home around ten," she said dully, "and I'll probably have scrambled eggs for breakfast tomorrow." "What?" He softened instantly. "You don't like scrambled eggs? You know you can eat anything you want, babe." "It's not the eggs," she said quietly. "I'm just… tired of the loneliness." "My love," he murmured, stepping closer, "no one out there deserves someone like you. You're a queen." "Yeah," she replied bitterly. "A queen without a real kingdom—or people to lead." "What?" he asked gently. "You want me to employ a hundred people so you won't feel alone, my love?" "No, Zev… you don't get it." Her voice dropped before she sank back onto the bed, exhaustion and disappointment pulling her down with her.