Bellingham Excerpt - 07/26/2022

"Really?” Liz asked. The question disappeared into the familiar hum of the fan blowing at hurricane speed in the small room. The morning was crisp and didn’t necessitate the need for a fan, but she was ingrained to have it on at all times, even if that meant wearing sweats to sleep in. She rolled over to turn off the alarm and look at the clock which read 3:30 a.m. Liz was normally an early riser, but this morning called for an extra early wake up. Reluctantly, she peered over to see her bag sitting on the nightstand. The clothes for today’s travel laid there, meticulously picked out down to the highly patterned socks and oxfords. She quietly slipped out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead.

Why on earth would I book such an early flight? She thought, trudging through her morning routine. Routine. That’s what she was used to in life. Going through the same motions, day in and day out. She had gotten very good at routine. Two minutes of brushing her teeth, followed by flossing. A quick wash of the face, followed by exfoliating lotion, and then her daily moisturizer. A quick fixing of her hair, that was mostly done the night before, and then five minutes of makeup. Not too much, but just enough to look like she actually slept well. It was all down to a science. A science that required no thinking whatsoever. This “science” carried into almost every aspect of her life. She learned early on that some change can be dangerous, and her desire for change can lead to pain, regret, and failure.

She finished getting ready, grabbed her bag and made her way downstairs. The kitchen was dimly lit by a snowman night light that resembled a classic snow globe. On the counter, beside the coffee pot, she found a note with a bottle of water. Liz picked up the bottle and crammed it into her bag. She unfolded the note and read, Make sure you stay hydrated up in those mountains. Love, Mom.

- Samual Curtis