Negatives

The crystalline water bent and swirled at the mercy of the ship’s structure. A girl stood on deck, staring at the bliss sky.

‘If I could ask for one thing, it would to give god back this offered life.’

She took out a camera from the shoulder slung bag and balanced her device on her suitcase as her forefingers played with the shutter and aperture dials .  

Her eyes flowed from left to right as the city lights came into view across the horizon. A boy, an immature five year old boy in her opinion based off his pervy stare, was standing with a camera lenses pointed at her.

‘Oh, what a joy, it’s not even twenty-four hours and I have an idiot stalker.’

The ship pulled to a halt with a stair extended to the deck. The girl pushed her camera back into the depths of her bag as the guy walked towards the stone subway entrance.

____________________________________________________________

The sun made its entrance with rays of light floating through the plastic blinds. The cellphone’s digital morphed sound rang in her ears as she sat on the couch in that tiny box called of an apartment. With her eyes closed and pressed into the pillowcase her hand grabbed the slick technology and pressed the silent button.

It was placed back onto the small side table beside her makeshift bed as she rubbed her sleep glazed eyes. She yawned and walked into the bathroom after the coffeepot was boiling its contents on the plug-in stove. The black and long hair of many years was tied into a high ponytail as she swayed to the usual tunes on the morning rock radio station. She took her toothbrush and rubbed the minty paste along her gums as she made her daily evaluations of her reflection.

‘Ugh, you look fine. Maybe a bit more bloated or lumpy around the hips but anyone who constantly changes being vegan or carnivore gets a little weird.’

The brush dropped from her hand onto the sink counter and she spat out the goopy slosh in her mouth.

‘Meh, you don’t need to shower this morning, you did last night.’

She walked out of her bathroom and was greeted by the whistles of the boiling water. Her usual mug of instant coffee sat on the table by the couch, with a pale man around her age lying on the floor reading one of her many photography books.

“Hey, Arctic.” She said as she sat on the couch.

“Hello, my fine lady.” He rolled  on to his back and crossed his arms behind his head.

“Hello, my stupid pixie,” She motioned her eyes towards his blue dragonfly wings, “what blessing are you giving to me on this fine day?”

“I thought you might need my expertise for sighting beautiful beaches and rustic building only to be featured in your blessed talent.”

“Sorry, I only speak in American english,” she sipped the coffee in her mug.

He frowned and squinted his eyes at her, “I mean, do you need me to help with your current project.”

“Not really, I have until next month.”

“Never too early.” He turned to face away from her and he reached his fingers at the light coming through the window.

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to redo any part in your life?” His barely aged face remained dormant, contorted with  frustration.

“Not really, that’s why I’m in this city.” She rolled her eyes.

“Well, that’s why I’m here. I want to learn more about humans; they can change so suddenly and drastically.” He stood as she pulled her sneakers on.

‘I want to get to know you.’

“We’re not that interesting.” She loaded a new roll of film into her camera and walked towards the door. He held up his camera and took a picture of her while she engaged in her daily routine to leave for work.

‘I want to know more about you too.’

“Coming?”

“Yes,”  He walked to her and hugged her, “thanks, you’re that thing your kind calls each other, I think it’s best friend.”

She hugged him back, trying to avoid smashing her camera against the open door.

“Yeah, you’re mine too.”

‘And maybe by the next New Years I can finally experience what change is.’