Leverage

I.questions

I held myself against a brick wall, the only thing keeping me from falling, I held a hand to my mouth suppressing the groan that attempted to escape; my other hand pathetically holding my side.I felt the warmth of blood seeping though my shirt more overwhelming than the pain itself, I could feel the cold metal of the pistol tucked in the back of my jeans digging into my lower back, making my discomfort that much more prominent, though I still refused to use it.

The pouring rain washed away my tears and filled the silence around me, yet not being able to drown out the ringing in my ears from the gunshots.

I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the ground, too unmotivated to fight against the sleepiness that took over.

As the dark began to consume me, I felt a familiar hand stroke my cheek and the comforting feeling of warm leather enveloping my shoulders.

"Why?" that was the last word I uttered before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

***

"Antonella, you have gone above and beyond my expectations." Prof. Quinton beamed as she skipped over to the library table I sat at, setting her tablet, which contained my final novel draft, infront of me. The familiar smell of coffee and vanilla that she carried enveloping me.
"Really? Thank god you like it, I really tried hard to make it work." I smiled, pushing my glasses away from my face, resting on the top of my head.
"I can tell, but there's only one note I would like you to consider."

My face fell at her words but I nodded, gesturing for her to continue, she pulled a chair out and sat facing me.
"You've branched out from your comfort zone and have began writing in realistic fiction, which is already an accomplishment in itself," I cringed slightly, waiting for the 'but'.
"But I feel you can do better, you need some real adventure in your life Antonella, something to influence your writing. You're young and beautiful, you have your whole life ahead of you, cease the day and let it inspire you Antonella." Her way with words was not surprising nor was her wisdom, she was an English professor after all.
"Adventure...cease the day." I repeated, she nodded vigorously, her eyes full of wonder.
"I'm extending your deadline, and I hope your final draft is one you'd be proud to publish."
I was left at a loss for words, figuratively and literally, I had no idea where to begin.
*
*
*
"What the hell kinda adventure is a nobody without friends supposed to have?" I grumbled into my hands as I panicked.
"Chill out Tony, you have time, and you don't need friends, you have me." My best and only friend Dax patted my shoulder, the calming scent of my favourite tea making me lift my head.
"I think of going to Target to buy forks as an adventure." I stated as he wiped his hands on his apron, the soft beige fabric contrasting his dark skin; it read 'Café Carson' in black script across the chest, the campus Café creatively named after our university.
"You have to relax Tony, it's not the end of the word."
I nodded, taking a sip of the tea, it's
warmth instantly calming me.
"You're right Dax, I have time to figure something out, I have a few months to add adventure."
"Of course I'm right, and I'm right when I say you'll pull through and write something amazing."
I smiled finding comfort in the camomile tea and the words of my best friend.
"Alright well thank you for the words of wisdom and for the drink, I better get started." I sighed, standing as I pulled my laptop bag back on my shoulder, leaving some cash on the counter as I thanked Dax.

_
_

Nothing
That's exactly what I had, it's been 2 weeks and I have nothing.
I currently sat on my couch, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, sipping on a vanilla bean frappucino.
I stared at the words on the laptop screen that now seemed to have no meaning; I groaned childishly letting my head fall back on the couch, feeling like giving up on everything and watching Netflix.
My wallowing in self pity and faliure was cut short by the sudden balck out of my living room, my laptop now my only source of light.
My apartment was now completely silent and dark,
"Shit, I paid the light bill though," I grumbled as I grabbed my phone, using the flashlight to make my way around, I grabbed a battery operated light I kept for emergencies from under my kitchen sink and set it on the counter after turning it on, it was an improvement.
I stood in silence, contemplating whether to call my landlord or if I even actually paid the bill at all, maybe the whole building had lost power?
I looked out into the night, every other building still seemed to have power, I'd have to talk to my landlord Derek.
An urgent knock at the door startled me, I rested a hand on my chest, "Speak of the devil." I mumbled as I walked over to the door, basically throwing it open.
"What the hell Derek? I sent the depos-" I cut myself off as I realized it wasn't Derek.
"Oh." I mumbled, at a loss for words as I looked up at a guy about my age, he was tall, his well built body hidden by his all black attire; he had soft brown waves and matching chocolate brown eyes, a small smirk on his perfectly shaped lips, only then did I realize I was staring at him.