Life sucks.

 It is a universal truth. I don't need anyone's affirmation or factual evidence to support my argument.

However, the person with frustrated minds and a mountain of stress weighing them down will do the trick.

So in short, Life sucks.

My choice of vocabulary is a censored version of the colourful words I have my mind to describe, but not everyone cares to choose the less offensive words when life is sucking the enthusiasm and lively out of them like a blood-sucking leech. 

My heart was thrashing against the rib cage while the perspiration ran deep in my bloody veins, competing against the soft melody of waves hitting the sea-shore.

 I was all fine yesterday night but shit happened when I woke up on the beach instead of the bed. I knew I was doomed. 

It was the third time in a row. First, it was the living room, then the kitchen and now the beach.  I couldn’t dare to imagine where I would find myself next time?   It was bizarre even to me from where this sleepwalking came from?

Unease slithered down my spine with the possibility of me drowning myself in my sleepwalking. I was second away to call my psychologist and gave her an earful for suggesting a vacation to cool my mind and stress level. When anything it was doing the opposite. I could imagine Lily, my psychologist and my aunt best friend, sitting behind her desk, her thick-rimmed glasses hanging low on her nose, brows furrowed, when I complained about the hurricane she suggested me in the name of vacation. She was lucky she happened to be one of the people I cared about.

I know the suggestion was one per cent of plea and ninety nine per cent blackmailing when I was found- passed out and almost dead- in my office by my best friend/bodyguard.

I wasn’t the one to fall for the trap but the worry coating in their coaxing did the wonder, and that’s how I was found myself in Buxton within twenty-four hours with no laptop or files.  The only gadget they let me had with me was my phone so they could contact me if I need anything.

Ironic to their demands, the only thing I ever needed was to work and finished my projects.

I shook my head, and threw the images of piled up work on my table, to the back of my mind.  

Caking in the white sand from head to toe, I jumped to my feet. The humid and salty air flirting with my knee-length tresses, billowing behind me like a cape.

“Oomph!” I groaned and stumbled a bit before regaining my composure.

My feet sinking down the cool bed of golden sand- ticking and teasing like never before.

I stomped towards the cabin I happened to own on the outer banks of North Carolina. One thing I was grateful for was that it happened to be a few blocks away. So I wouldn’t have to worry about someone spotting me in a loose white t-shirt with no bra on and grey short shorts.  

My mind was messed with the pros and cons of the situation, I happened to land myself into, to care about the warm red and golden hues scattered in the sky as the sun rose above the surface, painting the one’s silent sky into vivid colours.

Once home, I cemented my feet before the door, placing my hand over the small rectangle box on the upper edge. Once it scanned my print, the door slid opened with a beeping sound.

Silence greeted me with the coldness. That was once me. Cold and silent like the cabin I was living in for the past four days- without my choice might I add. 

Not ready to dwell in my thoughts and torture myself, I marched into my room- only room- to take a shower and to wash away the reminiscence of the previous day.

I showered and changed into a fresh set of t-shirt and sweatpants. I needed an outlet to lose out steam, and nothing better than a morning run. 

Typing my hair up in a high ponytail, I stepped onto my shoes before rushing out of my room to my next stop- the open kitchen.

I fixed myself a power shake to boost my energy and rushed out of the cabin with the phone that I happened to found on my kitchen counter.

Maintaining a steady rhythm, I jogged around the outer coast for an hour before stopping at the coffee shop I loved. The freshly brewed coffee aroma wafted through my nose when I stepped inside.

It felt like home. Home, an imaginary place I only heard and read into books. Something I never had in my life.

If calling the two-storey apartment in New York home, then it might contradict my previous statement. But I was past to care and feel anything. Too much work and energy got wasted in this and I would spend it to work on my projects than spending on someone fake and pretentious. I care for those who deserve it not the ones who thought being with me help them to boost about something and gain social status.

I ordered myself a cappuccino and paid quickly before making a beeline, out of the door. That’s when my phone called off. I cemented my feet beside the shop and fished out my phone from my pocket.

Without bothering to check the caller ID, I swipe the green icon.

“Hello” My voice came out cold and calculated.

“Still sulking, I see.” I heard a snickered from the other side.

“And credit goes to whom?”

“Me. Me. Me.” He chanted it like a mantra.

I rolled my eyes at the antics of my best friend and scoffed feeling irritated.

“Have anything important to say, Mike?”I tipped the cup to my lips and gulped down the hot sweetness down my throat.

My body buzzed with tingles as the caffeine hit my system.

“Oh get over it. It’s not like you will die if you won’t get to work for a week,”Mike snapped. 

I heard a tinge of concern and frustration behind his words and sighed.

“I’m going crazy here, Mikey. Book me next flight. I need to finish working on the design of king’s hotel.”

“But…”

“I’ll not exhaust myself and faint this time. I promise” I cut him off before he could voice his thoughts out.

“You better stick to it, River…”

I couldn’t hear what he said next as I stumbled forward, my phone dropping and hitting the cemented floor with a thud.

“Shit”

 “Hey, watch where you are going? Can’t you see anything?” A muscular voice hit my ear off.

Ignoring the venom and bite in his tone, I squatted down to pluck my phone. I barely grasped the broken pieces when I was gripped roughly by the arm, and spun around.

I came face to face with a handsome guy with bleached platinum hair. I turned my gaze upwards before stopping short at his pale blue eyes.

Blue, so common yet so refreshing.

“Are you deaf as well?" 

Eventually, my patience wore thin and the words tumbled from my mouth.

"I can give you the therapist's number. I know you need it more than I do."

Having been surprised by my response, he stepped back, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah, therapist, as in a person who helps you with your emotions and anger issues,” a smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and all I wanted to pat on my back for not jumping on the spot and beating him red and blue like I was doing in my mind.

“How dare you? You little...”

I knew we were past the niceness and it’s time to show him who was the real boss here?

“Nah... Nah... Nah...”I raised my palm to quieten him down, before continuing. “If I were you, I would watch your next words closely. I don’t care if you had lost some deals or were kicked out of your home. Trust me, I don’t a flying kite, but you don’t get to belittle me, pretty boy.”

I knew I had him for good as his eyes widened and lips parted at my comments; perks of spending way too much time with your therapist as her assistant. You were bound to learn tricks by analyzing their interaction with the patients, and that’s what I did. 

I observe.

Throwing the abandoned coffee in the bin, I dusted my hand and turned to leave. As I walked, I could feel him lingering on my back, but I chose to ignore it.

As I said, I don't care.