Auctioned

Allison

I hum a song playing through my radio speakers as I pull into my designated parking spot of the Apartments, my spirits high.  Today was an awesome day, and it was something I desperately needed after a week of night terrors.

     
      Stretching as I go, I climb out of the car and make my way to my apartment.  I wince as I make it to the paved walkway that leads to the stairs, a sharp pain spiking up my back.  I’m totally sore from hauling bags of dog food.

      I take the stairs slowly, feeling the strain of the day on my muscles.  I don’t mind it, though.  It feels good to just feel; even if it is because I’m sore.  It lets me know I’ve had a productive day.  Even if all I did was lift dog food all day, it makes me happy.  Helping the dogs gives my life special meaning.

      I take in a deep breath, still clinging to that happy feeling, but at the same time I feel a sadness trying to creep in.  A sadness that is trying to remind me of what my life could be.  I hate it.

      I reach the door of my apartment and try to push that unwelcome feeling away, taking out my keys.  I’m about to unlock the door when I look up to see the mailman coming my way with a small box in his hand, along with an electronic signature pad in the other.

      I furrow my brow as he approaches, wondering what’s in the box.  I’m absolutely certain that I haven’t ordered anything in the past few days.

   
      I take both and quickly scribble my name and hand it back over to him.
      He smiles at me again as he hands me the box.  “Thank you Miss , have a wonderful day.”
      “Thank you,” I reply absently, my eyes still on the box in my hands.  “You, too.”

      With the box tucked under my arm, I open the door and kick it shut behind me.  I turn it in my hands, the keys jingling as I toss them onto the kitchen table and look for the address label.  There’s no return address listed, but I recognize the sender's name.  Kiara.  A smile graces my lips as I plop down into my seat.  She’s such a freaking sweetheart.  She knows this past week has been rough, and it’s not unusual that we give each other a little gift here and there when we’re going through something hard.

      I instinctively look past my kitchen and into the cozy living room at the wooden owl on the bottom of my end table.  It was a gift from Kiara.  She knows I love crows.  I think it’s a door stopper, but it looks just right where I put it.

      My place is a nice, one-bedroom apartment with a spacious, open floor plan.  It’s not cheap, but it’s not too expensive either, considering it’s in the city.  The kitchen and living room join seamlessly with one another.  There’s a large sliding glass door at the end of the living room that leads to a small patio.  There are two windows with sheer curtains on either side of the couch.  I always keep the curtains open because I like the sunlight.  It helps keep the darkness away.  I went a long time without sunshine, and I’ll never take such a simple thing for granted again.

I filled this place with warm pink that seem to pop out at you.  I use pink because I’ve always heard that it helps with depression.  Just seeing the color stimulates endorphins that make you happy.  And I want to be happy.  More than anything; it’s all I want.

      My eyes stray back to the box and I wonder again what it is.  Deep down, I know this is something different.  Something… special.

      There’s only one way to find out.
      I walk over to the cabinet and retrieve a letter opener and then come back to the box.  My heart racing in my chest, I pry it open.