Betray The Ill

Despite all of her mental protest, Roma got herself up and began the routine of preparing for work. Her dirty attire from the previous day joined the other identical outfits in the clothes hamper before she attempted to take a quick shower. The comfort of hot water was always difficult to end, making all of her showers longer than expected.

She stopped to stare at herself in the bathroom mirror, as she did on occasion.

'I'm pretty, right?'

Roma certainly wasn't ugly. Wavy black hair that fell to her shoulders, healthy caramel skin on an average build, a smile of perfect white teeth, and bright hazel eyes. She was plenty pretty, but always made herself blend into the background. It wasn't as if Roma wanted attention, but every girl wanted someone to tell them they're pretty.

Clean and dressed in another blue dress suit, she ate a microwaved breakfast meal and checked her phone. Posts on her company's social media site always painted her coworkers in such flattering light. They always looked so happy and carefree in photos and described wonderful times they were having with family or at parties. That was the way the company liked it. Employees should never look unhappy.

Roma never had anything to post. She kept to herself and always came straight home after work if she could help it. Even avoiding the mixers the company would put on for holidays and special occasions. Although she would often quickly eat a slice of cake or grab a handful of snacks from the events before leaving.

"You have reminders set for three new books being released today," her phone said.

Roma quickly tapped her phone screen over to her bank account application but it wasn't great news.

"Reset today's reminder for next payday," she told her phone.

A beep and notification confirmed her order. Seeing the time, Roma grabbed her bag and headed for the door. As she grabbed the handle she looked back into her apartment. It always looked so empty to her.

The ringing of a little bell caught her attention. Her dog always rang the one next to the door when he wanted to go outside. Roma hadn't noticed he was there. She bent down to scratch his ears and pat his head a few times.

"I'll be back, Ruckus," Roma told him. "Just today and then we have the weekend for playtime."

He didn't want mama to leave, but Ruckus knew she would come back and he would behave while she was gone. Mama always came back.