Prologue
"Goooood morning, Metropolis. The time is now six o'clock, and it's already turning out to be a beautiful Wednesday morning..."
Lana grumbled from under her sheets. Twenty-seven years of age, and she still wasn't used to these early mornings. She flipped onto her back and kicked the covers off to the end of the bed. Maybe she could take the day off…go on that much-needed vacation.
"And here's some music to start off the working day. This is for you Phantom Planet fans..."
She sighed and pushed her stiff body off the bed. Who was she kidding? Even if she could take the day off, she wouldn't. She had people to help and appointments to keep. Her job was her life, and the life of a psychiatrist wasn't easy.
It was paying off, however. Only after a few short years, Lana Lang had become known as one of the best in the state, and she couldn't risk losing her reputation now. She was on her way up.
I could tell from the minute I woke up
It was gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day.
Rise and shine rub the sleep out of my eyes
And try to tell myself I can't go back to bed
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day.
Lana turned the volume dial up on the radio before shuffling her way across the floor to the bathroom. Three more days she told herself. Just three days until the weekend. It seemed lately that all she lived for was a break from work.
It never used to be like this. She used to love waking up in the morning and making her way downtown to her comfy office on the corner. Over the years that ten block commute grew longer and longer every passing day. She never walked to work anymore but instead, opted to take the bus.
Even though the sun is shining down on me and I should feel about as happy as can be
I just got here and I already want to leave
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day.
The steam from her shower wafted across the tile floor as she stepped out and turned the water off. Now with her robe on and her hair in a towel, the young psychiatrist stood in front of her mirror, makeup in hand.
After getting dressed, her growling stomach led her to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, Lana picked up a yogurt and a spoon from an adjacent drawer. She leaned up against the kitchen counter and finished her breakfast while listening to the calming music drifting out from her bedroom.
Everybody knows that somethin's wrong
But nobody knows what's going on
We all sing the same old song
When you want it all to go away
It's shaping up to be a lonely day
Lana made herself some coffee for the road. It smelled wonderful and for the first time that morning, Lana let a small smile grace her lips. She made her way over to the balcony with her steaming mug and looked down upon the city.
The view was the reason she had bought the apartment. Not that she ever truly had time to admire such things like sunsets and midnight skies. Such trivial and ephemeral things…
When she was little, her aunt used to take her to the countryside every once in a while. A weekend they had all to themselves. It was a time that she would forever cherish.
By the end of the day though, Lana knew where she belonged. She looked down once more upon the movement of the fast-paced city life. Metropolis was her home, and everything that she valued was here.
"That was 'Lonely Day' by Phantom Planet and once again, you are listening to Metro Star on 99.9. And now onto the daily news…"
Lana looked down at her watch. Quarter of seven. Sighing to herself, she made her way back inside, leaving the balcony doors swinging open behind her.
Grabbing her shoulder bag and folding the newspaper under her arm, she looked around her apartment once more. And closed the door on her way out.
"Today, the talk of the town is centered around the reclusive founder and C.E.O. of Swann Communications. Apparently, late last night the billionaire left his New York City mansion after years of isolation and arrived in Metropolis early this morning for what is as of now unknown reasons…"