Authors Note: It's been awhile since I've really done any writing; aside from These are the Moments and I feel like I need to work on some things. While going through some boxes, I found a book of writing prompts and decided to try them using Ruth. Of course, the hardest part is I get 10 minutes to write and I can't edit so this is all free flowing through my mind. The following story is completely AU and will not follow the storyline of the show - though moments from episodes may pop up. The prompt for this one was "No matter what I do" has to begin your piece.
Let me know what you think and if I should bother continuing after this or not.
No matter what I do, I always manage to find the most absolute worst men to date. That's not me being dramatic; that's me telling the truth. If they aren't married then they've got some hidden quirk that is so unbelievable a relationship would never work. Not a normal quirk either like picking their nose at dinner or talking about their ex the entire first date; no, that would be something one could get over if they really liked the person. No, I'm talking about things like hacking into computer systems and causing the deaths or injuries of innocent people. Not by accident either; the deaths not the hacking; but because they were greedy. You think I'm kidding; I can just imagine the look on your face now; but I'm not. That last man that asked me to dinner made this wonderful meal. It was a stressful time; what with all that was going on; but dinner was pleasant and the conversation wasn't as strained as first dates usually are for me. Then he had to go and do something stupid like handcuff me to the banister in his front hall. Granted I was trying to call someone to put an end to his dastardly deeds but did he really need to handcuff me to the banister? If he'd wanted me in handcuffs, all he had to do was ask ... okay and not kill innocent people. That was the game changer and I knew there wouldn't be a second date. Well, that and the fact that he was dead on the floor by morning. Killed by his own greed. I think maybe I should just give up on dating. At least for awhile. It's not as though the man I dream about will ask me out to dinner; he'd rather stare at me out his office window.
Hitting publish before she could delete that last line, Ruth watched as the site updated. When she'd agreed to do this, she had promised that she'd be honest and share her true thoughts - even if the world thought she was creating a piece of fiction. Her friend had come up with the idea as a way for Ruth to express her thoughts and feelings and try to get over her shyness in opening up to people. And she did have to agree, there was something freeing about sharing her innermost thoughts in cyber land. Addison; the friend who had suggested this; had wanted her to write a book that she could publish but Ruth had been completely against the idea. Never one to be deterred, Addison had suggested the creative writing forum as a way to share the ideas and thoughts. Especially since they had workshops where prompts were given and the writers had to fit their post into the prompt.
Nervous; especially with what she saw on a daily basis; Ruth had finally consented. But only on the stipulation that she was completely anonymous. Addison had been quick to agree and so Ruth had spent an entire weekend creating a watertight legend for the fiction site. She didn't expect her colleagues or anyone else who knew her to visit the site but still, if one did, they wouldn't find a record of Ruth Evershed there. And no one but Addison would ever know her as Jamie Pearson. But being who she was, Ruth was even more careful with her identity and made sure never to use her personal PC at home or any PC in the office to access the site. Three times a week she journeyed to various Internet Cafes and logged into the site to complete her writing prompts. And each time she left she was sure to wipe the history on the PC; running a little program that Colin had written to ensure her history was never known. One could never be to safe.
Looking at her watch, she saw it was getting late. Gathering her things, she quickly stuffed them into the bag she had with her and stood from the table. If she hurried, she could get home in time to see the documentary that was airing tonight. Without taking anyone around her in, she hurried out the door never seeing the man sitting four seats over watching her.