March 15th 2014. Dear diary…
It's been exactly one year since we went to Italy. One year since Alex created her bad side who tried to take over the world, one year since we found out how bad Alex felt about herself, so bad that she felt she had to change herself to please all of us.
We had the chance to listen then, and we thought we did, but we clearly didn't listen well enough.
One year, it took only one year and everything has changed.
Nothing is the same anymore…
The heavy rain beat down on the window as thunder rattled in the distance, it continued to get stronger along with the rain which was now violently striking Harper's eardrums as it smacked against the thin glass. She looked up from her old tattered pink journal and peered through the gap in her long black drapes, the rainfall smothered her window and blurring her view of the city. Harper rose from her bed and pondered the mess masking her bedroom floor, various items of clothing had been lashed on to the floor along with candy bar wrappers and empty bottles of water and beer. Harper shrugged her shoulders and yawned, "I'll clean it tomorrow."
From her cramped bedroom Harper dragged herself into the lounge of her apartment. Like her bedroom, it was very small and it was untidy. More clothes and accessories were spread around the bland white painted room, from a sweater hanging from the arm of the couch to the handbag and shoes lying next to the kitchen island. As Harper strolled out of her room, she ran her finger along the small television set and looked at the collection of dust resting on the tip of her finger before launching herself on to the black leather couch. She reached over for the pack of cigarettes sat next to her and carefully placed one in between her chapped lips.
"I need a light," she muttered strolling over to the kitchen and kneeling next to the stove. She turned the knobs several times before the hob lit and gradually she edged her face closer until the end of the cigarette brushed against the small flickering flame.
When it was lit she pulled herself up before taking a long drag of the smoke, Harper was instantly relaxed as the nicotine flowed through her nostrils and she watched intently as it flowed slowly through the air in front of her before flicking on the coffee pot and grabbing her phone of the counter. As black coffee spurted from the spout into the chipped mug Harper read her cell screen.
One voice mail at 10:02 am.
Harper glanced at the time, it was now 1:15pm. "Oh shit," Harper held her cell to her ear as the last drop fell from the coffee pot and she took her first sip of the bitter black liquid.
'One message from Justin Russo left today at 10:02am, press one to listen.' The monotoned woman stated, Harper rolled her eyes and pressed the screen.
"Hey Harper, it's Justin!" He chirped, "long time no see huh? Just calling to check you're okay, none of us have heard from you for awhile and well, we miss you. Why don't you stop by the sub shop sometime? We can all catch up. Okay, well, hopefully see you soon. Bye."
A long beep playing in Harper's ear before the monotoned woman returned, 'End of message. To listen again press one, to delete press two or to return call press three.'
Harper slammed her phone down and took another drag of her cigarette and a cold breeze past over her. A shiver ran down her spine and Harper cringed as she felt a cold breath shoot down the nape of her neck, spinning around Harper ended up face to face with her own reflection in a gold rimmed mirror hanging slanted on the empty wall. In the far corner Harper spotted someone dodging her gaze, the end of their long locks flowing behind them as they ran out of sight.
Harper remain fixated on the mirror, but after several moments of stillness she turned around only to find herself alone.