"Simplification" | Part 3 of 3
The final mini-chapter of Abigail's 3-part "Simplification" journey...
Table of Contents:
Simplification Part 3
The next morning Abigail readied herself not to attend the press conference. Fuck it, had been her revelation earlier that morning. Dave simply didn’t get it. Sure, he’d been good to her overall, despite their differences in opinion over the years, but it seemed their relationship would be just another sacrifice the true artist inside of her would have to make.
As she pulled on pants that were loose on her un-curved frame, she stroked the skin of her new thigh, touching an unfamiliar patch of spidery veins. She pinched it, revealing craters of cellulite. Funny, Abigail thought. Figured this stick-leg wouldn’t have any. She released her pinch, leaving her skin with the dull ache that foreshadowed a bruise.
Abigail walked out of her apartment, heading across the street to finally get some work done. Eff the caffeine restriction, eff the press conference. She found herself swinging her hips back and forth until she remembered she didn’t have any hips. Eff Perry, eff David.
She walked up to the counter. “Drip coffee, black.” Abigail usually ordered a sage-vanilla-lavender oat milk latte. Oughta have a plain order to match the plain-skin suit.
She felt her phone buzz and pulled it out while the barista filled her order.
David: I’m picking you up in an hour.
Abigail sent back:
Good morning to you, too.
The barista handed Abigail her coffee. She glanced between the cup in her hand and the line growing at the pick-up counter. Points for black coffee.
She took a gulp and nearly choked. Abigail’s mouth shriveled up as it rebelled against the acidity, thick saliva pouring down her throat quick enough to kill a flame. She finished swallowing with some effort and quickly cut back in line to ask for a muffin and the largest cup of water they had.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Writer in Progress to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.