A Morning Routine

[zuziee 4004]

Spoiler

 

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The Ponderings of a Madwoman

 

 

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Nikoleta’s skin had grown tougher, thicker, yet smoother around the edges. She had begun to notice this decline in her facial structure one morning after peering into a mirror for too long, in an attempt to make her eye bags disappear. The sudden realization that perhaps her age was catching up to her caused immense panic to fill her lungs. How had her youth fled so early?

 

Was it that dastardly man who had ruined her with a kiss, or perhaps her father’s will being cast upon her before she had even taken her first breath? Her eldest reminded her solemnly that not everything was beauty, even though she was a white crimp lily among off-colored daisies. 

 

She’d bind her brunette locks upwards to get them from her face, but ever since she began to cut her hair like a rhythmic chore, little strays always cast shadows. Today she embraced them, hoping her sunken cheeks would be hidden in the dark. 

 

Yet her aunt always seemed to notice, commenting drunkenly “My you always seem so tired these days Nicole” The name always made her shoulders tense up with unease. Her aunt was a blonde drunkard that would have spent her waking hours better as a barmaid than a courtier. “You know what could help you-” And before the woman could finish her daily routine, Nikoleta obliged and finished the sentence.

 

"What?” “Some Whiskey my dear!” her aunt cackled with glee, before disappearing into the tower along with her two children. Thus, Nikoleta continued her morning routine. Dotting rouge on her cheeks and inky-black liquid on her bottom lashes. She found the look just dramatic enough that her pale skin in the dessert lighting was impossible to notice.

 

Next, she’d carefully pick up a rather large perfume container that had been gifted to her by a brother. She never really enjoyed the scent, but she enjoyed the motion. Spraying it into the air just to glide through it. On the other side, she’d always find her favorite blonde - her nose high in the air and wafting it towards her. “My my” her voice as sweet a cherries “I love this scent - you must tell me this scent.” 

 

Nikoleta brought an arm up to the blonde’s ringlets, muttering in response; “Lavender, Vanilla, Roses and..” taking a deep breath herself, “Jasmine.” This always pleased the blonde who pressed her lips together in sugary delight - Nikoletas hand brushing right through her hair as if they never really touched. Reminding the Morovar that none of this was real.

 

Yet the blonde did not vanish, finding a seat at Nikoletas makeshift vanity and picking up a comb, which brushed through her fingers like silk, not quite being reached. Seeing this sent a shiver down Nikoleta’s spine, watching through icy eyes. 

 

She’d spin around to grab her red tunic, tying it around her waist to look up at a veiled and pale woman. The sight caused Nikoleta to jump back “Where am I..” the broken porcelain muttered, confused as always. This was an unusual occurrence, bringing hot tears to her face. “Here, you’re missing… You’re missing something.” offering up her bloody veil to Nikoleta.

 

At that, a palm raised from behind. Slamming down on the woman’s shoulder, sending shockwaves through her frozen system. “You’ve been staring at the walls again” the voice behind the hand boomed out, grasping for the perfume bottle she held and setting it down on a spare table. Then wiping the tears from under her lash line, careful to not smudge the ink any more than her tears had. 

 

Her neck craned up towards the figure behind her, before snapping back to the vanity. The women were gone, along with her family. No sign of them filled the room. All there was, was the faint breathing coming from the two figures. Her body began to shake “But I was just…” closing her eyes tight, knowing that sometimes she got caught up in her head.

 

That day she’s grab cigarette after cigarette and followed her aunt's advice.

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