[Fic] Original. G. Routine
Routine
by monitor screen
It is the same every day.
You will return to the apartment building, keying in password at the gate if it is late, smiling to the doorman if it is early. The echo of your heels will follow you, steady and rhythmic, as you cross the lobby to the elevator.
You will look into the mailbox as you pass, paying heart when it is seemingly vacant, even as you open it to check for mail anyway.
You will wait in front of the elevator quietly, gaze resting simply on the number panel. You will not listen for the swing of the gate behind you. You will give a small smile when the doors open, to the empty space or distant faces alike.
You will press the button for your own floor, stepping back to make room should there be other people coming in. You will keep a polite smile, and will not look at their faces. You will not search for familiarity.
You will exit at your floor, turning straight to your door. You will test the doorknob, merely for the sake of having something to do, as your other hand fishes for the keys. You will stop at the entrance to turn on the light, and you only glance on the floor to make sure you do not trip. Even if you habitually do not leave anything around the entrance for you to trip over.
You will change out of your work clothes, and cook up some food, and go over your evening routine. You will not scan over the room, or glance at the entrance, every time you come out of the kitchen or bathroom or bedroom. Through the quiet of the night, you will not pay attention when the beep of the elevator is heard through your solid wooden door.
Eventually you will decide to call it a day and go to bed. You will not limit yourself to only one side of it, and you will cuddle up all the covers. You will lay and listen to your own breathing, until exhaustion drag you down into oblivion.
You will wake up to see the outside lighting up, and will sigh in content for the warm weight settling around your waist in the form of your blanket. You will freshen up, and dress, and prepare for the day.
You will carefully lock your door as you leave, and smile at the mirror as you give yourself a last once-over in the moments waiting for the elevator to arrive. You will head straight for the bus stop, shrugging in the crisp cool wind.
Because every day is the same.