Spinning

Heartaches, just like people, are different for everyone. One person could be sad over a breakup while another might be broken hearted because they're far away from their loved ones. Mariana's reason? Unknownness. She'd just graduated with a graphic design diploma yet was working as a receptionist at an art gallery. Surrounded by art works made her melancholic. She longed to create her own and for people to look upon them like they did at the Mona Lisa... Or maybe not that far. The Mona Lisa is unique. Leonardo Da Vinci knew exactly what he was doing when he painted her; he gave her life. Mariana thought every night about how a person like her could ever create something so full of life when she felt like she had none herself. A usual day consisted of waking up, hastily putting on her uniform like clothing and combing through her messy brown locks.

No makeup, no second look in the mirror, a skincare routine that was falling apart just as she was. She had no time to properly get ready in the morning. Her main focus was eating a healthy breakfast, packing lunch to not eat crappy fast food during the day and trying to leave as early as possible to make it to work in time because of the dreadful traffic. Life was uneventful. Everyday was the same. Routine killed her and was burying her an inch deeper every morning. Work was worse, not many people even went to the art gallery most days so she'd just sit there at the reception and stare outside or research other programs to study because maybe she'd be interested in something else, and usually, she was. Everyday something new came to mind yet she knew it was simply because she was so unhappy with her life now that she was desperately trying to find something that would change it up a little.

On a Tuesday morning, she rushed through the art gallery entrance after getting to work nearly 30 minutes late. It didn't happen often but when it did, it was not a good thing at all. Her co-worker lectured her, her boss glared at her and as much as she tried to explain how it wasn't her fault, they didn't believe her. Tired with putting up a fight, Mariana sat down at her seat, feat up and cellphone in hand, scrolling down her news feed where almost all of the people she'd gone to high school with, were posting photos of their fun lives at university or of their happy relationships. She turned her phone off and turned the chair to stare outside as usual. People walked past, they looked inside but never stopped to come in. In a metaphorical sense, it was as if no doors were opening up for her, like there was no hope.

After nine hours of sitting around and having to do all of her co-worker's work that she'd been too lazy to do, Mariana finally stepped foot outside. It was cold and drizzling. Hazel eyes looked up at the cloudy sky and through slightly chapped lips, a long, dreadful sigh escaped. Rainy days were Mariana's favourite but for some reason today, it just made her want to cry. When she got inside her small black car, she just sat there, watching the raindrops race each other to the end of the windshield and listening closely to the pitter-patter of the rain falling on the roof of the car. It was then that the tears began to spill. All she'd been trying to hold back for so long had finally and completely taken its toll over her. Nothing was right. She desperately wanted out of this 9 to 5. She wanted to do something she loved but had no clue what that was.

A text from her best friend, Stacy, a girl with long dark hair and the most perfect fringe in existence, flashed on the screen of her phone, pulling her down from the sad thoughts that clouded her mind. Mariana wiped the tears from her cheeks and read the text. 'We're having a little get together on Friday for Steven's birthday. Are you free?' Steven was her Stacy's boyfriend, the guy she spent all of her time with but it was acceptable, they had been together for nearly 5 years and things were just now getting pretty serious. Mariana replied with a simple: 'Yeah, I'll be there.' And was later followed up with all the details necessary. She huffed. At least she could look forward to something this week. It'd been awhile since the last time she had spent a day with her friends, mostly because her life had been a rollercoaster that had trouble picking up speed to go up. Mariana preferred being alone so as to not be a downer for everyone else yet she didn't realize that her friends really didn't mind, that they wanted to help.

The next three days leading up to Friday night were excruciating. It was so tiring to just sit around with nothing to do. If it wasn't for the fact that she had to pay for her car, computer and help her parents with rent, she would have quit a long time ago. Going to work and doing nothing may seem like heaven to some people but Mariana would rather be running circles then sitting down and scrolling through facebook to keep her occupied. She could do that at home. This was supposed to be different. She'd been told it was when they hired her but instead all of those tales turned out to be lies and she had to stick with the job for at least 6 months. Three months down, an eternity to go or at least that's just how it seemed. As soon as 5 rolled around, she was already dressed up for the get together which was at 6 and all the way across town at Steven's favourite restaurant he'd found one day on one of many of his photography adventures.

She arrived just in time as everyone was greeting Steven who looked slightly awkward, rocking side to side on his long thin legs and ruffling his shaggy dark hair time to time. Stacy was the first person to give Mariana a hug and say hello, everyone else followed promptly, happy to see her. Mariana reached Steven and gave him the present she'd bought for him. He was grateful and set it aside with the others on a spare table. Everyone took a seat around the large table that was decorated rather beautifully; rustic flowers as the centerpiece, four candles placed in a perfect row, tiny hand written name cards that Stacy had organized. Each little card on top of all the plates so everyone knew where they sat. Steven was ecstatic. Stacy had really made this night special. Mariana was watching them when Steven pulled out his phone from his pocket and looked disappointed.

"Tony can't make it." He said to Stacy.

Mariana was confused. She knew all of Steven's friends because of Stacy. They were her friends too but she never knew of anyone named Tony.

"Who's Tony?" She asked.

"He's a new bud," Steven replied, "Met him not too long ago. Pretty cool guy, you'd get along with him well."

"He's in a band." Stacy beamed.

"How on earth did you meet a guy who's in a band?" Mariana asked laughing.

Steven and Stacy both started laughing. They took turns telling her how they'd met. Apparently they met at the movies when Tony had decided to watch the new Star Wars movie for a second time by himself. They all hit it off so well that they kept in contact. Most of the time, Tony and Steven would go on adventures around the city together to do photoshoots which is how they became so close. Mariana listened and was pretty excited about someday meeting Tony. Stacy and Steven made him sound like a really awesome guy and she wanted to judge for herself.

The birthday celebrations continued after that. Dinner was amazing, desert was a heavenly custard pie topped with strawberries and blueberries drizzled in dark chocolate. The cake came at the end. Everyone gawked at it when the waitress brought the cake out. It had two layers, was decorated with chocolate meringue and a large candle on top. The guests took turns taking photos with Steven and then sang happy birthday before he blew out the candles. Mariana ate the slice of cake she was given while watching everyone and thinking about how lucky all of them were. They all had jobs they liked. All of them had their own place. They had a vibrant social life and none of them felt unsure of their future.

One of her other friends leaned over to her and started speaking with her. That friend's name was Julia, she had shoulder length golden hair and these big brown eyes that made her look like a porcelain doll. Julia asked Mariana about work and life in general. Mariana bit back the first words that crossed her mind as soon as the words left Julia's mouth. She faked a smile and lied, saying that everything was great. Julia knew what she was doing but played along because she understood why Mariana chose to lie; to not kill the mood. Until the end of the night, Mariana interacted well with everyone as usual and bid them all farewell until God knows when. Stacy gave her a hug again and Steven thanked her for coming.

"Wait! Are you busy tomorrow?" Stacy called out to Mariana before she got in her car.

Mariana looked up at her, with a cocked brow shook her head 'no' and waited for Stacy to say whatever it was she was going to say.

"Tony's coming over, something about wanting to make it up to Steven, and I really want you to meet him."

"But he's going for Steven. I don't-"

"You won't," Stacy said, "He wants to meet you. It's fine. Just come, okay?"

Mariana sighed and said she'd be there. Stacy excitedly told Steven who simply shook his head with laughter before waving goodbye to Mariana and hoping in his car with Stacy riding shotgun. Mariana stayed in the parking lot for a while. She was sort of glad that she had something else to do and that she was going to meet a new person that her two closest friends spoke highly of.

Notes

PTV released Circles and it gave me the boost I've been waiting to write. Every time I listen to PTV I get out of my writers block, there's no other way.