A Split Heart: Part 1
#3 of Heart
The room was silent, save for a steady click-click-clack as wolfen fingers danced over a computer keyboard. The grey wolf was tired, but he didn't realize it. He was often up late and was so used to being tired that he had to get especially fatigued before he realized that he needed rest. For once the wolf was actually typing up a paper rather than suffering the web as he usually did. Well, it was the afternoon, not evening, so the temptation wasn't as great. He usually spent his time on the internet after eleven o'clock until half past one or later. Although all of this needs clarification: he was typing a paper, but a Firefox browser was open, too. He was checking his profile to see if anyone had replied to comments he had put up the day before. He didn't want anyone to know that he was a member of the particular website, but he was home alone. His brother, of a rather paler shade of grey than the rest of the family, was at work and wouldn't be home until six at the earliest; later, if he went out with friends. Some days he didn't see his brother at all. His dad had the day off, but the older wolf was at the Centre with the young student's mom.
The wolf ran his right hand through his headfur as he stared at the screen. Just a couple more sentences, he thought, and I'm finally done. After another twenty seconds of thought, he typed out thirty or so more words and hit Ctrl-S. His task was finally over. I'll take this downstairs to print later, he thought. He had been working on the computer in his room, but the only printer in the house was hooked up to the computer in the basement. He clicked back to Firefox (still nothing) and then went to the bathroom. He hadn't wanted to interrupt the writing process and had been holding it for a while. Unfortuntately for him, the sound of him closing the door covered the sound of another door opening.
*
The old grey wolf sighed as he entered the house. The day hadn't been too trying so far, but he was almost constantly tired. He put in long days between time at work and time at the Centre. He had finally managed to get home at 3:30 after leaving the house at ten to eight that morning. His daughter had come to spend time with her mom, so he had a few hours to himself.
He was confused at first as to where his son was; the car was in the driveway, so he had to be here. He saw the bathroom light on as he went to his room, though, and deduced that Mike must be in there. Uncharacteristically, he didn't say, "Hi," on the way past. The aging canine noticed Mike's bedroom door, across the hall from his own, was open. Mike almost always shut it on the way out, which was just as well. His dad could forget about the mess behind it. However, the glowing computer monitor (actually a small TV, not that it was ever used as such) reminded him that he wanted to pay a bill in his pocket online. He went to Mike's room; it was closer than the downstairs computer, he had used the computer there before, and it was his computer anyway, despite being in Mike's room. He sat down to see a web page already open and glanced at it before moving the mouse up to the address bar.
The cursor stopped midjourney. His mind processed what his eyes were seeing. No, it couldn't be. But, no one else could have opened this site, and he recognized the display picture. The same one was on the computer's log in screen for Mike's name. He heard the toliet flush just as he stepped out through the hall to his room, his mind still in a daze.
*
Jess stepped into her house with a slight spring in her step. She had just worked another eight hour shift, but tomorrow she finally had a day off. She was looking forward to the rest. Her tail wagged slightly as she considered it. She considered calling up Mike or Jake, her boyfriend. She didn't know if she just wanted to relax or share her time with someone. Jake had been wanting to get together again and possibly watch a movie or something, but she hadn't seen Mike since before he started university this semester. They had gone on a road trip to visit Mike's grandma. Jess had really enjoyed it, and had never had so much food forced upon her. Just thinking about it brought a smile to her face.
She decided to leave that decision until tomorrow when she knew more about how tired she was. She only had plans to relax that night. She quickly sat down on the couch in the living room and flipped on the TV. Her feet were killing her. Work really took a lot out of a girl, she reflected.
That was as far as she got before there was a knock on the door. The vixen was confused. Her mom would just come in without knocking, so she was at a loss. Who could it be? she wondered. She reluctantly got up and padded to the door. She almost gasped at the sight that greeted her when she opened it.
There will be a part two to this story. I would have done it all here, but I need to get some sleep. I'm up bright and early again tomorrow despite having finished the last day of classes this semester. Ugh. Oh, well, I brought it on myself. Sorry if the depressing bends to my story are getting predictable. I just need a vent, and I really don't want to vent about the things I need to vent about to anyone I know in person. I'm not ready to take that step, so it's all going on here. Once again, real people, made-up circumstances. For anyone who hasn't figured it out, the grey wolf, Mike, is representative of me. Maybe I'll journal about how parallel we are at some point.
Anywho, thanks to those who are watching me. Only three of you right now, but you guys inspired me to keep writing. Thanks for that. :) Any and all feedback is welcome. No, encouraged. I really want to know what people think. Oh, and sorry if my titles suck. Titles never come easily to me. Anyone who can find mistakes or whatever gets brownie points from this aspiring English teacher (me). Did my best though. I'll finish this (hopefully) soon. And the other stories are on hold, not abandoned. If you want more from them soon though, you'll need to say so. Otherwise, I'll probably keep writing "heart" stories or other one time things for the time being. Anyway, leave me something. I'm a little lonely, and I'm on here everyday. And kudos to anyone who read this much stuff that isn't part of the story. You're awesome for going through all this crap.