While walking down the street, I ran into my old roommate for the first time since moving out. Marie was breathtaking. It’s one of the reasons I moved out. Because behind that radiant visage lies a viper, curled and ready to strike.
When I first moved in, the place was clean and orderly. She had steady work, and a few plans. Wrapped up in a few of them was her girlfriend, Monica. I nicknamed her Moany because of how loud she was in bed. Moany was not on Marie’s level by any stretch of imagination. I kept it to myself, but I knew this relationship was not going to last.
As organized and motivated as Marie was, Moany was the opposite. She left clothes lying around, had odd jobs here and there, but mostly just smoked pot and lounged in her ever present jogging pants. This really set Marie off. The arguments they had over the future and how life should be were epic.
One night, after getting rip-roaring drunk, they came home laughing and carrying on. I could hear their muffled voices coming up from the living room below. Joviality, however, soon became bestial. Their yelling became grunting and guttural and I snuck a peek.
Marie was pinning Monica down face first, using her weight to trap her. She cried while choking her. I told you that Marie was breathtaking and I meant it. I watched her kill the woman she loved in a drunken fit, and more.
She devolved after that. I heard it said that various hunting peoples believed that they inherited their prey’s characteristics after the kills. She must have, because she trashed the apartment, quit her job, and stayed drunk day-in and day-out. When she ate food, she’d look through her dirty dishes to find the cleanest ones. When she changed clothes, she’d smell the crotch to find the least offensive. I couldn’t stay there any longer.
So, I found a new roommate, and honestly I’m much happier now. Claudia is an inspiring artist. I love watching her paint. She’s clean, but not too. She’s single, and she really just lives in the moment. I’ve truly enjoyed being there.
But now, seeing Marie out and about again, I have to admit that she looks great... It makes me wonder how she made it through, or if it’s all just pent up inside.
I smile a little and make eye contact briefly while we walk past, and I see the viper in her eyes come out. She says not a word, and I quickly look away. Perhaps, I’ll visit her again soon.
But not right now. Right now, it’s 4:30, and Claudia’s showing will be ending in half an hour. That’s just enough time to go grocery shopping before she gets home. A little Camembert, soft bread and red wine will make for a nice quiet night.
I’m just able to slip into the attic when I hear Claudia’s car pull into the driveway.
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