The security system beeps twice, disengaging the locks in one swift motion. The driver's door is then promptly opened from the outside, triggering the interior lights. A sleeved hand pops in.

​

She casually tosses her purse over unto the passenger's seat before settling herself in, closing the door. The overhead lights turn off, and in this momentary darkness, she allows herself a minute of slow, calculated breaths.

​

With her eyes closed, thinking herself elsewhere, she inhales deeply.

​

One.

​

Two.

​

Three seconds.

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Exhale.

​

One.

​

Two.

​

Three seconds.

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This little decompressing exercise ends up clouding the windshield in front of her -heavy with perspiration. She doesn't bother to wipe it, but instead plants the key into the ignition switch to get the electronics going and roll the windows down. The cool night air breezes in from all four fronts, and she welcomes it, letting it brush away the problems of today, as much as the pains from yesterday.

​

She starts the car, and slowly finds her way out of the parking lot, exchanging a tired nod with the security guard at the gate. Within minutes, she’s on the freeway already, on her way home.

​

She drives steadily, always keeping one eye on the road, with the other checking on the speedometer here and there, ensuring she never goes over the limit. When other drivers just as eager to get home overtake her, she pays no mind to their obscene remarks. She simply turns the volume of her stereo high, higher, until it drowns everything around her. Only the rattling of the windows in their steel frames is heard; can be felt throughout the whole body of the car.

​

It takes her a full sixty minutes to drive back home, but once she turns around that last corner, she’s grateful to see the house; there is no one waiting for her inside.

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She parks the car with ease in the exterior garage, but waits for her song to end before killing the engine. Having gathered her things, she steps out and heads for the house, locking the car doors behind her with a flick of her wrist. The security system beeps twice.

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She’s thinking of a warm bath, maybe even a glass of wine.

​

***

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I wait a few minutes in the back seat, giving her time to settle. From within the house, all but one light is off.