THE GODDESS WITHIN: WHERE IS HOME?
Part 2 of a 3 part short story written by Jennifer Nicole
Today was a good day!
Girl you are doing a good job! Evelyn thought to herself sitting there pouring her 5th glass of Malbec. A good job trying hard not to lose it at work today. Even when, the boss was wrong to call my masterpiece trash.
“He’s the one that’s trash! Him and his whole life is a trash worth collecting.” Evelyn said sniggering while turning on her TV looking for something good to watch. Laying back down on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, keeping warm was Evelyn’s first priority for she was exhausted and hearing the ice-cold wind howling that night, made Evelyn think. Is it lost in the same way I am? Was it trying to find its mama somehow or even its daddy?
All these questions circling round in Evelyn’s head meant she was indeed missing home.
Wherever that was? Evelyn didn’t know, she moved around so much that home was always where she laid her suitcase.
All of a sudden, a rude awakening of a loud ringtone disturbed her from going through her thoughts, Evelyn’s cell phone rang like it was having an attitude for the last two hours.
“Ring…Ring”.
Spilling her glass of wine, Evelyn hurries to the kitchen counter to answer the call.
“Hey boss, what’s up?” Evelyn said fake smiling. She knew she couldn’t stand him and yet here she was fake smiling to sound proper and polite.
“I need you to do a piece on Fall season. What’s trending, what’s happening around the city. That sort of thing. Do you think you can do this tonight?”. Collin asked
“Oh Great, lucky me”. Evelyn sarcastically replied, rolling her eyes.
“Well…” Evelyn said looking around the room for an excuse. Anything to get her out of this and enjoy her night of peace.
“Great. I’ll expect it in my inbox within 72 hours”. Said Colin.
As the call ended, Evelyn felt the pressure rushing back in all over again. The pressure to be great and impress the one person she hates the most… Her new boss.
Ever since the old one left in defiance, the office hasn’t felt the same. Evelyn always asked herself, why did Collin ask to be transferred here of all places? He didn’t know anything about women or culture. He came from a sport background and was rolling in so much money, everyone called him rich farm pig. Though, if his level of arrogance is anything to go by, I guess the shoe fit.
WHERE IS HOME? Evelyn wrote on her laptop, trying to write with open eyes for today’s assignment. Though she deeply regretted that last 6th glass of Malbec.
“Ping”.
“Best Friend…Let’s go on an adventure…Beach?”
Whenever Evelyn’s best friend texted her about going somewhere, it always ended up to be the best day ever and right there she knew she couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a late-night sip and chill by the local beach watching the sunset.
“Sure, I’ll go with you. Meet me outside in 20”. Evelyn texted back.
“Being on the beach was so freeing”. Evelyn yelled as she twirled around sinking her feet deeper and deeper into the yellow golden sand. This was a place she needed to be at in this very moment.
“How is work?” Greyesha asked?
“Girl, it’s terrible, but I guess I can’t complain too much right? The weather seems nice and the water is kind of warm even if it is very windy”. Walking along the shore, Evelyn said it in such a way that made Greyesha feel like Evelyn was seeking some sort of validation or meaning from her answer.
“I mean Grey why wouldn’t I be happy? I have the perfect job that speaks loudly to my soul and I am content with my life”. Evelyn answered looking back at Greyesha.
“Hmm-mmm”. Greyesha replied.
“I am a Queen who is cracked open, my divine feminine is highly active and my inner child laughs again”. Evelyn said
“O-kay!” Greyesha answered back.
As Greyesha walked away from the shore and into the water towards the others, it dawned on Evelyn that finding her home was not about bricks and mortar and finding an address. For she had found something far greater… Her soul tribe, her kind of people that get her and understand her and what she’s going through. And for Evelyn, that’s all that mattered.
Being an editor was tough, and it meant moving around a lot for internships, work experience and for jobs to get by. It wasn’t always easy saying goodbye to her mum whenever something new came up but she sure was glad to be there when her dad died. As a person who didn’t have a great relationship with her mother, Evelyn longed for that closeness, that family love, that tight bond people have. The one she used to have with her dad.
Evelyn looked out to sea and saw her friends playing and having fun. She was hesitant to take off her cover up because she knew she wasn’t the skinniest girl in the pack, as her toxic ex and past acquaintances always pointed out to constantly remind her at every turn. Tears rolling down Evelyn’s cheek, memories of hurt and pain, gaslit fears creeping up on her, anxious behaviour flooding back in again.
“I am unstoppable!” Evelyn whispered as her eyes remained closed, still smiling and feeling the cool breeze sweep across her face.
“I am in my power”. She shouted as her friends looked on from inside the sea in confusion.
“You good sis?” Brendon yelled out
“Better show of your curves and make the boss sing.” Creseeda shouted, as the waves gently swayed against her soft skin.
Evelyn saw how carefree her friends were, how much confidence shone through as they played volleyball in the blue ocean waters. It was here, she finally noticed that being with her best friends was where home is. A feeling of safety and enjoyment, a feeling of comfort and warmth. This was what she always experienced in her friendship group.
Smiling to herself, Evelyn looked out to the orange hues of the sunset and breathed a sigh of relief for she had discovered herself again and even reminding herself that she is a boss, though she may work and live in a man’s world. She had the true power.
“Time to feel at peace in the home I have created”. Evelyn said as she took off the cover up and ran to the sea. Evelyn threw out her arms to the side feeling like she was on top of the world for she was home. Not just in this place on the beach or in the world at her apartment downtown but she was home within herself… deep within her soul.
As Cheers and claps from Evelyn’s friends echoed through the sea as they all splashed around. Evelyn knew that she had found something priceless. A blessing of having true friends to help her navigate her way through life and rediscover herself in finding out where home truly is really was something Evelyn would be eternally grateful for.
Meet Jennifer:
I grew up watching Aladdin with my dad, and it was, in this very moment, that I felt I was travelling on a journey with these Disney characters. Ever since then, all I have ever wanted to do is write stories that have purpose, meaning and storylines that matter. My main goal is to write stories that give people hope and inspiration in some way, and after excelling in the Real Estate Industry for +3 years and even gained an R.I.C.S (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) accredited Degree in Commercial Real Estate, I made the bold leap to turn my passion of creative writing into my profession.
When I am not creating a world where readers are fully immersed into the journey of my stories, I usually spend my time in my favourite coffee shop, Starbucks or I am busy cooking new recipes from the hit reality show, MasterChef. I also enjoy catching new shows to binge watch on Netflix and is very much enjoying the hit period drama Bridgerton. I can usually be found travelling the world exploring different cultures and their food.
I love to write mysteries full of drama and plot twists and my motto is. “A good storyline must have some intrigue in it, otherwise is it even a good story worth reading!”
