001

GEORGINA

Did everyone have a purpose for coming into someone's life?

Did it mean anything when they do come at some point?

~~

In a dingy apartment where clothes, papers, and other miscellaneous objects were littered about, in a dark night where the television blared almost statically, a woman walked through the tattered floorboards, nursing a half-empty can of beer.

The television was showing a primly-dressed anchorwoman stating the news for tonight.

"This just in: another person has been raided by an unknown person. The town is in high alert of this mysterious thief and everyone is advised to be on guard. It is believed the thief lurks around—"

A derisive laugh sounded from the woman then, drowning out the rest of the news as she snatched the remote control and shut off the television, plopping heavily on the couch with a grunt. She snorted.

"Fucking dumbasses."

After downing the last of her beer, a shrill phone rang through the apartment, jolting her out of her reverie and causing her to cuss out as she blearily looked around for the source of the noise.

What the heck...

She rummaged through the unkempt blankets, under the bed, and behind cabinets which couldn't fully close because of its overflowing contents. Still, as much as she sometimes wanted to get rid of that, she couldn't seem to get into the mindset to actually arrange everything. It seemed like too much work.

Wetting her lips and finally finding the offending object lodged between the wall and her bed, she stood upright and stumbled on her own feet, yelping and making a grab for air. Unsurprisingly, she hit the ground hard and winced at the pain.

Still, she pushed that aside to answer the call, waiting for the other person to speak. She wasn't one to greet first and she knew the other person knew that as well.

"It was you, wasn't it?"

She couldn't help but smirk proudly.

"Headin' straight to the good stuff without even greeting me? Aww Nica I thought better of you."

The other person huffed and gritted out, "Hello good evening Gina."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah yeah hi. And yes of course that was me. Who else?"

She remembered that steal. It was just a couple nights ago. The clerk was half-asleep, there was nobody around, and the cameras were either malfunctioning, down, or just pointing in a random direction. Her kleptomaniac tendencies naturally kicked in and she swiped what she could: candy bars, magazines, a couple of mints and other snacks, and a large soda bottle.

She heard a sigh from the other woman.

"Gina..."

"Nica..." she returned almost mockingly. She rubbed her chapped lips, looking out into the night through the dingy curtains (which certainly needed a wash) and squinting at how almost no light filtered in from outside. There was a brush by her legs, attention drawn to the touch and lips involuntarily curling into a smile as she saw her cat. She returned to the phone and cleared her throat. "Honestly, news these days are pretty boring. They've got nothing to show but my steals. I must be a celebrity now, huh?" She laughed to herself, the other person only sighing. "I'm telling you, it's either people don't care or they're not trying hard enough to capture me."

"Yes but do you want to be captured?" Her tone was gentle and held no judgment yet the question was enough to make the smile slip off her lips, a thoughtful frown replacing it.

She swallowed.

Damn, why did this woman know her so well?

Did she want to be captured? Well, the obvious answer boiled down to no.

She remembered the first time she committed the same crime, the exhilarating feeling of the possibility of being captured and still getting away unscathed, the cold night air, and everything in between. Hmm... that seemed like such a long time ago. She couldn't pinpoint the exact day either.

"I don't," she replied after a long silence, conviction in her voice that surprised even her. "But if I get bored and worse comes to worse, I might just surrender willingly." She snorted, unable to see herself surrendering and just give up this life she'd grown accustomed to.

Granted, the life she's living wasn't exactly ideal but she didn't know how to start again if ever. What did one mean when they said 'start again' anyway? Her mind had never been able to grasp that concept.

There was silence again then the other woman speaking in a soft and pleading tone.

"Can't you find something else to do, Gina?" She frowned hard.

"Nica please... don't do this... you know how these conversations end."

"Yes but it wouldn't hurt to try." Gosh, her best friend was stubborn when she wanted something to achieve. She had to respect her for that. "Nothing good comes from this and we both know it. It's not too late to change your lifestyle, you know?"

There was a burn behind her eyes which she vigorously tried to dispel by scrubbing. The burn didn't ease up. It just made her eyeballs water more.

They've had this conversation over and over. They've been through this, talked about this, went round and round multiple times. Her best friend Veronica Wilson was an optimist at heart, always finding the silver lining to every bad situation. That wasn't how Georgina Wells was, no. She was the opposite: narcissist, pessimist, living but not quite, a thief, and left with no family except a cousin she's rather close to.

"I have nothing else left to live for."

"Hey no don't say that. What about me? What about Connor? Oscar?"

The tears fell despite wanting to hold them in. Her eyes regarded everything around her: the upturned coffee table, the unwashed sheets, the unmade bed and the scattered papers all around, and the other glass bottles she carelessly left to be smashed and stepped on.

On impulse, she made a decision and before she knew it she was talking again, trying to hide the fact she was crying.

"Listen Nica," she sighed, "I appreciate the help and concern, really I do. But if they find out we're talking and you're connected in some way, it'll give you a bad reputation."

"Wait.... what are you saying?" There was a hint of panic in her voice now. Georgina couldn't blame her. Everything was moving so fast.

She took a breath and stated coolly, "I'm saying we have to cut ties here and now. Stay safe." She ended the call and took out the battery from the phone, flinging it in a random direction and letting herself freely cry, biting at her arms and thrashing around the already messed up apartment.

This time, she'll allow herself to feel helpless and alone.

This time, she'll give herself leeway.