The intercom chimes and I'm greeted by the shrill voice of the office's receptionist. "Ms. Heart! The bosses from corporate are losing it! You were suppose to have the new client list ready days ago! And what about the shareholder's meeting? Did that even happen?! I don't know who you think you-click- I disable the speaker and turn from my desk to the window of the sky rise office building in downtown Seattle. I rest my aching forehead on the cool glass, looking out over the busy city to the mountains and the Puget Sound, sighing heavily. What happened? I moved her on a whim. Ever since I was little I dreamed of sailboats and mountain-climbing and just finally being free. But instead I'm stuck here in a business suit while the world moved on without me. A major is illistaton and design had somehow resulted in "Morgan Heart, age 27, Regional Manager of Prism Marketing Inc's Seattle branch. The youngest in company history. "Hey boss! Go long!" I barely have time to register the words before I feel the crumpled-up paper bounce off my head and onto the floor. "Damn... Wake up Heart! How do you expect to run a place like this with those reflexes?" I spin my chair back around and see Stewie standing in the doorway with his signature smirk on his face. He was part of caller team, a good guy, sharp too, but he'd take it as an insult if you ever tried to tell him. "So...anyway March Madness drafts are going around, and as our manager you are basically being forced into to." He winks and walks over to pick up the paper then flattens it out on my desk. "So boss-lady, who do you think will win it all?" I frown down at the paper, embarrased at my complete lack of knowledge on all things sports. "Look Stew, it's great that you're getting the office all excited about this but honestly, I've never even HEARD of half of these teams before, let alone seen them play! Plus... I have all this work, the new clients are coming in next week and I'm super behind on my..." "Morgan, calm down, it's fine!" he says reassuringly. "Hey tell you what, how about you just cut out early? We're almost don't out here anyways, I'll cover for you... What do you say?" The offer is beyond tempting, and it WAS almost four... "Ok... Thanks Stewie. I owe you you big time." He winks again and walks out whistling. I shut down my computer and put my client files away. Grabbing my coat I sprint out the door, dropping a twenty dollar bill in Stewie's cubical as I pass by. Before I know it I'm in the building's lobby. The chilled early-spring air greets me as I begin my walk home. To Be Continued
My apartment is a ten minute walk from the office, but on days like these I like to take the long way home through the park. It's a rare occurrence to be going home with the sun still up, so I take my time. It's still pretty cold this time of year but I feel light and warm in the sunlight. I make my way over to my favorite spot in the park, the little wooden dock over the pond. They have since built a newer cement platform once this one had started rotting. I preferred this one though, it was never used because of the big caution sign so it was always peaceful. I slowly step over the caution rope and walk carefully to the end of the dock. Leaning against the railing I sigh, taking in the beauty. The sun reflected across the water and through light everywhere. The trees lining the park were just beginning to bud and there were even what appeared to be the beginning of flowers; returning from their winter spent underground. My eyes focus on a man across the pond and I smile until I realize what he is doing. In his hands are garbage bags that he is throwing in the pond. "Stop it! You can't do that!" I yell, jumping up and down. I guess I must have forgotten where I was standing, because instantly the wood beneath my snaps and I'm falling.....
Even though the season was getting warmer, the pond was still barely ice. My whole body felt numb. I couldn't move, even just the rise and fall my chest needed to breath was almost impossible. I struggles to reach the surface but I couldn't reach the dock. My head broke above water, buy by now the cold was getting to me. I tried to scream but it hurt too much. They say when you are about to die you do that whole "flashback through what you've all accomplished" things. Yeah well all I could see is the things I never did. The mountains, a family, those damn sailboats. I was going to die in the city of my dreams, without ever even really living there. The world started to fade away, and as soon as I thought it was all over for me, I feel a rough tug on my arm and I am laying half-conscious on the grass surrounding the pond