Must Read: CONTROLLED - Season 1 - Episode 2

7 years ago

Must Read: CONTROLLED - Season 1 - Episode 2

SOPHIE

“Let’s go for a walk,” I said,
hooking the leash onto her
collar. I grabbed the coffee cup
from last night and walked
down stairs with Naomi. I
glanced around at the living
room. The beige sofa was
against the wall, across from
the plasma screen sitting on the
black T.V. stand. I looked at the
pictures on the wall of Justin
and me, my family, Naomi, and
our friends.

I saw one of Zoey, and stared at
it for a long time. God, I missed
her almost as much as I
missed Justin. I remember her
saying she wanted to go to
Australia for school with her
boyfriend Jeremy. I watched her
getting on the plane a year ago,
and I haven’t seen her since. All
I’ve seen were pictures she’s
sent me. She seemed happy, so
I was happy for her.
I put the coffee cup in the sink
and walked over to the door.

Unlocking and opening it, Naomi
and I walked outside into the
bright sunshine. The air outside
was cold and breezy. I locked
the door behind me and led
Naomi down the concrete
hallway and down the two
flights of stairs. We walked
through the courtyard, and I saw
the apartment building’s
manager, Ms. Hattie, watering
some flowers. I waved to her
and continued to walk out to the
sidewalk.

“You want to go to Starbucks,
Naomi?” I asked her. She looked
up at me and wagged her tail.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Scott, the manager of
Starbucks, knew me and Naomi.

He would always give me
discounts on coffee, and always
knew what I wanted. At first, I
thought he had a bit of a crush
on me. Later did I find out, he
was married and had two kids.

I’d babysat them a few times,
and met his wife, Debbie. She
was beautiful, and they made a
perfect couple.

When we finally got to
Starbucks, I went in with Naomi
and was instantly greeted by
one of the workers, Hannah. She
was still in high school, and
we’d talked a few times before.

She’d memorized what I got
each time, like Scott did.
“Hey Sophie, hey Naomi,” she
said, smiling. She was cleaning
a coffee machine and trying to
get a costumer their coffee at
the same time.

“Hey Hannah. Is Scott here
today?” I asked, approaching the
counter.

“Yeah, he’s in the back,” she
told me, handing the costumer
his coffee. “Scott, Sophie is
here!”
A few seconds later, the kitchen
door swung open. Scott came
walking out of the kitchen and
went around the counter to
come and hug me.

“Hey Sophie!”
“Hi Scott,” I said, returning his
hug. Scott noticed Naomi and
reached down to pet her. She
returned the greeting with a lick
to his cheek. Scott stood back
up and looked at me.

“I haven’t seen you here in a
while, Soph. How’s school
going?” he asked, walking back
behind the counter.

“School is going really good,
actually. I’m keeping up with the
rent and bills and such. I don’t
have classes for another few
hours, so I thought I’d stop in
and say hi,” I said, looking over
the glass desert display.

“That’s always good. You want
your regular?” he asked me.

When I reached into my bag for
my wallet, he stopped me and
added, “It’s on the house.”
I smiled up at him. “Sure.”
He got my vanilla latte and
handed it to me over the
counter.
“Thanks, Scott,” I said, sipping
the coffee.
“Anytime,” he replied. “So, how’s
your mom?”
I smiled and looked at him. He
gave me a questioning look and
asked, “What?”
I laughed softly then whispered,
“She’s pregnant.”

His smiled and continued to
wipe off the counter. “Tell her I
said congratulations!”
“Will do, Scott,” I said, glancing
at my watch. “Hey, I actually
have to go. Classes are starting
soon and I need to run a few
errands before I get to school.
Thanks for the coffee,” I added.
“Anytime, Soph! Come back and
see us soon, okay? Jenna and
Tommy want to see you again,”

he told me. Jenna and Tommy
were his two kids. They were
still in elementary school and
they seemed to adore Naomi
and me.

I smiled at him. “Alright, Scott.

Bye!”
“Bye, Sophie,” he said as I
walked out the door. I walked
out into the bright sunshine,
shivering as the cold breeze
blew through the air. Walking
down the sidewalk, I sipped my
coffee and looked around the
street. There were joggers and
dog walkers, people opening up
shops, and some other people
getting on a bus. I glanced up at
the sky, watching the clouds
hide the bright sun. Passing a
bookshop, I looked over into the
window and gazed at the books
on display. I looked closer when
I saw a familiar reflection in the
window.

When I realized who I saw, I
almost dropped my coffee.

I whipped around and looked
around frantically. Naomi, who
was by my side, looked up at
me and started whimpering.

When I didn’t see him, I pat
Naomi on her head and hastily
walked down the sidewalk to
my apartment complex.

I didn’t see him. I know I didn’t
see him. It’s all in my head.

He’s dead, Sophie, he’s dead.
I continued to repeat that over
and over in my head until
Naomi and I were safely inside
my apartment. Sighing, I locked
the door, then unhooked the
leash from Naomi’s collar.
Looking at the clock, I realized I
only had an hour left to get to
my classes. I finished my coffee
then ran upstairs to grab my
bag. When I came back
downstairs, Naomi was lounged
out on the couch.

“I’ll see you tonight, Naomi.
Bye,” I said, patting her head. I
grabbed my keys and walked
out the door.
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