In my quest to write something, I’m going to give up on the commentary (well, except for these introductions and explanations of my inadequacy) and write a story-ish piece. That and post my monsters. Enjoy.

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Must finish work. Rachel stared down at the keyboard. The keys, glowing blue in the monitor’s light, seemed to twist and grow. She shook her head to clear her vision. Her concentration was failing but she had to finish. She closed her eyes and her fingers found the home keys. One more hour and I’m done. She began typing. And then I go home. Her empty apartment with a bed and expensive TV resting on a cardboard box waited for her at home. That and her cat Mittens. I don’t even like cats.

Rachel heard a crash and looked up startled. The noise made her conscious of the silence in the office, the sounds died hours before with the setting sun. It’s probably the cleaning people. She held her arms above her head and pulled her wrists away from her shoulder sockets. Her bones cracked. She thought of her colleagues who stopped by her office before heading home. They were glad they weren’t staying late. I don’t envy any of them. They could not have done this job. It was for the best that I work tonight, alone.

She pounded on the keys and finished the third page. As she reread it, she heard another crash. Clumsy cleaning people. How’s a girl supposed to concentrate with all that noise. Rachel stood up and finished the cold coffee in her mug. Time for another cup, and to give whoever is making that racket a large piece of my mind. She opened the door into the hallway. The Corporation turned off every third light in the evenings to save electricity costs. Even darkened, the lights blazed in Rachel’s eyes, and it took a moment for her eyes to readjust.

She walked passed shut office doors decorated with family pictures, inspirational sayings, and photocopied comics. All worthless. They have the decorating instincts of a nesting bird. Clean and tasteful. That was Rachel’s motto, and she repeated it silently to herself. She walked as if on a boat in rough waters, swaying to the wind buffeting the skyscraper. When she arrived at the coffee room, she turned on the lights. The coffee pot was cleaned and empty. Janice should have had this ready for me. She knew I planned to stay late. I’ll have to have a talk with that girl, put her in her place. She opened the cupboard and removed the filter and coffee grounds. She turned the dripper on and waited.

Of course my valentine's monster:

And an underwater bonus monster.