The Only Constant...

That's enough of my story for now. Wouldn't want to put everything online and then have someone steal it, now would we? If you want to know what happens to Alina, Dom, and the rest of the crew you'll have to come out to see arts innovation movement: aim cincinnati's production of Super Heroes... (I think that's the title?)

Today I'm gonna talk about change. How many times have you heard "the only constant in life is change..." ? That's not rhetorical, I seriously want you to think about it and form and answer. Have you got it? Now think about how long that saying must have been around. I'm going to revise my statement to be, "the only constant in life is change...and clichés" Clichés can be fun and maybe i'll delve into that some other time. But for now, change, as life's constant.

It's been one year, one month, and nine days since I graduated from college. That was the most recent major change in my life. Before that it was moving to New York at 17. When I graduated my life went from waking up at 12:30 for a day that started at 1:30 and ended at 3:15 if I didn't have rehearsal, to waking up at 6 and having to go to work. I moved to Westport, CT and spent a month living with family friends. But I still conducted business as usual in the city. I started work at the spa the Friday before I graduated. I started dancing with the company the week after I graduated. And my life fell into a sort of pattern, scattered as it was I was making it happen. But after a month of the same, I was looking forward to time away with the company.

Then I went on tour. 3 weeks in the Caribbean was magical. It was also a long time to be stuck on an island that is only 37 sq. miles. By the time 3 weeks was up I was sooo ready to be back in New York. This time I stayed with Booface, who was on his tour, while I searched for apartments. I was still off from the spa and the company was rehearsing for the Gala in Cincinnati. I found an apartment, and settled the deposit with my two roommates. When I got back from performing in the 'nasti, I moved into my apartment.

After that, the mundane set in. By October of last year my schedule was set. I've worked the same days for the past 7 months, unless I requested a different schedule. I rehearse in the later portion of the week, and I go to the gym as often as possible. Wake up. Work. Dance. Workout. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. I play by the rules, to plow through the days. I mean, it's already Summer Solstice. I love summer, the longer days, the warmth, the sun. From this point on the days get shorter, colder, and before I know it, it'll be December again. The tree on the corner will be bare, and there will be 3 feet of snow. Again.

In February I was ready for a change. A break. I had run myself ragged between work and dance. I went home for a weekend and it was great. Then, literally 5 weeks later, I was home again. I needed another break. It helped while I was home, but when I returned to the city I was restless again. I needed a change. Something to break up the monotony that my life had become. I toyed with quitting my job. But that was no good since I'd still have to pay rent regardless of my employment status. So I got another job. I started working at the club. Which was fun for a while, but bad management and poor business practices made me over that particular gig quick.

Lucky for me, the spa underwent some changes in management staff at the other location and I was promoted. More money, less hours, and a shift time change presented exactly what I needed to fulfill that particular niche. I'm writing more, and reading a lot. I even went to some auditions last week. I'm ready for that big change to come sweeping through right about now. I'm at a place where I've done this and now it's on to the next.

Eventually everyone is ready for something different in life. I hope. If you're one of those people who prefers the simplicity of the exact same thing every day, for endless days. Then you're one who is going to miss out on life. Because the changes will come whether you're ready and with them or not. I'm still not exactly sure what that next is for me, but I'm waiting on it. At the risk of sounding repetitive (and quoting John Mayer) I'm waiting on my world to change. Unfortunately I still find that the more things change, the more they stay the same...

And the rest is still UNwritten.

Sneak Peak: Part Deux

So I swear that writing this isn't taking me two weeks to get this chapter done. That would be lame. I've actually written quite a bit more. And since I don't really have anything else to write about on here. Nor have I had anything else to write about, I've decided to publish my next addition to the new story. Last time you met two of the heroes, Alina and Dom. Dom had just teleported in his sleep and Alina was "dreaming" about it. In this next portion you meet Babrhu (Ba-broo) - the Altaica- and Veata. Pronounced (V-ate-a) Here's chapter two. Enjoy

Chapter 2

At the other end of The Lab, the scientists gathered around the latest results for Experiment 12045012112-04, the Altaica. The human genes combined with the White Siberian Tiger created the creature they studied so fiercely. On the other side of the glass, Babrhu stared menacingly at his trainer across the room. There was no way he was being provoked to participate in this experiment. He would, of course, much rather stand there glaring daggers than actually pick one up and hurt the idiot who volunteered to be locked in the same room. It’s a pity really. Babrhu could clearly hear the conversation behind the sound proof glass. Superior sight, strength, and sound were a few of the exceptional traits of his genetics. Because he knew exactly what the scientists were hoping to achieve, Babrhu planned to do exactly the opposite. Just for kicks and giggles.

“Why doesn’t he change?” one scientist asked.

“Could we provoke him into it?” another theorized.

Babrhu schooled his features to not laugh outright at their musings. Of course he could not be provoked, like an animal. There was the other half of his genetics to consider. He had the patience and senses of a hunter with the rationale of a human. HE could stare at the man across from him all. Night. Long. Thankfully, the alarm that ended his training session sounded, and Babrhu was at the exit faster than humanly possible. But then he wasn’t just human was he?

A warning growl of caution at the first guard to approach him, Babrhu strode through the lab and into the hallway. Having been in The Labs for almost his entire life, Babrhu knew most every exam room in the entire compound. He also knew that if he wasn’t needed he was welcome nowhere besides his own rooms. And that is precisely where he planned to spend the rest of the night. Alone. Again.

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The needle jumped on the paper that was tracking the brain functions of Experiment 1006215012-08. But that’s supposed to happen, the needles graph the section of her brain in use, and tracks the power of her thoughts. Veata was tired, as usual. The questions the scientists asked her rarely stimulated her mind. It was inane small talk to her, when Veata wanted to conquer interesting subjects. Instead of focusing on the conversation at hand, Veata let her mind wander to the corridor outside the door. She heard footsteps echoing down the hall, and the sound of a frustrated voice. She’d heard that voice before, but only in her mind.  I wonder what he looks like she thought to herself, as the locked exam room door flew open just as he was walking by. Shit! Shit! Shit!

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Babrhu stared into a pair of shocked eyes. When no one exited the room, he stopped beside the open door. At The Lab doors don’t just open. They had one function, as portals from one room to another. Nothing stays ajar. But this door opened, no one exited, and then stayed open. The scientists in the room looked just as shocked and confused as he felt but did not show. Who opened the door? It was almost as if he was asking her the question, since they never lost eye contact in the confusion of scientists and guards. She shrugged. What? It was almost like…well…can you hear me? The girl with all the monitors attached to her head nodded. Wicked.

Veata stared at him shocked that they were holding a conversation in her head. She could hear him as if he were talking out loud. With that realization, Veata brought her full attention back to the room she was in. She could hear all the scientists, but none of them were talking out loud. She could hear what they were thinking! Look at me. He said in her mind again. When she turned her gaze back to the door; the man, he had some dangerous edge around him, had entered the room. He strode to the console that held all the monitors and turned them off, before disconnecting the wires. The scientists pulled back from the danger that was so palpable around him. Babrhu reached for Veata’s hand. He led her from the room, and Veata knew there’d be hell to pay, first, for leaving her exam early, and second, for being with him. That is strictly prohibited. She let her mind linger behind them as his guards followed them down the hall. The scientists were in a tizzy, all of them panicked about the severe consequences. Strangely enough, none of them seemed to realize that it was she who opened the door as Babrhu walked passed. And even stranger, it didn’t seem to come up in the monitor readings or test results. And that was interesting news, indeed. 

©  Epiphany Davis