Chelsea sat before her laptop, staring at the empty screen as her thoughts meandered aimlessly. Starting seemed impossible; each attempt resulted in mere fragments, quickly erased. With a deadline looming for a 15,000-word short story in just three days, she felt helpless.
She took off her glasses and cleaned the lenses with a cloth before sliding them back onto her face and hooking the frames behind her ears. Despite her efforts, the blank page still mocked her. Frustration welled within her as she contemplated her role as a ghostwriter. Just yesterday, she had completed a hefty 150,000-word project for a client, leaving her depleted. She wished she had taken a break before diving into this new undertaking.
She felt a dull ache in her head and made a decisive move to close her laptop. Recognizing the signs of burnout, she understood that pushing herself any further would only worsen the situation. She recalled the consequences of her last burnout, when her efforts to deliver despite exhaustion resulted in dissatisfaction from the client and a prolonged bout of writer's block. She couldn't afford to repeat that mistake.
Chelsea reached for her phone and dialed her best friend, Arsenal. They had forged their bond during their freshman year at the university, drawn together by their shared creativity and penchant for fun. In times of need, Chelsea knew Arsenal would provide the perfect distraction and support she craved.
"Speak of the devil," Arsenal's voice chimed through the phone as she answered Chelsea's call.
"Who's the devil in this scenario?" Chelsea inquired.
"You know what I mean, girl. Franca and I were literally discussing hitting the movies and inviting you right before you called. So, any chance you're free?"
"Girl, I'm feeling totally burned out. A movie sounds like just the thing I need to unwind and recharge, and after that, barbecue and drinks. It's Friday night, and to top it off, our favorite live band is playing at City's tonight."
"That's right, girl! I completely blanked on it being Friday. Let's meet up at Genesis Cinema. I've been dying to see 'Blood Sisters 2'—it's finally out!"
They exchanged goodbye kisses and ended the call. Chelsea headed to the bathroom for a quick shower, then slipped into a pair of blue jeans and a red top. She glanced at her laptop and shook her head. She grabbed her phone, tucked it into her handbag, and locked the door behind her as she stepped out.
Twenty minutes later, Chelsea arrived at Genesis Cinema, surprised to find only a handful of people inside. She wondered what must have caused the usually bustling Friday crowd to dwindle. She spotted Arsenal and Franca sitting in a corner at the restaurant inside the cinema and made her way over to them. The trio exchanged warm hugs and kisses before taking their seats.
"Franca, you look absolutely stunning," Chelsea complimented, reaching out to gently squeeze Franca's arm. Franca responded by stylishly flipping her hair, showcasing her ravishing appearance.
"Thanks, but you're not looking too bad yourself. Though it does seem like you've shed some weight," Franca replied.
"Don't mind Chelsea. She's a total workaholic. I'm honestly surprised she managed to make time for tonight's outing," Arsenal teased with a playful grin.
Soon, the cinema hall was filled with people who had just finished watching a movie.
"It's our movie time," Arsenal chimed in, and the girls rose, each with their popcorn and Coca-Cola in hand. The movie lasted for an hour and thirty minutes, and Arsenal was thrilled with how much she enjoyed it. Afterward, they hailed a cab and made their way to their favorite hangout spot, the city. Upon arrival, the live band was already on stage, captivating the audience with their music. They found a spot in the center under the open sky and settled in.
"I have a job due in three days, and I'm completely stuck on what to write," Chelsea lamented. "Ironically, the client didn't provide any prompts; it's a freestyle assignment, and yet I'm drawing a blank."
Arsenal took a sip from her glass of wine and set it back on the table. "It's not like you to struggle with a freestyle assignment. How about writing about three girls who all fall in love with the same man?" she suggested with a laugh.
"Why are you laughing? It's actually a compelling storyline," Franca chimed in. "Just picture it: three best friends living under the same roof, completely unaware that they're all dating the same guy."
"Hmm, you know what? You girls are onto something," Chelsea mused. "The revelation that they're all dating the same guy could lead to a lot of drama and tension. Each of them might think the other went behind their backs to pursue their man. I'm already intrigued by the possibilities."
"Girl, you're here to have fun," Arsenal remarked. "I'm glad you left your laptop behind because Chelsea, I know, would have already opened it and started typing by now."
The three girls erupted into laughter, with Franca nearly spilling her drink as she was taking a sip when Arsenal made that statement.
The rest of the night unfolded smoothly as the girls indulged in food and drinks and had fun dancing to the music of the live band. By the time Chelsea returned home, she felt rejuvenated and armed with a story to meet her looming deadline.
This is my entry into Aprilinleo writing prompts