Part 2, neverending saga...
Every once in awhile, even with careful application, her mask slips. The mask is just slightly askew, most people don’t notice right away. Those days/nights/afternoons are consumed with ‘the mean reds’ (thank you, Holly Golightly). The mean reds are no joke.
She lashes out at co-workers until they stay away. Small inconveniences can bring such anger welling up inside of her. Can’t you people think/do/figure it out for yourselves??? The mask, even in its cantilevered state, covers this anger for the most part. Most of the rage stays inside festering. Without the partial mask, she would frighten most people. Her thoughts swirl, thoughts of a new job, anything, ANYTHING to get her away from these people. These people she is forced to spend time with for the pursuit of money.
If her mask is not pushed into place by the time she reaches home, innocent family members are astounded by what normally doesn’t bother, immensely BOTHERS her. Would you please remember to take the trash out BEFORE I ask you? Etc., etc. Minuscule, minor, petty annoyances are almost too much to bear and her reactions are overblown. She wants to RUN AWAY from the mundane chores and duties her everyday life hands her. She simply will not do another load of laundry. She does not know what to cook for dinner. Shopping for groceries becomes a trip to Mars, she can’t focus on what to buy to nourish her family. It’s all TOO MUCH.
Sometimes, the mask hides her dark melodramatic side. The side that stares at the moon, wishes on stars, hopes for fairy tale happiness, wants to conjure up a magic spell to make it all better or even worse, she just wants to wallow in misery. She soaks in the tub feeling melancholy. These emotions are her own. Never to be shared with anyone, not even her mother. She dunks her head under the water and when she rises up from the tub, it is with the resolution that tomorrow is another day (thank you, Scarlett O’Hara). She removes the mask completely, goes to bed and tears are shed.
Good morning. Another mask in place. It’s better this way, really.