Do people still use this phrase today? It was a “thing” back in my day so when it popped up on the #1lineWed prompt for this week, I knew exactly what they were talkin’ about. And surprise, surprise, surprise, I had the perfect scene. I might have used this one before. I know it was a #ThursdayThreads flash fiction exercise but I don’t rememeber if I used it here. Anyway, it’s mostly new words from NIGHT WISH so yay! Anyway, Gen and Wiz are going through a rough patch. Her life, since moving up to Kansas City, has not been an easy ride. There are things happening behind the scenes conspiring against her so then, this happens…
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Gen
Early to bed, early to rise. Welcome to my life, I thought bitterly. I was neither wealthy, healthy or wise. No. I was simply mired in a swamp of depression, regrets, and feeling totally stupid. Why was I here? What had I been thinking? Masochist. That was me. But there was no time for all the shoulda coulda wouldas that were piling up in my life.

The AC in Rascal worked overtime. “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” the weatherman had intoned that morning. Seriously? Heat plus humidity added up to danged hot! And my hair was the lastest victim.

I heaved out of my car then leaned back in to grab my bag. I hated this job. Hated my apartment. Hated my life. I even hated myself but could I hate the one person who was the basis for all this? Oh, hell no. Not me. See? Masochist. Totally. I shut my car door and beeped the locks with my fob. Trudging to the front door, I fumbled for the other set of keys.

Something slammed into me and I careened into the building’s entrance, my face smashing against the glass door. Stunned, I tried to figure out what had happened. I caught a reflection in the glass. Two men. In hoodies. One had a gun. Did I mention I hated Mondays?

“Open the door, bitch.”

Stars zoomed around my head like in the cartoons but my brain decided it was time to think. I could unlock the door and not hit the alarm code. Or I could hit the panic button. Or…not. Had my employer paid the alarm company? I’d bugged him about that for two months now.

“Bitch! Door!”

I dug in my bag for the keys, managing to spill a bunch of stuff in the process. Not that I cared. The one with the gun was now pressed up against me and the barrel of the gun pressed into that soft indention at the base of my skull. A shadow flickered in my peripheral vision and then there was nothing around me. I checked the glass door for reflections. No. Wasn’t my imagination. The two men were gone. Poof. Like puffs of smoke.

A third man appeared, this one tall, muscular, and wearing an all-too-familiar vest. For a moment, my heart seized. Wizard? But it wasn’t. Another Nightrider. One I didn’t recognize. This one was younger, and his eyes held a boyish charm rather than Wizard’s dark desire. The guy shook his head and looked like he wanted to tsk at me. Really? I was not in the mood to be scolded by a biker hottie way younger than me.

“Seriously, babe. You need to find a better job.”

Did I mention I hated Mondays? They just aren’t conducive to good health. And he was so right that I couldn’t argue.
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So that’s it. Hope you enjoyed. I am making progress so there’s that. In the meantime, what about y’all? Any regrets? Any “shoulda coulda woulda” moments you want to share?