Good morning everyone. Again I woke just two scant minutes before my alarm and feel so much better for waking up on my own than with the actual alarm. I really hope this is the beginning of a trend. I don’t want to jinx it by talking about it too much, so let’s just jump into the morning writing prompt. Are you ready? Fantastic, let’s go.
Interesting. In the beginning I thought there was going to be a building demolished and now I realize it is going to be a life. Kind of awesome. And oddly enough in keeping with this week’s theme.
Thursday, February 17th: The demolition was set to begin the next day.
The demolition was set to begin the next day. Everything was in readiness and soon, soon it would be over. Lucas sat at his desk and stared off into the sky. Today it was a bright blue bowl of sky over the world. Not a single cloud to mark it. The next day was set to be the same, he checked. He wanted nothing to go wrong. Not even the weather could be ignored.
If he turned his chair in the other direction, then he would see a spectacular view of the city skyline. It was a view designed to impress and one that usually left visitors to his office stunned. Most thought he placed his desk where it was so that others would be forced to see the city arrayed out behind him. He was told once that it was a powerful view that made him look like the master of the city.
Most people believed that was how he chose to portray himself and that he chose the desk placement deliberately to intimidate others. The truth was that he preferred the view in the opposite direction and placed his desk so that it was his view. In the direction he looked there were no buildings to mar his sight. Any buildings that were between him and the sea were low things that didn’t intrude upon his vision. What he saw always was a wide expanse of sky that fell downwards until it met the ocean. Occasionally there would be a boat crossing, but most traffic was off to his right. If he turned his head he could see the busy port in operation. This view was mostly empty sky and empty water.
It was a calming view and it allowed him the illusion of solitude. He was not by nature a city dweller. He liked the amenities well enough, but he preferred his own company and to be able to think without the intrusion of others. This view lent him the illusion that such a thing was still possible.
It wasn’t, not any more. Now not only was he successful he had been deemed important. If he left the city for a stroll on his own in the countryside, he would either have to take a veritable phalanx with him to assure his safety or panic would ensue in his absence.
Lucas remembered his last attempt at a solo excursion. He found himself the subject of a nationwide search. Two separate terrorist groups even claimed responsibility for his abduction. If he hadn’t gone into a local bar to use the restroom and seen the television, who knows how badly things might have ended. As it was he had to ask the barman to use the phone. His cellphone had been left behind as he didn’t think he would need it. He only planned to be gone a few days.
That had been two years ago and things had gotten steadily more restrictive for him. In several meetings he caught the security director studying him when he thought Lucas wasn’t looking. Lucas was certain he had plans to tag him with some sort of tracker when he wasn’t looking. Lucas always made certain to stay at least two arms lengths from the man and to make certain there was always someone standing between them.
‘If tomorrow goes well, then that might not be as big of an issue.’ He allowed himself the luxury of a little smile and he leaned back in his chair studying the empty view of sky and sea. Today there was hardly a difference in color. There was no wind so no little whitecaps marred the smooth surface. Any ripples in the water were invisible from this height.
Ten til Midnight 