Writing Prompt: I was exhausted.

Morning all, down to minorly inconvenient sniffles, Which means I am certainly on the mend. And no longer clutching the box of tissues like a teddy bear. Woot. So let’s jump into the morning prompt and see what comes out of it. Timers set to fifteen minutes and we are off.

I changed the situation mid way through as the idea took hold. I think it is the kind of set up I could work with but it needs a bit more thought to flesh out the details. That might be a lunch time thing today. Now that I can focus on things for longer periods.

Tuesday, February 10^th: I was exhausted.

I was exhausted.  For the last month I bounced from one emergency to the next.  Every time I thought we had matters settled, someone would run towards me bringing something new to my attention.  I wasn’t sure if there was some attempt to space things out so I didn’t get overwhelmed, someone outside of my sight playing catastrophe traffic cop or if things were just coming at me in pieces.

In truth I wasn’t entirely certain how I ended up in charge. 

‘Competence, I imagine,’ I thought as I sank down into a comfortably padded chair.  The cushions sighed beneath my weight sounding as exhausted as I felt. 

I was as affected by the change in the laws as everyone else.  I watched as the new rules were debated, watched how the chosen ones became law and when the new slate of laws was passed in it’s final form, I got a copy of them.  In the time between their passing and when they needed implementation, I scoured the pages looking for all the details.  I read over them repeatedly, I looked up terms I didn’t know.  I even called people in charge for extra verification when I wasn’t sure how implementation would look.  When the new paperwork became available, I secured copies of forms and made sure I had them filled out with any required documentation all copied and ready to go. 

I made any necessary changes in advance so that no one would have cause to get involved in my personal business.  I wasn’t worried about being a law abiding citizen, I just didn’t want to give them an opening to pry into the details of my life.

And I knew there were people on the Council who were eager for the opportunity to do exactly that.  It was no surprise when I was one of the first called in to go over the new laws and changes.

There were smirks from those who relished the opportunity to pry my life apart for public spectacle.  The smirks faded as OI presented the necessary documentation one item at a time.  We went through every page in that courtroom.  Every line, every word.  I watched as they did and saw who was pleased with my thoroughness and who was disappointed.

I kept a mental list while it happened and a written list when I left their presence.

When I left, my life was intact.  All my legal obligations fulfilled, and I was free of them.  As much time as it took me to go through the details, my session was far shorted than others and had no repercussions.

It was news that traveled fast and soon I had a line of people at my door, all needing assistance.  All wanting to do what I had done.  I couldn’t turn them away.

A part of me wanted to berate them for not paying attention but I knew the truth.  Everyone thought it couldn’t happen to them.  That the new laws being debated would only go into effect for someone else.  Somehow they would be safe.  I had never been safe so I knew I would be in the first group they came for.  Those who sought me out had always believed they were safe.  The changes came as a shock.