Envy

Slowly Payton’s feeling of defeat subsided and she began to notice her surroundings again.

“Odd,” she thought as she wrinkled up her nose in distaste. “The air in here really smells funky. It’s like sulphur and tin. I wonder if there’s a window I can open.”

Still feeling a little weak in the knees, Payton stood up to find a way to let some of the noxious odor out.

“It’s bad enough that I’m caught up in all this without having to smell that!”

Sure enough, there was a window just across from her. Payton walked over and started trying to open it. As she fumbled with the lock, a movement on the other side of the panes caught her eye. She looked up to see her best friend walking by. Payton banged furiously on the window.

“Hey! Hey! I’m in here! Louise! Damn it, look at me! I need your help!”

The window neither broke nor opened and Louise went on as if Payton wasn’t there. Payton stopped struggling with the window and watched the petite and beautiful Louise walk towards her car. Louise was, as always, impeccably dressed in beautiful clothing.

“Hah!” thought Payton unkindly. “She’s probably got on a bra and panties that are color coordinated with her purse, shoes and nail polish.”

Louise pressed a button on the small remote in her hand and her brand new black Mercedes (complete with GPS and god knows what else) chirped and flashed its lights in response.

“Must be nice to be able to afford a car that requires a $300 oil change.” Payton snarled.

Louise put her laptop into the trunk of the car and then went around to the driver’s side door. As she got in, her cellular phone rang. She answered it and was soon engaged in animated conversation.

“Wonder if that’s the latest devoted puppy/man for her to use or a new and lucrative business contract” Payton thought.

As Louise drove off, Payton saw Nadia come down the street from a different direction. She banged on the window again for a moment and then gave up as it became obvious that Nadia didn’t hear her.

Payton noticed that Nadia looked confident. What’s she got to be so damn happy about?” Payton mused. Then she remembered that Nadia had a direction and a purpose. She had tons of training and loads of experiences that Payton could only wish she had. Payton didn’t want to look out the window any more. She was feeling a little nauseous and wanted some fresh air – but she remained where she was and continued to stare out the window.

There were all sorts of people about. People with nice cars, and talented kids. People with big homes and people who were physically beautiful. There were smart people and people who had realized their dreams. There were people who, at least, knew what their dreams were and had plans. People with wives, husbands, lovers. People with friends and jobs. People with talent. People who had everything.

Payton turned slowly from the window. All those people had things she did not. She couldn’t hate them. At least they had something. Payton had nothing. Nothing but the voices in her head. And really, those voices were nothing to brag about! Something was pulling her back to the window. She needed to look out again. She needed to try and open the window and get some fresh air. She needed….. she just needed.

Payton turned back to the window and gasped, clasping her hands to her throat in alarm. The window was still there, but now she could barely see though it. It was no longer clear panes of glass, but brilliantly colored dark emerald green glass that distorted everything on the other side.

The sight of that green glass was overwhelming and Payton swooned. As she sank to the floor and into the darkness she heart a tiny voice crowing in her right ear.

“Pleased to meet you, my dear. Hope you are enjoying the view through your favorite filter. Don’t worry, I’ll be here when you wake up. Ask for me by name. I’m Envy.”