Alone in Master Bates Inn, Rhys pulls out her tablet and plops down on the bed, her body bouncing on the springy, worn mattress. She opens a curiously-named, password-protected file and chews her lip a moment skimming the last addition to the document. She catches her lip ring with her teeth and adds a few spaces and the date before she begins another entry in her secret, private journal. She knew she shouldn't be chronically her life, but if she couldn't tell someone-- even in writing to herself-- she didn't think she'd be able to get through it.

9.11.12

I was able to register for classes even though the semester had already started, and I attended my first seminar last night. The instructor-- Miss Snowpaw-- went over the basics of writing a movie review. I figured it might be a good way to get my feet wet before diving into big commitments and intense course work, and I love movies. It's too bad I'm not much of a writer. She assigned us to write a review, but I'm not sure I want to do it. I mean, it's not a course, right? It's just a seminar and I really don't have the desire to be published anyway. What's the point? Besides, I don't think that would go over well with "the powers that be." Somehow I think they'd tell me publishing is the exact opposite of "lay low."

But I'm tired of laying low. I'm tired of laying at all, and this bed is -awful-. I need to get out more. I really should call that Lance guy about grabbing a pizza. He seemed cool for a computer geek, I guess-- potential friend material anyway. And I need to work on finding a job or I am not going to be able to afford books let alone tuition. I've seen some hiring signs, but I need to figure out which job will get me the most money and still leave me time to do school work and have a little bit of a life-- as much as someone can have like this.

But I guess I should be grateful that I still have a life at all, right? I mean, things could definitely be worse. Wanting to protect my hide is how I ended up here in the first place.

And I shouldn't be complaining like this on a day like today. I may have been too young to remember the moment clealry, but the aftermath of 9/11 has touched the lives of all Americans young and old. And while I am totally a proud American and feeling kinda guilty at the moment, I can't help that I wish I could be home right now hanging my flag out on our front porch and watching it flap in the breeze from my spot on the boat. Home is beautiful this time of year...

Too homesick and tired to add anymore, Rhys saves the file and closes it where it hides itself amongst countless other random documents and applications.