Short Story: Under the Influence
Jonna always waits until the baby is well into her afternoon nap before she sets up the ring light and does her outfit changes. She places the baby monitor leaned against a stack of hardcover books. Inside the walk-in closet, Jonna walks directly to the section of beige to primary colored tops. Her fingers rifle through the rack of button-up shirts, polos, v–necks each being put under quick consideration. She stops at a Phoebe Philo black crewneck long-sleeve top with tags still on and carefully removes it from the hanger, slipping it over a cream colored t-shirt with various food stains on the front. The full length mirror agrees with her, but she unzips her jeans letting it fall into a big clump on the rug. She reaches for a long black pencil style jersey skirt. The feel of it is soft and quietly powerful. Without thinking she aims directly for the dark cherry leather loafers. Jonna reviews herself in the full length mirror, she mouths words so silently that I couldn’t make anything out.
She picks up the baby monitor to then lean it against a bowl of avocados on the dining room table. The ring light faces the direction of a long, white bookshelf crowded with books and a few trinket boxes. She is quick to remove framed photos before setting up the tripod to face the bookshelf. Jonna takes a deep breath in and exhales slowly, while giving her shoulder length hair a quick tousle.
