Title: Door Away
Summary: Sometimes you never know the life thats just a door away.
Word Count: 766
Copyright: Raiast (Thats me, Natalie) August 13, 2009
A/N: This is actually the first original thing Ive written in...months? Maybe about a year? Anyway its been a very long time. I would really appreciate any kind of feedback! Thanks for reading!

August 20, 2010

James Swanson moves into a small apartment that is situated within walking distance of the campus hes going to attend. His friends help carry his belongs up the three flights of stairs to apartment number 309. He opens the door to a cozy place that will soon be his home. He grins. When they finish unloading, they order a pizza and watch movies until they all fall asleep. James loves that they didnt leave him alone on his first night there.

Hannah Fridley steals all of the money from her mothers purse and pays cash for the apartment so the landlord will ignore the paperwork. She climbs three flights of stairs with only a duffel bag slung across her back. It contains a few changes of clothes, any jewelry she thought she could pawn, and her drugs. They are now her only belongings. She opens the door to apartment number 311, and steps into an alien haven. She blinks. As she makes herself comfortable on the floor, she packs a glass pipe with marijuana and smokes it. She keeps smoking until she passes out, alone and frightened.

September 7, 2010

James starts a part-time job at a coffee house on campus. He locks eyes with a beautiful brunette sipping a drink alone in the corner. Her name is Melissa. Shes the most beautiful woman hes ever met.

Hannah is late again. Her manager says its the last time, and fires her on the spot. Later at the bar, she catches the man playing pool behind her looking at her. His name is Charlie. He buys her a drink, so she takes him to her apartment to party.

January 10, 2011

James gets promoted to manager, and uses his first pay raise to buy Melissa a day at the spa.

Hannah starts turning tricks to finance hers and Charlies cocaine addictions.

May 3, 2011

James finishes his first year of his Culinary Arts program. He celebrates the end of classes with his friends at a bar and wins $500 on a pull tab. He and Melissa make love for the first time.

Hannah cant get a job because she dropped out of high school. One of her customers refuses to pay her. When she keeps insisting on payment he beats her unconscious and steals everything shes carrying.

August 21, 2011

James leaves the coffee shop for a job as a cook at a local restaurant.

Hannah decides that methamphetamine is more important than food, and uses the last of her money to get high.

December 23, 2011

James invites Melissa to his parents house for a Christmas weekend.

Hannah stands alone in the snow at the edge of the cemetery and watches her fathers funeral from afar.

May 5, 2012

James graduates from the college with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. He graduates with full honors. Melissa suggests he continue his education. It takes him one week to decide to enroll at a culinary school for foreign cuisine.

Charlie introduces Hannah to heroine.

July 23, 2012

Melissa moves into apartment 309. That night, James gives her an engagement ring as a house welcoming present.

Hannah tells Charlie shes sick of his cheating on her. When she threatens to stop funding his drugs and alcohol, he moves out. Apartment 311 is silent for days.

October 12, 2012

James secures a position as a sous chef at a high-end French restaurant.

Hannah owes money to every major loan shark in the city.

February 19, 2013

Melissa tells James they are going to have a baby. Its the happiest day of his life.

Hannah trades sex and cocaine to a back-alley abortionist to get rid of the parasite one of her customers gave her. She regrets letting him screw her without a condom for the extra fifty dollars.

June 14, 2013

James and Melissa pack up their belongings into neatly labeled boxes. They close the door of apartment 309 for the last time, on their way to the new house, where they will start their family.

Coroners place the body of Hannah Fridley on a stretcher and place a white sheet over her. The door of apartment 311 doesnt latch all the way as they haul her out to bring her to the morgue.

June 17, 2013

James and Melissa tie the knot. Its a perfect evening with friends and family. James has never felt more loved in his life.

Hannahs mother denies their ties, and her body is buried in a state-funded graveyard that houses all of the other John Does. There is no funeral.