Chapter 3
"What?
Why not?
You love that place."
"Just not in the mood," William waved Ethan off and grabbed his pen, pondering where to start.
He struggled for a second, putting the pen down he put his hands on all of the loose papers and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"It's all just a dream, a terrible dream I need to wake up from."
This was something William had been telling himself every time he woke up, every time he looked at the little calendar on his desk, every time he ate Victoria's pasta and meatballs or she asked to go to the boardwalk.
He'd been lying to her everyday - something that made him feel terrible - and telling her that he was sick.
He figured it would be easier to just avoid the boardwalk altogether than to save her from her impending doom every night.
As he thought about his lot in life, his inability to move on to Thursday, he started shaking with rage.
He clenched his jaw and felt every muscle in his body grow tense.
With a sudden movement he grabbed up the papers and crumpled them, sweeping them all onto the floor - along with his telephone and the keyboard to his computer - with a terrible roar.
"Whoa, what's goin' on bud?" Ethan peeked his head back in and saw the mess William had made.
"Nothing," William said as he got up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket.
"I'm going home, I'm sick." He stormed past Ethan and out the door, intent on spending the rest of this Wednesday, and every Wednesday after, in bed.
He wouldn't get up until it was Thursday.
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Day 15,
Victoria's alarm went off and William reached over top of her to grab hold of the phone.
With a grunt he threw it across the room and it smashed against the wall.
"Hey!" Victoria screamed as she realized what had happened.
"What was that about?"
"I'll buy you a new one," William said, knowing full well he'd never actually have to.
"We're not going to the boardwalk today, I don't feel good."
"What?" Victoria looked at William, shaking her head.
"What's going on?
We had such a great time at Sylvia's last night I thought for sure you'd be in a good mood this morning.
I mean, sure, her pot roast is dry as a bone but I thought that just...I don't know, showcased her gravy making abilities...or what ever."
"We didn't go to Sylvia's last night!" William groaned at Victoria.
"We didn't go anywhere last night, we stayed in. Just like every night."
"Are you feeling okay?" Victoria asked and reached out to his face but he pushed her hand aside.
"I'm fine," He said, flopping back down onto his pillow.
"Are you going to get up for work?" Victoria nearly whispered now, trying not to make him mad.
"No, leave me alone."
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Day 30,
As William heard Victoria's alarm go off he moaned.
He nudged Victoria, knowing that it was useless.
"Victoria...please." He mustered his strength and flipped over to look at Victoria's sleeping body.
"Victoria!"
Victoria jumped, suddenly shocked awake by William's quick temper.
"What?"
"Turn off...that...damn...PHONE!" William pounded his fists into the bed and writhed with anger.
He'd long ago given up trying to convince those around him that he was reliving the same day over and over again - knowing now that everyone just thought he was crazy when he told them the truth.
He'd even given up going to work, what was the point?
He'd never see another pay day, never see another promotion or raise.
Hell, he'd never even get a new project to work on.
"What's with the rage?" Victoria asked, turning off the pop ballad.
"Just..." William raised himself off the pillow and struggled through his anger to form words.
"Just shut up okay?"
"What?" Victoria put a hand to her chest and stared down at William.
"I just want to be left alone."
"Fine," Victoria huffed and got out of bed to go about her day.
William tossed and turned all day, refusing to get up, refusing to face another stupid Wednesday.
He dozed most of the time, falling in and out of sleep until he opened his eyes and the sun was setting.
He got out of bed, shuffling to the hall and down the stairs as he made his way to the kitchen.
"Victoria?" He called out as he grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge, "Victoria!
?" Slamming the fridge closed he noticed a little yellow post-it stuck to the stainless steel that read:
"Gone to the boardwalk with Sylvia, there's pasta in the microwave.
Love, Victoria"
"Oh God." William dropped the the carton of milk on the floor as he remembered he'd forgotten to ask Victoria not to go to the boardwalk.
He threw himself back up the stairs, tearing through his closet to find some clothes and then out the front door to his car.
He struggled to make his way through traffic and honked as pedestrians took their time crossing.
"Please don't get on that ferris wheel," He mumbled to himself as he pulled into a large parking lot and ran toward the flashing beacon of the giant metal wheel in the distance.
He saw the boy with the chocolate ice-cream, without William to bump into the kid was able to hold on to the cone a little longer but as soon as he reached his mom it fell from his hand.
William tried not to get distracted by the boy's sobs as he pushed people aside and barrelled through the line up for the ferris wheel.
"Oh God, Victoria!" He called out as he grabbed hold of her arm.
The old man who ran the ride huffed as Victoria hesitated at the front of the line, about to climb into cab number seven.
"Please, don't get on that ferris wheel."
"What?" Victoria shook her head, "What do you mean?"
"Please," William begged, dropping to his knees and grabbing hold of Victoria's legs.
"Please, just come home with me.
Don't get on that ride."
Victoria looked at Sylvia, then they both looked down at William, "What's going on with you?"
"I can't explain it, you wouldn't believe me if I could.
Just get out of this line and come home with me, please."