"I'm still here" ; prompt challenge WEEK #1

I dab tiny dots of concealer under my eyes. Looking at them in the mirror, I can't recall a time when I didn't do it. I sit i before my vanity mirror, tilting my head to get the light just right as I soften my features with makeup. I'm immediately satisfied with the way the dark circles from my sleepless nights seem to disappear with each delicate tap of the concealer, blending seamlessly into my skin. It’s a quiet, meticulous work, like an artist's, and I use my clean ring finger to gently lift the corners of my eyes where I suspect-

“Stop obsessing. There’s nothing there, Vee.” I hear Matt's voice behind me, his reflection in the mirror, like he’s reading my mind. It doesn’t take a lot—I'm an open book in a foreign language that he happens to be an expert on. “You’re perfect.”

"I'll have the small latte" ; prompt challenge WEEK #2

He dropped his keys in his nervousness to get inside. Knowing her as well as he did, Alara was probably still asleep. After a moment of fumbling, once he finally got the right key in, he placed the food on top of the counter and limped to the kitchen. Jonah hissed as the pain in his right leg grew sharper and the adrenaline wore off, like his body was cooling down and he was finally noticing how bad it actually was. He could feel his own warm blood dripping down his calf now.

A few months ago, right after they moved in, he might have struggled to find what he was looking for, going through the cabinets for a long time before finally finding it. But at this point, they were well acquainted—the first aid kit and him. Jonah crouched down to the floor with a painful sigh and leaned back, shielded by the counters and cabinets around him, just in case Alara decided to wake up.

She'd throw a fit.