The Bedroom

With the click of the door, Marie let out a heavy sigh. She had been cooped up in various hotels with her family for the past week, and for just a moment she wanted the peace of her own space. Looking at her bedroom, she was satisfied with how the company had taken care of everything. The moving team had already assembled the bed, the dresser, her chairs, and rolled out the rug on the floor. Despite being new to her, just having her stuff made it feel warm, and cozy to her. The space was perfect for her to study, and indulge in her favorite pass time: gaming.

In the corner, they had set her desk up with all of her equipment plugged in already. She had missed the computer the most, and it was her pride and joy. It was given to her by her father for her 18th birthday, and she had taken the time to write out the specs and design it her self. People had always encouraged her to stream as well, but she never liked the idea of putting herself out like that. Games were for her to escape the world, not show off for anyone. Besides with the latest trend of E-girls, she felt she wouldn't fully stand out to make enough money, or views for it to count towards anything.

She turned towards her standing mirror and pushed her hair back behind her ear to get a better look at her face. She never considered herself ugly, but she wasn't attractive either. Plain was the word that often came to mind. Basic. While all of her classmates seemed to have bloomed during the sophomore and junior years, her body had stayed relatively the same. Her curves never developed far, and on most days, she didn't need to wear a bra for support. If she took more care of her appearance, she would highlight her legs, and the subtle curve of her body, but boys just didn't interest her right now.

Looking at her reflection, Marie let her hands travel over her body. At 5'3" she was average height, with a smaller torso and a pair of long legs. Her small breasts pushed against the fabric of her t-shirt, and the jeans hugged the small curve of her hips. Her fingers trailed up to feel the small amount of skin that was exposed between her pants and her shirt, to feel the muscles that lay underneath. Despite not having curves in the right places, she made sure that she didn't develop them in the wrong places, either.

Her body showed the tone of a runner and the slight shadow of abs along her stomach. She made sure that she focused on running at least 45 minutes a day to keep in shape. After all, that was her time to focus on herself, and to drown out the problems of the world around her. Her legs were toned and when she wore sundresses, she got the most attention. The fabric framing her legs while her heels showed off the curve of her calves.

She took her hair tie in hand and Marie pulled her blonde hair into a ponytail and put on her black-framed glasses. They added some sophistication to her young librarian look, but framed her bright blue eyes as well. She often received a reputation for being an ice queen, and that came from her inability to connect with people. The mundanity of modern life bored her. She couldn't care less what the new hit show was, or who was dating who in the celebrity sphere.

What interested her were the sciences. The understanding of the universe and how it worked. To her, the secrets of the universe were far more satisfying than anything she had discovered on her own. Many nights she spent researching and trying to understand her own body, but it often left her dissatisfied with the results. After a time, she just stopped trying and turned her attention to other pursuits.

Marie reached into the box she had brought with her, she pulled out framed diplomas, certificates, and trophies for her accomplishments. Each one that she stacked on the floor next to her added a sense of accomplishment. Physics, math, biology, chemistry. These were her passions, and she had adored the feeling of satisfaction that came with earning them. Each embossed piece of paper she gained made her feel like she was closer to.....something. Hopefully she would find out some day soon.

Marie spent the next hour going through the box and pulling out the different personal items that she had brought with her. There was a small leather bound photo album she had received from the few friends she had. Another item was a large flask that her favorite researcher had signed when he came to give a lecture at the nearby university. A small stuffed animal that she had received after her first and only date. Each item she pulled out reminded her of the past she was leaving behind, and the future she hoped to create in front of her.

The sound of tapping woke her from her thoughts as she finished putting the items on the shelf. Her dad poked his head in through the door, and smiled at her.

"Hey, honey. Time for dinner. Come on down and eat."