Living five minutes away from college was a very good thing for Ruby Grayson. It was a distance she could cover by leg as she didn't own a car. As she walked down the street, she noticed the leaves on the floor dotting almost every corner that had trees with a splash of nature. She loved the scenery. The air was warm and it felt just right.

She kicked stray pebbles, bobbing her head to the slow beat of a musical ballad playing in her headphones connected to her iPod. Around her people moved about, most of them were business persons, going to their places of work to start the week. Most of them had frowns on their faces and an air of seriousness around them. Cars moved on the road, horns blaring from those whose occupants were running late for a meeting. Typical Monday scene. She only had one lecture and she was looking forward to spending the rest of the day in bed.

Ruby reached the campus two minutes later than usual due to her brief pauses to take in the beautiful scenery that Fall brought in its wake. She made her way to her lecture theatre and sat at the middle row, greeting the familiar faces she saw on the way. She sat patiently waiting for the professor to come. The professor came one minute after he was supposed to arrive and she brought out her writing notepad and her laptop.

"Good morning class," the professor started, putting on his laptop and connecting it to the projector.

The lecture dragged on, her mind wandered. She didn't grab much during the entire lecture on genetics. When the lecture was over the professor waved a frail hand, his voice a little stern and told the TA to collect their projects. She passed her project, gathered her things and headed out. She had just reached the gate of the campus when she got a phone call. Her mind told her to leave it till she got home but something told her to pick it up. She took out her Samsung S7 and checked the I.D. of the caller. It was her mom, Bridget Grayson. She cleared her throat before answering the phone.

"Hello Mother," she answered, shuffling her feet as she stood for a while.

"Ruby, I called to know how you're doing," Bridget said in a calm tone.

"I'm doing alright," she replied in a monotone voice, "Is that all?" She was sure her mom didn't waste time calling just to ask her how she was.

"Well. . . I need you to pick up your aunt Amara from the airport tomorrow evening."

"Ugh! But you know how much I hate crowded places," Ruby whined, her face scrunched up and her lips pouted.

"You have to do it," Bridget said, voice getting stern.

"But -"

"No buts, do it!" Bridget's tone held finality.

"Fine, mother. I'll do it." She sighed, defeated.

"I'll send you the time," Her Mom breathed, then continued, "by the way, I'm doing a new sale for this Fall. Just wanted to let you know." There was a bit of excitement in her voice as she talked about the Catering service she owned.

"Alright, how is it going?" Ruby asked, only partly curious.

"It's perfect." She continued. "Remember what I told you last time I called? Be a good girl. Goodbye dear."

Ruby froze. Perfect. That word had been ingrained in her. Every time she heard it, it felt like a bullet through her chest because she was still far from it.

"Okay. Bye." She quickly ended the call after her mom said bye and put her phone aside with shaky hands. As she continued to walk, she noticed that the world looked bleaker than it had a moment ago. Instead of a bright blue sky, she saw one stained with dark blue. She reached her apartment in record time, dropped her duffel and stood in the kitchen for a long time, just staring off into space and at the same time, studying every inch of the little square kitchen.

Then it all began. In a frenzied moment, she flew into action. She opened all the cabinets, every drawer, brought out every available foodstuff she could find. She was going to make a feast. She went to work immediately, straining, washing, baking. . . Doing everything she could do in order to not concentrate on the fact that she felt too much. Too much pain. When she finished cooking, she began scrubbing, making sure that no piece of furniture was left untouched. But it wasn't enough. Nothing ever was. She needed to be perfect in everything she did. She stood still, her hands itching to find something to do. She took the food into the living room with its adjoined dining room. She arranged the food in order and rearranged it again. It wasn't still enough. It wasn't perfect. Exhausted, she slid unto the floor, raising her hand to her mouth, she began chewing on her fingernails.

That was where Catherine found her when she came back a few minutes later. "Ruby? What are you doing on the floor?" Catherine scolded her, a concerned look on her face.

"Leave me alone," she whined at her roommate.

Catherine folded her arms on her chest and gave her a stern look. "You clearly aren't alright. But, since you said I should leave you alone. I will." She walked right out the living room and into her bedroom.

Ruby sighed. Her roommate was so dramatic. Just as she was about to close her eyes again, Catherine walked back in and stood in front of her, her gray eyes widening as she took in the food on the table. "You cooked!" That was all she said before diving into the food and eating a little of everything. She paused and looked up at Ruby with a wide smile. "The food is great!"

This brought a tiny smile to Ruby's tired face. Her roommate was a sight to behold as she devoured the food. She was like a bright splash of color in a world filled with mist and blackness. A clear contrast from Ruby. At least even if she wasn't perfect, she had cooked the food well enough for her roommate to still be eating it and breathing.

But no matter the excuses she gave. No matter the good things she tried to believe, she was constantly reminded of her inadequacy. Of her insufficiency. And that was more that enough to fuel that feeling that was gnawing at her. That feeling that was growing. Because right then, the storm was brewing, the dark clouds where slowly approaching. And all she could do was wait and watch it fully take over what little color was left in her world.

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A/N

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