The soft ground beneath my paws is a welcome feel over the gritty gravel as I
veer left onto the less walked path. My tail swishing a little as I walk along the path, the view of the city is to my left as I trudge along, its bustling busyness left behind as the light begins to fail. My mind blanks as I listen to the faint sound of the city trying to process everything that's happened without consciously thinking of it. As I wander, events from an hour ago resurface…

Ughhh

Clicking on the save icon as I groan to myself, letting the wheel circle as it saves while I flick my eyes at the time down in the corner of my laptops screen.

17:54? Way too late to be working on a Friday… I think to myself as I adjust my position, wincing as I'm suddenly aware of how tense my back is.

Pushing myself and the chair back a ways from the desk I reach down to my ankles, closing my eyes as I arch and stretch my back out. All along my back I can feel the muscles strain as I stretch them before loosening as I ease back on the pressure, enjoying the feel of them relaxing a bit. Staying bent over with my eyes closed I try to decompress and defragment my overworked mind. A million thoughts form and dissolve just as quickly. Each a whirlwind that I can barely focus on, only the constant building noise in my head from it all.

The sound from my phone vibrating cuts through it all. Reaching a paw up I fumble it around until I find it, bringing it down for me to read what the notification was. Seeing who it's from I hope for a bit of reprieve from the noise before discarding my phone onto the floor in resignation as I read it.

Really? Today of all days and that's all you can respond with?! I half mutter to myself, screwing my eyes shut again as the noise and pressure build.

Taking deep breaths I try to calm the mounting pressure and the whirlwind of ‘what ifs’ that are building before they unbalance me too much. After what feels like an age they seem to plateau to an almost manageable level. Opening my eyes I stare at the floor and my paws, noticing the wear marks on the floor from my chair and the few wisps of loose fur that have collected here or there under my desk. Staying like that for a while as the noise and pressure slowly lessen.

“Come on Sylas, sit up and close the laptop. Just start with that, then we can take it from there.” I mutter to myself, knowing I need to do something and not stay in this hole.

Cursing myself as I push myself upright and stare at the lockscreen on the laptop at the time, the number 18:33 stares back at me. Reaching a paw out I forcibly close it over as I turn away, conceding the stare off. I stay there for a moment taking in my desk: laptop closed, mug of mostly drunk tea, notebook with a page of scrawl and phone lying discarded under the desk. Sighing I get up from my chair, reaching my handpaws and arms up over my head as I stretch off more while slightly wagging my tail to loosen its tense feeling out.

Wandering out of the room into the hall I grab my jacket, putting it on deciding some air and movement will help a little. Coming back I crouch down and retrieve my phone

I'll likely stand on it by accident if I leave it lying there, besides best take it if I'm going– I think before reading the latest notification.
“I’m sorry if I've hurt you or made things complicated”

Splash

The wet coolness of the puddle brings me back to the present, my mind focusing on the feeling. Sighing, I stop and take in my surroundings; the glow of the city full of life and noise, the dark outline of the trees and the silence they promise, the indent of the path forking to both of them. I stay still and close my eyes letting the chill air brush against my face, left ear picking up the faint noises of city life while my right hears only the murmur of whispering trees. Breathing in the night air and the calmness of it, I start walking enjoying the feel of the path beneath my paws.

“Y’know I heard that pizza place near the square is pretty good, maybe try it tonight…” I say aloud to no one in particular, one paw stepping in front of the other as I take the left fork in the path homewards, tail swishing idly.


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Really love this ych and vibe of it, not what I'd usually get since it's sfw xp. Story was more of a vent from me that just so happened to fit the vibe.

Art by  ariadog

Story by me  shadow-in-the-night