Val

Valorie left everything that Ross had loved exactly where it had been in the manor, she even cleaned it all the same way that he did. It had been two days since she had moved into the manor and it still felt as though Ross had just left to go to work. Believing that he was dead was difficult, especially with all of his things around and not to mention living in his favorite place. She wasn’t quite sure what stage of grief she was at any more, it had only been five days after all… Or had it been six? Valorie frowned, checking her phone for the date. 

“The fifteenth..” Valorie read, “It’s been seven days?” She stared at her phone, her weary brown eyes fought to stay open. She hadn’t had caffeine yet, she stared at the coffee pot as it brewed; Ross always drank his coffee black and boring. He said that he liked it, but Valorie always suspected that it was due to his lasting financial fears. Growing up as poor built a lot of his character and habits. Aside from the manor, he always tried to avoid every purchase that he could, even the necessities. Despite this, he wasn’t unhygienic or a hoarder, he was simply careful and almost always somewhat anxious that he’d wake up and it’ll all have been a dream.

Valorie poured herself a cup of coffee right after it beeped, she chucked a couple of ice cubes, sweet cream, and some whipped cream in it and went to sit at her desk. Due to the surprisingly giant sum of money that Ross had left to her, she could live a life of luxury. She used to be an accountant, but she hated the job. A year and a half after she started dating Ross, he offered to cover her living expenses so that she could have whatever dream job she wanted. She had always been very fond of music and art, so when she had been given the opportunity, Valorie began a freelancing platform on social media and sold songs, paintings, and drawings to people.

As she sat down to begin sketching something that had been on her mind, she noticed a strange sound, it sounded almost like a meow. Which is impossible since neither Ross, nor Valorie had cats.