Debbie turned off her car and took a moment to slump in the seat. Work had been long, the commute felt even longer, and all she wanted was a hot dinner and to watch some tv. She heaved a sigh and made her way up to her apartment.
Two doors away, she heard the booming sounds of video games, played far too loud.
Debbie gritted her teeth and stomped to her apartment. The door was unlocked, turning her anger up a notch. Kurtis knew she hated when he didn't lock it, even when he was at home. What if he took a nap and someone decided to rob the place? Nothing would stop then from coming right in and taking whatever they wanted.
"Hey babe," Kurtis shouted from the recliner. His game banged and exploded and gave her an immediate headache. He wore his headset and shouted something vulgar into it.
She slammed her purse and keys on the entry table, then stomped into the kitchen. Not only was there no dinner, the breakfast dishes hadn't been put in the dishwasher again. The mayonnaise jar and bread stood open on a counter, crumbs everywhere.
An explosion from the game rattle the walls. "That's what you fucking get!" Kurtis shouted and cackled.
"Turn that down." When the volume didn't decrease instantly, Debbie stomped back into the living room. "Turn that the fuck down!"
"Almost done with the match," he said, thumbs working the controller with frenzied motions. "Why don't you start dinner while I finish?"
Time paused as white hot anger filled her senses. There were no thoughts attached to it, just a wall of rage that consumed everything.
With a snarl, Debbie bounded across the room and threw the television to the ground.
"Dude, the fuck?" Kurtis remained in the recliner, controller in one hand as he stared at her.
She snapped her gaze his way, fists clenched at her side. "That's what I want to know. What the fuck have you done all day? Did you look for work? Fold the laundry? Take a shower?"
"Gotta go guys. I might be back on later if I clear girlfriend aggro." Kurtis removed his headset, then sat up to toss everything on the coffee table. His voice remained level as he met her eyes. "Something you want to talk about?"
Debbie shrieked, snatched up a lamp, and threw it at him. He dodged by rolling out of the chair and to the floor, getting to his feet with unsteady motions. She grabbed one of his collectible figures and threw that as well.
"What is wrong with you?" Her voice cracked as she shrieked. "Why can't you do a few simple chores? Are you really going to spend your life playing games?"
Kurtis frowned. "What's wrong with that?"
"You have to do something." Tears of frustration spilled down her cheeks. "Life doesn't have a reset feature that lets you just start over if things fall apart."
He stood tall for a moment, eyes widening. "Maybe not for your kind." Black smoke poured from his mouth, forming a figure between them. It laughed, then whisked away as Kurtis's body slumped to the floor.
Debbie stared, at a loss for words or thoughts.
