Nica's Rotten Life Part 2

Warning: The following contains: strong language and references to domestic abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

Author's Note: Michael's online persona is fangirl. Lol 

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fan fiction. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons living or deceased is purely coincidental.

~o~

He didn’t come home that night. I had the morning all to myself. I was glad. I could eat breakfast in peace and read the newspaper before I resumed work on my novel.

I booted up my laptop after I washed and put away my breakfast dishes. (If he returned home and found dirty dishes in the drain, he would hit me.)

Before I opened the word processor program, I checked my e-mail.

Freddy had spammed my inbox with messages.

I read them all because he was my best friend and biggest fan. (We met online years ago. We messaged when we had free time.)

I told him about the rejection letter from the publisher. I told him about my relationship problem.

“He’s threatening to sell my laptop,” I typed. “What am I going to do if he does?”

I added a few trivial details, signed off, and clicked Send.

I deleted the messages from Fred and found I had ten new review alerts from the website I posted stories to. I smiled because I knew who the reviewer had to be.

I opened the first e-mail.

New Review on “I Didn’t Order This Doll” Chapter One:

Nica-Chu (My username on the website),

I can’t sleep (insomnia as usual), and after reading chapter one of your story, I still can’t sleep because I must read more.

Halloween Mask

I opened the next e-mail.

New Review on “I Didn’t Order This Doll” Chapter Two:

Nica-Chu,

The niece character is cute. I’ve never had lasagna. Is it good? Easy to make? Sorry. I like to cook, although eating is a problem.

Halloween Mask

Halloween Mask read all the way to Chapter Ten before they stopped. Hopefully, they had fallen asleep from exhaustion and not because my story bored them.

From past reviews on my older stories, Halloween Mask admitted to suffering from insomnia. Their user profile on the website listed their occupation as “chronic insomniac”.

I messaged them through the MyStory website and offered advice.

I remembered Halloween Mask’s reply clearly.

OMG! Nica-Chu messaged me! Okay. Sorry. I had to use my inhaler because I couldn’t breathe. I’m so happy, though! Sorry I worried you. I’m seeing a doctor about my insomnia. I’m better than I was last year. Anyway, I hope you are okay. I don’t want anything bad to ever happen to my favorite writer. (I hope that doesn’t sound creepy.)

After that exchange, I started messaging them regularly from the website.

I decided to send them a quick message before I got to work today.

Halloween Mask,

Thank you for reading “I Didn’t Order This Doll”. I hope you stopped reading because you fell asleep and not because I put you to sleep. Lol

I told you about my boyfriend. Well, he’s threatening to sell my laptop. I don’t know what I’ll do if he does.

I have more bad news. The publisher rejected my manuscript.

Thanks for reading and supporting me.

Nica-Chu

P.S. Chapter Eleven of “I Didn’t Order This Doll” should be up later today provided my laptop isn’t taken away. Fingers crossed!

*

I wrote through the morning before stopping for lunch.

After I ate, I checked my messages again. Another flood of emails from Freddy.

Dump that jerk! he ordered in every email. Tell me where you are, and I will come get you. I need an excuse to get out of Ohio.

I responded in a single email.

I’m fine, Fred. Thanks, though. BTW, I didn’t know you live in Ohio.

After I cleared my inbox of Freddy spam, I found more story review alerts and a new private message from MyStory.

I opened the latter email first.

Nica-Chu,

I dozed off at four a.m. I was so mad at myself when I woke up an hour later and realized I had fallen asleep on your story. “I Didn’t Order This Doll” is NOT boring. At. All.

OMG! If he sells your laptop, I will murder him. Really. Just kidding.

Do you have a zip drive? You need to back up your files ASAP!

You could always use the public library computers, I suppose, you know, if he does take your laptop away. Are you a student? If so, you could request a laptop from your school. That’s what I did.

I’m so sorry the publisher rejected your manuscript. They suck, not you.

If you’re afraid your boyfriend will take your laptop, you could email me your chapters and I could post them for you if you want. I won’t hack your account or do any major editing on the chapters. Okay, I do want to read them first, but you are an amazing writer, and I don’t want to lose you because of your jerk boyfriend. (Sorry but he makes me angry.)

I will always support you, Nica-Chu. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can email me: halloweenmaskmm@hrrrmail.com.

I considered Halloween Mask’s offer before I responded to their private message.

I used MyStory’s private messenger.

Halloween Mask,

I appreciate your help, but it’s probably not a good idea for us to get close. I’m not sure, but I think my boyfriend reads my messages. I’m sorry. Thank you, though.

Nica-Chu