Making Sins with Soap - Margo Griffin
The adults say she is a loner, and the neighbors call her strange, but her old classmates say it best, Melina is fucking mental.
Things haven't been easy for Melina in college. Although never officially named a suspect in her former roommate Mallory's disappearance, there is still an ongoing investigation, causing others to talk and wonder about Melina's possible involvement. And that messy business last year had made it difficult for Melina to move on. At first, UMASS wouldn't accept her transfer, but a hefty donation from her father quickly took care of that.
Every afternoon at 3 PM, Melina returns to the dorm for her standing date with her one friend in the world. The minute Rob shows up, she lovingly strokes his cool, smooth left cheek. Melina prefers this cheek because she believes Rob looks more distinguished on his left than his right. Melina rarely misses a day with Rob; the only exceptions have been national disasters or last semester's hurricane when the campus lost electricity.
Melina gets up early each morning, long before her roommate Gail. Melina spends an hour picking out the perfect ensemble for her mid-day meeting with Rob. Then, once she selects the right combination, she tucks the outfit into the large black plastic garment bag that hangs in the back of her closet.
This morning, after forty-eight excruciating minutes, Melina chooses a green and yellow blouse and short denim skirt. She also carefully sets aside her special pink lace bra and panty set, just in case it happens this time. Melina is especially quiet today. She can't risk Gail catching her again, or Gail will tell the other girls on the floor; they teased her for weeks last time. Admittedly, the blonde wig and red-apple lipstick she donned last month had been a bit much, but that's Rob's type, and Melina wanted him to notice. Finally, Melina places her outfit into the garment bag and hangs it back in the closet. Then, she quickly throws on her sweats and heads off for breakfast before her first class.
Impatient for her date with Rob, Melina watches the clock through Zoology, counts the minutes through Anthropology, and skips half of Composition 101 to get back to her room in time for Rob. Just minutes away from seeing Rob, Melina runs toward her dormitory. But Melina isn't fully prepared for what greets her.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Melina whispers. Gail is in bed, still in her pajamas, watching television.
"What's up?" Melina tries asking nonchalantly.
"I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I skipped class," Gail says.
Melina begins to sweat. It is already 2:55 PM, and Melina has not changed into her outfit yet. She needs Gail to leave NOW.
Melina reaches into the closet, wincing a bit as she aggravates a shoulder injury from last year. While changing, Melina catches a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror and believes she sees a slight resemblance to Blanche, Rob's third wife. But no, she thinks; it's just her anger and poor lighting toying with her imagination. Surely, this isn't happening again, and besides, she is nothing like the crazy murderous Blanche who has lied to Rob all year about the baby.
Melina's desperation grows, wringing her hands, knowing Rob will be on at any second. He is expecting her.
"Please turn on channel 4?" asks Melina.
"No, I’m watching General Hospital," says Gail.
"But, why?" Melina asks. "You never watch General Hospital."
"I watch it every afternoon in Jenny's room."
"Please."
"No! It's my television."
Melina's parents won't let her have a television anymore. They say television spells trouble. Melina needs Gail's television. She needs Gail to put on channel 4 NOW. She NEEDS to watch Guiding Light RIGHT NOW. But Gail ignores Melina's distress and keeps her eyes glued to the television screen.
Feeling hollow and alone, Melina stares down at her outfit, stifling a sob. Then familiar darkness creeps up into her throat, poisoning her mind with angry thoughts and ideas. A voice taunts her to take action and after several seconds, Melina looks up again at the mirror and sees her empty eyes staring back at her. Suddenly, images of a river and her bloody hands tugging something large and bulky flash before her eyes. Staring back at her reflection, Melina again sees a shadow of Rob's ex, Blanche, in her reflection. "What would Blanche do?" Melina asks.
After a brief moment of quiet and stillness, humiliation and indignation flood Melina’s mind and body, igniting a fire and fury bubbling through her veins. Melina recognizes this surge of strength, and it undoubtedly lays the groundwork for her soul's inevitable, horrifying conclusion.
It took Melina several minutes of wrestling, but Gail finally let go of the remote.
Before changing the channel to Guiding Light, Melina smooths her hair, fixes her lipstick, and straightens her skirt. Her pulse quickens at the thought of Rob. As she looks back up at the screen, Rob's angelic face appears, and she strokes Rob's cool, smooth cheek four times during the remaining half hour of the show. Then, as the credits roll, Melina sees the Soap Opera Digest magazine on Gail's nightstand and opens it up. The actor who plays Rob is signing on with General Hospital by summer.
"Damn," Melina thinks as she looks over at her bulging blood-stained garment bag on the floor. "Gail might have liked that."
***
Margo Griffin has worked in public education for over thirty years and is the mother of two daughters and the best rescue dog ever, Harley. Her most recent work has appeared in places such as Maudlin House, Twin Pies Literary, HAD, and Roi Fainéant Press. You can find her on Twitter @67MGriffin.