1.10 | Aces Wild

After weeks of fundraisers, campaigning, and promoting myself like a whore, Election Day came to Lucky Palms like a plague. I was nervous, but tried not to show it as I greeted my colleagues and supporters at the Election Day Party I was throwing at the local park, the same park I loved to play guitar in.

“Jin! You’ve got this in the can! I can’t wait until you’re the mayor.” One of my biggest supporters, a lady named Kyra, called out to me as she headed towards the buffet table.

“Oh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I laughed nervously. I couldn’t’ stop sweating and I was starting to wish that I had worn something less conservative. I guessed it wouldn’t have helped, though. It wasn’t even a hot day, I was just ridiculously nervous.

1.9 | The Beauty of Politics

Considering my dreams the night of Alice’s visit consisted of me riding a dolphin through  a river of wine while Lady Gaga played in the background, I think it was safe to say those were not my memories. Thankfully, though, my week was a busy one and so it distracted me from all that for a bit. I had yet another party to go to, thrown by a few of my co-workers. They worked a few branches above me, but we were friends all the same.

“Thanks for coming Jin!” Norville greeted me. “Make yourself at home and have fun.” He smiled, and then leaned in to speak softly to me. “I’ve got something to talk to you about later, bro.”

1.8 | Lights

“Jin? Jin? Wake up! Jin!”

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in the snow, frozen to the bone. Snow? I thought with annoyance, then realized that a surprise snow in the spring was about the least of my problems right now. The voice that had called to me belonged to Naomi  - she stood over me with a concerned look on her face as she reached down and helped me stand up. I looked around and saw we stood outside my house, close to the last place I remembered being lucid.

I couldn’t remember anything after that.

1.7 | Something New

It was finally warming up in Lucky Palms, and I was glad. It was nice to walk outside and feel the sun warming my skin as opposed to being assaulted by icy cold wind. Work got to be busier than usual and I was working overtime a lot. I couldn’t complain because it meant extra pay and getting to know my co workers a bit better. I still missed working with the people at the corp, but I was starting to like quite a few of my new co workers. 

1.6 | Water

One day while at work, my boss called me into his office to have a serious discussion with me about my employment. I was afraid I was going to be fired and I didn’t understand why – as far as I knew, I was pretty much the best worker and the most well liked (not to sound braggy, but it was kind of a fact …)

Thankfully, I wasn’t fired. My boss had gotten a call from a buddy of his who worked at City Hall. Apparently, my reputation at the corporation had gotten me noticed and City Hall was willing to offer me a high level job with some really great pay. My boss wanted to know if I wanted to take it.

1.5 | Desert Snow

With things going well at my job and my paintings selling really well, I managed to save up enough money to buy a used but nice vehicle without putting myself in the hole. I was glad that I wouldn’t have to rely on smelly taxi cabs and the company’s crappy carpool any longer.

1.4 | Winter Is Coming

Days were passing like minutes once I’d found a natural rhythm. Eat, work, play, sleep, repeat. It hadn’t gotten boring yet, and I hoped it didn’t anytime soon. I wasn’t quite happy yet, but I supposed I was content. Even though each day passed in loneliness because each day reminded me of Ginger, it was better than being a cold ghost buried in the ground. I certainly couldn’t – and wouldn’t – complain.