Chapter 3 Evelyn Ray

As evening approached, everyone in Lex City was in a rush to get back home. It was like any other day, with people hustling back and forth, boarding and departing from the metro platform. Inside the metro coach, the tired expressions on people's faces were evident. Some fortunate ones managed to find seats and were grateful for the opportunity to rest, while others had no option but to stand and hold onto the grab handles. Despite the fatigue, many people were also filled with excitement as it was Friday and the weekend was just around the corner.

On her way to work and back home, Evelyn quietly observes the people she encounters. Some of the faces in the metro coaches are familiar to her, but she hopes to remain invisible to them. She is among the many people who rely on the most convenient public transport option, the metro rail. Like most working-class people in Country I, Evelyn Ray leads a simple life. She was in her early 20s, and she turned twenty-three this year. Evelyn has a standard appearance, but nothing about her makes her stand out in the crowd. Aloofness seemed to be her only outward demeanour, at least in the eyes of those passing by. It is only when her lips decide to break into that beautiful smile of hers, is the only time when the illusion of her aloofness shatters in everyone's eyes. A wider stretch of her lips and one could see those dimples of hers getting along with her smile. However, it was a rare sight.

Her heart-shaped lips had a natural cherry-like red colour, often remaining sealed, giving Evelyn an enigmatic air, as if not wanting to speak unnecessarily and minding their own business. It was hard to assume, what kind of person she was at first glance considering the lack of expression on her face. The authority and the control that this woman had maintained over her expression over the last eight to nine years was incredibly commendable. In all seriousness, Evelyn was the walking embodiment of an aloof person. She can make you guess all day long about her character.

Upon reaching her apartment, she immediately wanted to freshen up and shake off the fatigue. She placed her shoes in their place and then headed towards her bedroom to find something comfortable to wear. Evelyn found a loose T-shirt and shorts in the wardrobe before making her way to the connected bathroom. Although her apartment was not very large, it was perfect for Evelyn. She waited for the bathtub to fill and in the meantime, began to undress.

Evelyn had tender skin that flattered her golden skin tone while she had an oval face shape, adorned with a pair of exquisite hazel-coloured almond-shaped eyes that radiated an agile and mysterious aura about her. Accompanied with those captivating eyes, her narrow light eyebrows and longer eyelashes only added more mystery to her character. Her small pointed straight nose defined her character's powerful traits such as strong willpower, determination, commitment, patience and compassion.

Seeing that the tub is now full, Evelyn gets in, enjoying the warmth of the water that soothes her tired muscles. She closes her eyes and sighs in contentment. This is her favourite part of the day.

Evelyn's long, dark brown straight hair was a prominent aspect of her appearance that could either break it or create the illusion of the aura of her aloofness. Her locks were silky and shiny, flowing over her shoulders and resting just below her waistline. Evelyn often kept her hair tied up in a bun or ponytail, signalling to others that she meant business. It was only when she chose to let her hair down that a different side of her could be envisaged. There was a sense of freedom in her that was only visible when her locks were untied, but so far, only the mirror on her wall had been able to perceive this. Those eyes of hers would look back at Evelyn through that wall mirror, knowing her better than anyone else. To onlookers, she appeared emotionally cold, distant, and reserved.

Her physique was similar to that of any other petite woman but with a well-defined, toned body frame. One important lesson Evelyn had learned in life was the significance of taking care of her physical and mental well-being. Regular exercise and yoga every day in the morning are the keys for Evelyn to naturally maintain her physique along with a proper, healthy, balanced diet. For Evelyn, it never mattered if she did not have huge bosoms with big round booty, which were stereo-typically used to describe a woman with a voluptuous figure and was associated with a more appealing physique. It never concerned Evelyn in the slightest, as it was the last thing that she ever thought of and wanted. On the contrary, it assured her that no one would notice her, since she was not seen appealing enough to draw attention. Moreover, it did not matter to Evelyn anyway if she did not fit into the standard beauty idols. She has learned and is still learning gradually to feel comfortable in her own skin and be positively satisfied with it. She learned to never seek validation from others, especially on her looks, her personality and her character. In the end, what mattered to her was how well is she taking care of her body from within.

Evelyn finished her bath and put on her robe before coming out of the bathroom and to her room. She realized she had forgotten to take out her innerwear, so she went back to her wardrobe. After changing into her comfortable clothes, Evelyn headed to the kitchen to make herself dinner. She was immensely hungry, especially after the bath. She quickly made herself something to eat and later, thought of taking a walk in the gated society where she lived. It was one of those nights when she felt liberated, and the soothing silence around her made Evelyn feel at peace. She loved taking walks at night, as it always managed to calm her nerves. Looking at the stars, she wondered, where her life was heading and as usual, she did not have the answer to it. Evelyn had no clue about what was waiting for her. On the outside, her life seemed pretty normal, in fact too plain and boring.

As she was enjoying the quiet walk alone with few people around, an ice cream parlour caught her eye. It was open and suddenly, she craved ice cream. She took out her wallet from her sweatpants, which she had decided to wear before coming for a walk and headed to that parlour to buy herself a chocolate ice cream. Whenever she craved ice cream, Evelyn would often come here. After a walk, she felt better and well, the ice cream she just finished eating made her mood pleasant. She has a lot of work that needs to be done tomorrow, so she decides to head back to her apartment and get some sleep.

The next day, Evelyn woke up and quickly took a shower because she had somewhere to go. She knew today was going to be busy, but she would have Sunday for herself. She wore a loose T-shirt and jeans, before tying her hair in a bun and making sure to carry her purse and pick up the goods that she knew she would need. She was visiting an orphanage that day. She loved children, as they had the purest souls in the world. Their innocence, beautiful doe-eyes that always looked at everyone around them with curiosity and, their smile that could make you forget your worries, were something Evelyn could never get enough of. Whenever she was around them, she felt joy in her heart. It was her happy place. Those children in the orphanage have her heart. Evelyn's heart ached every time she looked at those innocent faces. All of them craved the love of their parents, she could tell. All of them craved the protection, for that security that comes with having a guardian. They did not have any. She was grateful though that these children were getting treated properly in the orphanage, however, her heart would ache even more thinking about those children who were somewhere dealing a harsh treatment or those who must be dealing with some sort of abuse at their homes.

Evelyn would often come to the orphanage once in three weeks, to play with them. She wanted those children to feel loved and desired in every way she could. In those children, she was able to relive her childhood again. Maybe she was not completely selfless here. The children at the orphanage would always get excited with joy upon seeing Evelyn. She was one of their beloved visitors.

After a hearty day with the children in the orphanage, Evelyn comes back home and slumps on the small sofa. She already had her dinner outside, and she was now ready to get back to bed.