Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-36393004-20180915161121

People often take many things for granted in their day-to-day lives. Someone who truly cares about them, the amenities they enjoy in our modern age, and chances they are afforded in certain circumstances. I would have never thought that my life in itself could have been taken for granted. I look back now and wonder how I could have avoided this but I have yet to find an answer.

It started a month ago, it was so insignificant that I continued through my day without noticing. I think that is the biggest mistake I have ever made and if I could turn back time, I would live my life so much differently. I mean, what is a pair of shoes compared to an entire lifetime right?

I spent a good hour searching for my favorite pair of wing tips. I had a big interview with the largest marketing firm in the city and I knew that I needed to look my best. I had made sure all of my clothing had been laundered and pressed professionally. I received the best shave and haircuit that Fifth Avenue could offer. All I needed now were those shoes.

When I was certain I would not find them I settled for a slightly older pair of lesser quality, hoping that my personality would draw all attention away from my feet. It was such a small thing you see, shoes, that started it all. I probably would have just stayed home if I had known the result.

The interview went very well, landing me a position assisting the assistant vice president. I know it doesn't sound that glamourous but it put me right in line for where I wanted to be and it only took a week to learn the ropes. It was a steep learning curve, but I was hungry for success. I am sure that is what blinded me to the fact that my suit went missing two days after the shoes.

I returned home one day and found I could not locate the keys to my studio apartment. The door man was happy to help me acquire a replacement but look at me with confusion during the whole event. I was so wrapped up in my life that I didn't even let his demeanor phase me. This was my second mistake.

As the days passed, more and more things started to come up missing. It gradually became more important things. Things like my day planner, my cell phone, and my laptop. This is when I started to become concerned. I voiced my complaint to the management of my building and they assured me that the only person who had entered or exited my apartment was myself.

Then my car was missing. It had taken me three years to save for that BMW and when I exited my apartment that morning to find an empty space where I had left it, I almost blew my stack. I knew that New York had crime but in a neighborhood like this you would think that something like this wouldn't happen.

I reported the incident to the police, leaving my contact information and requesting they follow up with me in the even they found any leads. I ended up taking a cab to work and a few of my co-workers found humor in this. The whole incident had left me humiliated and this only fueled my anger. Looking back now I should have been more worried than mad.

A week went by without hearing from NYPD and I had grown tired of the rental car my insurance had provided. You would think they would at least put me in something comparable to what I had been driving but I ended up taking a Volvo to work. The whispers grew more prevalent around the office.

When I contacted the detective that had been assigned to my case he seemed confused. There was a pause in his voice that should have tipped me off to what was going on but I was still disillusioned by my vanity. I was informed that they had located my car on Broadway, the person operating the vehicle identified himself as me. I corrected the officer but he assured me they checked all of his credentials and they checked out.

When I ended the call I sat in my confusion for a few moments, replaying the conversation in my head. Then a thought crept into my head that lead me to grab for my wallet. My driver's license, major credit cards, and membership cards had been removed. I had noticed it felt lighter this morning but in my rush for work I had not taken the time to check it.

I was slowly losing everything that made me who I was and every time I tried to report something stolen to the police I was treated as if I was crazy or a liar. After a few days I stopped calling the precinct. I started looking for signs that would lead me to the truth of what was happening to me.

Yesterday I was confronted with that very truth. I prepared myself for work with the only attire that was left in my closet. I made my way down to the front door, the door man asking if I had forgotten something this morning. This time I stopped my busy life to ask what he meant. The words he said still send a chill up my spine.

"You just left thirty minutes ago, sir."

When I reached my office I was stopped by security. My boss stood just behind them as they escorted me from the building. I questioned him frantically as to what was going on. He told me that if I intended to cause disruptions at the office that my employment was no longer needed.

I was dropped on the sidewalk, landing in a puddle. I sat there, quivering at the horror that had become my life. Tears formed at the edges of my eyes and I wondered who would do such a thing to me. I wasn't the perfect person but I wasn't evil. I had never deliberately harmed anyone. I still called my mother once a week. I still found time to visit church on a regular basis. If someone had been out to sabotage my life, why had they chosen me?

As I sat in my despair a vehicle stopped upon the curb just before me. The door opened and a sharply dressed man exited the driver's side. Through my tears I looked up at the figure and my sadness transformed into fear. I sat looking at a man that could have been my exact double, leaned against my car.

"W-who...", I stammered.

"I'm you pal," his pefectly scupted teeth shining behid his curled lips.

"B-but...I'm...Y-you're," I tried to reply, my mind unable to comprehend the situation.

"It is time you move on. I have got this from here on out," he said, before slapping me on the shoulder.

"W-hat...H-how...," my eyes blinking rapidly trying to wake from my nightmare.

"Get a life, this one is mine," he said before walking away from me.

Today, I went home to my family in Queens. My doppleganger had taken over my life in the city and I have no resources left to survive there anymore. I was not able to explain what lead me back to them when I arrived. My mother simply directed me to the guest room and offered to make me dinner, as always. I told her I wasn't hungry and simply made myself comfortable on the bed.

I am writing this because thirty minutes ago I heard my mother answer the phone. She gave the same greeting she always uses but when she received a reply her voice cracked a bit.

"I thought you were upstairs honey," she said before pausing for a reply.

"Oh, ok...well we will see you when you get here," her words hanging in my ears before she hung up the phone. 