Doppelganger part 1 of 2

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

Julia’s alarm clock buzzes in that not so charming way. She shuts it off, with an irritated hand motion, like countless times before. She’d much rather smash it against the opposite wall, but her budget does not allow for a new clock for each day. If the state of her single-room apartment is any indication, it doesn’t allow for many things. All the furniture is second or third hand and the electrical appliances barely functional.

But Julia is no stranger to hardships. She never had leftover cash to spend, and luxury was a strange word to her. A single-parent family is not the ideal factor for wealth. On top of that, her mother is most of the times too sick or weak to provide for herself, let alone help her daughter. She could scrape up some cash here and there, but things have gotten far worse recently. She has been without a job for the past 8 months, searching high and low, but without any luck. Her last gig as a cocktail waitress at a rather shady club, was gradually turning a little too “pimp-y” for her tastes. Without some stable income, the girl had to count her every penny, even a night-out beer with friends could throw her off her savings. Instant ramen had become her main source of sustenance.

But today, she has an interview at a telemarketing company. She has a feeling this will turn things around. Having experience on the service industry, these jobs just need confidence and charisma. And her looks certainly won’t be an obstacle. Her voice is feminine, but also deep and warm. She has little worries. She’ll be great!

The young, black girl, 25 years of age, throws the sheets off of her light-ebony toned body. Her beauty shines thanks to the sunrays coming through the drapes. Her white tank top embraces her curves perfectly, from her C-cup breasts to her slim waist. A pair of matching panties adores her round, full ass. There’s a trend in the media for black girls to be very “bubbly” and “twerky” in their physique, but Julia is not one of those. Her behind is tight, her belly flat like a drum and hard like a rock, her youthful breasts are standing high and proud. She always liked working out, so it wasn’t hard for her to keep that look up. It’s a good thing exercise is still a free activity, or she might have had trouble there, too.

Her wavy, dark hair go down to her breasts, all tangled from her sleep. She gets a brush and still with half-asleep eyes, starts untangling them. She’ll need to be ready in 30 minutes, or she’s gonna miss the bus to her destination. And there’s not a second chance for these things. The next one comes an hour later.

Dressed in the less torn pair of jeans she could find in her closet, and a long-sleeved blouse with the bottom button missing, the girl manages to catch the bus just in time. She has managed to put on some subtle make-up and lipstick, and her worn out sneakers are the best she can do at the moment. Her last pair of heels broke last week.

The bus ride lasts 35 minutes. In the big city, you better pace yourself with these things. In the crowded bus, there’s barely room for a step, but Julia has one hand on the holder, the other on her phone, not seaming to bother much with all the noise, tightness and lack of deodorant around her. She glances occasionally outside the window, watching all sorts of expensive cars, or roaring motorcycles, pass by the rusty bus with ease. The passengers there look comfortable. For them, getting to your destination however and whenever you feel like is a given.

There is 10 minute walk from the bus stop to the office building. Julia’s feet move quickly. She’s not late, but she doesn’t want to give anyone the right to tell her off. She wishes she had some heels to go with her outfit, it would make her outfit more professional. But heels cost money, and she first needs to earn some to spend some. In any case, she hopes it won’t take away from her charm.

As the girl reaches the entrance, she sees a small group, walk down the stairs, disappointed. “What…what happened?”, Julia asks a woman. “They already filled the positions”, the woman informs her, frustrated. Julia is shocked, frozen in place. She didn’t even get a chance. As the frowning group pass her left and right, Julia’s eyes stay locked on the top floor of the 6-story building. She reaaaally needed that gig.

With her head hanging downwards, the girl makes her sad way back to the bus station. If she knew her morning would be such a pointless punch in the gut, she’d have stayed in bed.

The ride back is no different than the initial one. The dirty old bud is still crowded and noisy, only thing different is the opposite direction. Julia is looking blankly outside the big window. Her thoughts, drift from pessimistic ones, to negative ones, and then back. She has to make sure to avoid running into her landlord, cause she still owes him two rents, and that third one is fast approaching.

As the girl’s mind goes through the usual scenarios of what has come to be known as “Rent Stealth”, Julia spots a strange sight, through the bus window. It’s a girl, a pretty girl, around her age. She moves with the air of a celebrity along the crowded sidewalk. Her look draws the eye with ease. A yellow tube dress, that perfectly hugs her waist, her chest and her rear, ending below her knees. It’s made from the kind of expensive brand that Julia can only window-shop from. Her yellow dress is matched with a yellow, furry coat and a golden necklace around the woman’s neck. Black stiletto heels are paired with her black handbag, completing the – obviously very meticulous – look. Her slender neck is accentuated by her hair, cut on the shorter side, and dyed a “bitch blonde” color.

Even though the stranger is wearing a pair of fashionable, mirror-styled sunglasses, Julia can’t help but notice how eerily similar she looks to her.