Sprawled out on the chaise longue that sat below the window of her room, Tracey idly flicked her lighter open, before flicking it back closed again with a soft click. Despite sleep being something that had never come to her easily without the assistance of drink, drugs or sex, tonight it seemed particularly evasive for her. It was hardly as though she hadn't tried to sleep without any of the above. She had tried all of the things the books had said, she had tried warm showers, early nights with a book and even for a while meditation. What Tracey struggled with, was the same thing that had brought her to her temporary home in the first time, unhealthy habits.
Eventually flicking her lighter closed with one last twist of her wrist, she slid the smooth silvery lighter into the pocket of her lounge pants. Drawing herself up to her feet, she toed on a pair of shoes discarded to one side, before wrapping herself in a thick woollen cardigan. As warm as the inside of the building might have been charmed to be at times, she knew well enough from the condensation on her window, that the outside was not quite so forgiving. Sliding a packet of cigarettes from the sideboard into her pocket, she was set.
Creeping out of her room and down the increasingly familiar hallways that led to the outdoors, Tracey occasionally paused when she heard a noise close to her, before proceeding on. She was unsure whether it was against the rules or not to be wandering late at night, the first few days in this place had passed in a blur of ghosts from her past and strange faces. Still, it was probably best to err on the side of caution, she decided.
Slipping down the final corridor and out of a nearby door, a small sigh escaped her lips as she felt the cold air of outside hit her face. While she might not have exactly chosen to have been where she was, it did not mean she could not appreciate it. They really were quite remarkable grounds, she could only imagine how beautiful it all looked in the height of summer, not that she planned on being there that long, of course.
Drawing to a stop as she reached a bench, she took a seat. Fishing in her pockets for her lighter and cigarettes, she placed one between her lips, before flicking her lighter open once more. Drawing in a long deep breath of that nicotine goodness, a small groan escaped her lips as she felt relief wash over her. Barely allowing a small puff of smoke to escape her lips before she drew another.
Caught in quite the world of her own, she barely heard anyone approaching until the soft crunch of icy leaves caught her attention. “You realise that stalking someone from the shadows is generally considered a faux pas, don’t you?”