"You can't just quit," Janice leaned on the desk with both hands flat.

I closed my eyes for a moment, I had known it wouldn't be easy. "Yes, actually I can. You're not holding up your end of the bargain." I sat down on the couch I usually occupied as my work space.

Janice walked around the desk and crossed her arms, "And you know there have been situations going on that are hard to deal with. That's no reason to give up now. It takes time!"

Janice had explained all this before but it still didn't change the fact that no output meant that my time had expired. Corporate would be breathing down both our necks shortly and that was the last thing Janice would want. You can't just keep a muse indefinitely on ice while you worked a "situation" out. She would have to resubmit an application for a new one later.

I crossed my legs, "And you know the agreement you made. There are limits in place to keep everyone productive and happy. If you can't use the service, there's no sense in me spinning my wheels and clogging up the line. An application renewal for a new muse when you're ready will be much easier than the new application process. A fresh face may be just what you need." I ran a hand through my hair. It was due for a cut and color refresh. I could use a while refresh after being assigned to Janice for the past 3 years. And the last year of that being nothing but an office decoration. A fresh face could be just what I needed, too.

Janice threw herself into a chair across from me and leaned forward. Her well-worn shirt hung off her shoulders and she hadn't bothered with makeup or fixing her hair. Hadn't in months honestly. She had been through it. "If I can't find the inspiration with you here, then there's no hope I would find it without you!" She wrung her hands.

"Go travel! Go to the places you keep writing about! You have 4 bestsellers! Use that money to take a vacation and see what inspiration is out there in the world laying around to be found! Just because this book has you stumped and you can't get it off the ground doesn't mean you're finished for good." I leaned towards her and tried for my best comforting half smile, "It will be great! Get your feet under you, leave this claustrophobic office, eat genuine food with genuine people. Go touch grass for goodness sake!"

She started tearing up and dropped her head into her hands, "I feel like I won't ever get started on this book if I stop now. How am I supposed to just leave and restart AND apply for a new muse and get them up to speed?! This has been a great working relationship! The idea of having to brief a new person. Get to know them? Understand how they're influence works?!? That's all wasted time!"

I got up and paced around the office, "Not to sound harsh, dear, but you haven't started the next book! It's been forever in the back burner phase. We literally sit here a couple of hours a day, drink tea, eat junk food, and stare at each other while I toss out all the good vibes and inspiration that I can!" I threw my hands up and gestured around the space. "There's only so much I can do in the same 4 walls if you can't latch onto anything that's being offered. I'm a MUSE, for Zeus' sake! Not a damn miracle worker! You need a break and a vacation and away from this office with all its comfort and familiarity!" I paused and looked at her stricken face. "You NEED the change! You NEED a new view! You NEED a new muse to get out of this rut!"

She stood suddenly as I put my hand on the doorknob. "No! Wait!! I'll sit down and start outlining right now!"

"No," I said and frowned. She really was stuck and her career wasn't the only one on the line. I had my own reputation to salvage. "I'll put in my recommendation to my supervisor, and they'll keep an eye out for your next application, but I'm done. You'll be fine if you take this last bit of confidence and inspiration I can give you and USE it to get out of this city and have some real live adventures." I turned the knob as she watched me unbelieving. "Good luck, Janice." And I left for my next adventure. Life was too short to live on a couch doing nothing for endless hours while an author in a rut couldn't see the forest for the trees. Maybe I should try matching with a photographer next. Then I could get out and touch grass, too.