Cui Bono

XVIII

Katherine's eyes fluttered open at the sound of honking horns; she just laid in bed and stared at the wall for what felt like a long time. When she finally decided to move, she rolled over on her back, sat up, and looked around the bedroom, which reminded her she wasn't in her own home. Then she remembered she wasn't in Vancouver, or even in Canada.

She noticed what she discerned as sunlight entering the room through the slats in the Venetian blinds, then looked at the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes after eight in the morning. She was normally awake by that time—fifteen minutes after five in the morning in Vancouver—and preparing for work. Now, she was still in bed, debating whether or not she should get out of bed. How did she get to this point?
I really should get up.

Katherine did eventually get out of bed and get dressed. From there, she went to the window, opened the blinds, and looked out over Central Park West and Central Park, as far as Strawberry Fields. She took in the view—and the sounds—of the infamous New York City traffic, and took a deep breath. Then she left the room, grabbed an apple from the kitchen, and headed out.

Where do I want to go today? She pulled up the map function of her cell phone, gazed at it, and ultimately decided to just wander around the neighbourhood.

The occasional horn blared as Katherine meandered through the West Side. A lot of fancy buildings, a lot of them nothing like she'd seen in Vancouver.

When she got hungry, she checked her finances on the CRS application on her cell phone, decided she could afford to eat at a low-cost restaurant, and stepped into a nearby bistro, ordering the least expensive items on the menu.

Her order had just arrived when she heard, "Katherine?" She turned around, and her face brightened when she saw the source of the voice—her friend Lupe Moreno, someone she hadn't seen since Brenda Morrison's funeral.

"How's life treated you since Brenda's funeral?"

"I'm on Broadway now."

"That's awesome. You're a star on the rise."

"What brings you to New York now?"

"My cousin Ricki made me take a vacation, and take it here."

"I was wondering when I'd see you again. In person, I mean."

"It has been a while, hasn't it?"

Lupe nodded. "Got any plans for your birthday?"

"Hauling ass back to Vancouver."

"Oh, come on. Celebrate it here."

Katherine sighed. "All right. Just for you, I'll stay here for my birthday."

Lupe clapped her hands. "Say, have you visited Greg?"

"Not yet. But it's a top priority while I'm here."

"He'll be happy to see you."

"No doubt."

"What are you doing today?"

"Just wandering around. More to get out of the apartment than for any other reason. It still feels weird not having anything I have to do."

"Welcome to being normal, Katherine. It's about damn time."

"Shut up."

Lupe laughed. Then she checked her watch. "I have to get going, because I do have shit to do. But it was nice seeing you." Lupe winked at Katherine, then she left.