Consider Yourself Lucky

Eight

The next morning, I am dreading going to work. I check my phone right when I wake up. It's a quarter to eight. It's a good thing I woke up when I did because I forgot to set my alarm last night. I have a short shift today, so it won't be too bad. I put my uniform on and head downstairs to get some breakfast. Grandma is sitting at the table looking through a magazine and drinking some coffee. I'll never understand how she doesn't put sugar in her coffee. I need all the energy I can get for the day and if a sugar rush is what gives that to me then give me the whole jar. I have enough time to make myself some oatmeal before I have to leave. Peaches and cream oatmeal is my favorite. Apple Cinnamon is a close second.

"When do you get off work today, hun?" She doesn't look up from her magazine, but I can tell by the tone of her voice that she's asking if I have plans with Collin later. Which as of right this second, I do not.

"I go in for nine and get off at one. Just four hours today. Is there something you wanted to do later?"

"Not particularly, I was just curious as to if you had plans with Collin again." Bingo. I was right. Would three days in a row be too much?

"Not at the moment, no. He hasn't texted me yet this morning." I notice Grandma holding her knee.

"Are you okay, Grandma? Is your knee hurting again? You should skip your walk today. Take the day to rest and stay off of your feet. Watch some TV or read a book."

"No no, I'm fine. It's just old age. I'm not as young as I used to be you know. The years are catching up with me. Don't worry about me. I'm okay."

"Okay, but if it gets worse promise me that you'll call the doctor."

"Yes dear, I promise. Finish your breakfast and get to work. You don't want to be late." I still have a good amount of time before I have to leave. Why is she rushing me out of the house? She's probably going to ignore what I said and go for a walk anyways. Grandmothers can be so stubborn sometimes. I guess that's what it was like dealing with me as a child. I take the last bite of my food and kiss Grandma goodbye. As I walk to my car there is a blue SUV driving by the house slowly. I can't see anyone in the car because the windows are tinted. Maybe they are just trying to pay attention to the house numbers. I brush it off and get in my car. When I turn my car on, I get a text from Collin.

"Good morning beautiful, I hope you have an amazing day. Thinking about you. XOXO" Stop, he is so sweet. How soon is too soon to express my feelings back? Last night got intense and I don't want to seem easy, but he really is putting so much effort in. I'm not used to dating. I don't know the timelines of how it's supposed to go. I guess I'm just going to go with the flow and hope for the best. Before driving off I reply to Collin's text.

"Thinking of me? Or my ass?" I giggle to myself and back out of the driveway.

I'm two hours into my shift and I am bored out of my mind. Mondays are usually slow, but all the shelves are stocked so there isn't much else to do but wait for customers to come up to the register. Sometimes I think about going to college. I planned on taking a gap year after high school just to work and save money but then I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I do know that if you would have asked me when I was younger what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer would not have been a grocery store cashier. I always knew at some point though that I wanted to marry a very handsome man, have a bunch of children, own a nice house and just soak in the life of being in such a big happy family. I never really thought about a career. I guess it's something I should think about now.

The rest of my shift goes by faster than I thought it would. I decide I wanted to surprise Collin at work. I grab my things from my locker and make my way out the door. The flower shop is just around the corner so I can just walk and leave my car here in the parking lot. When I round the corner, I see a man in front of the store. As I walk closer, I notice the shop is closed. Maybe Collin had some things to do, or he just stepped out for some lunch. I look over and the man is peering into the window. He seems a bit startled when he realizes I'm right there.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Are you interested in any of the arrangements on display?" Why did I ask that? I don't work here. Even if he is interested in anything, I can't help him.

"No, just checking out the new shop is all." He looks me up and down and gives me a creepy grin. I start to feel a bit uncomfortable and look around for Collin's car. It's nowhere to be found. I jump when my phone starts ringing. I use it as an advantage to get away from him.

"Okay, have a good day." I feel him watching me as I walk away. I don't recognize the number, but I answer it anyways.

"Hello?"

"Hi. I'm looking to speak to Adelaide Chase?"

"This is her. May I ask who's calling?"

"My name is Harmony, I'm a nurse at Crescent Hill Hospital. I'm calling to inform you that we have your grandmother here, Melanie Chase." I always forget Grandma's name is actually Melanie and not Millie. I start to panic.

"Um, is she okay? What happened?" My heart starts racing.

"She was brought in about an hour ago by ambulance. It seems she fell down some stairs at your residence. I can go into more detail in person if you're available to come in." I start running to my car instead of walking.

"Yes, I can be there in twenty minutes."

"Okay, see you then."

My head starts spinning. I told her to take the day to rest and she clearly was doing the exact opposite. What was she even doing? Everything she could possibly need was downstairs. When I get to my car, I swing the door open and struggle to put my seatbelt on. I speed out of the parking lot, determined to get to the hospital as fast as I can.

Please Grandma, please be okay. I am begging you. Be okay.