Three Converts

Part 20

I'd never gotten to town this late. It was already buzzing with people, which somehow calmed the buzzing in my brain. I wasn't exactly sure what to do first. I decided to approach my new life the way I approached my conversion technique. Instead of finding one friendly person, my mantra became, Do one easy thing. I repeated this to myself over and over as I walked into the crowd of people. As usual, I received an abundance of dirty looks, but for the first time in my life, I could do something about that.

There was a public warming house I sometimes used in the winter, and I made my way toward it. Thankfully it was unlocked and empty. I stripped off my robe, shivering, even though the day was already warm. My mother's clothes were exactly my size. There was a pair of heavy pants (I'd be hot, but they couldn't possibly be worse than the robe) and a plain white, short-sleeved shirt. The neckline formed a V and I was a little self-conscious at having my neck and arms exposed, but what choice did I have? I smoothed the wrinkles out of the robe and lay it on a bench. There was an inexplicable tug at my heart as I left it there. Besides my memories, it was the last remnant I had from life on the mountain. Before I could slip down that sad train of thought, I stepped outside and felt the sun on my arms. I felt the familiar pull of a smile. I felt... normal.

I sat outside the warming house, unsure of my next move. For the first time in my life I had absolutely nothing to do. The thought rattled me. No purpose. I had no purpose. It occurred to me I should be around people. The evil look on Franklin's face scared me. He would drag me back up the mountain if he had the chance. Yes, it was best for me to be in a crowd. The obvious answer was to find Griffin. We'd said good-by though, and good-byes are final. He may not want me to find him. Nobody likes saying good-bye twice.

Brushing dust off my legs my legs, I stood. I knew exactly where to go.