A Second Wave-The Surge

Chapter 12-Shelby

Chapter 12

Shelby

Sleep did not come much. I tossed and turned all night. Most of my thoughts were flashes I don't understand and the rest was getting ready to go to Brazil. I look over at the clock to see that it is 5:30 in the morning. My flight leaves in a few hours so I decide to get up and get ready. Carol has set up for me to pick up a phone on the way to the airport. I remind myself that I have to follow up with my new partner Simon on the events that have led up to today. Worried that my brain is still foggy, I walk over to my work desk and add the task to my list of things I need to do. I reread the list again, happy that I remembered everything on the list. Maybe I am slowly getting better, I say to myself.

Walking into the kitchen I decide on a black tea and take a deep breath, enjoying the smell and warmth that fills my senses. I decide to check some emails before I get dressed and packed for my trip. The car should be here in two hours. Normally under these circumstances, I would want to drive myself, decreasing any exposure, but I want to make sure I am safe behind the wheel first. While at my desk I check my work bag for my pills which are mostly to keep my immune system boosted: vitamin C, vitamin D, berry, and my multi-vitamin along with a few other antioxidants. I have enough to travel to Brazil with and my next stop.

I need to get myself caught up on each of our contract obligations. My emails are mostly everyone congratulating Simon for his promotion. I am not sure why but I thought I would get one from Simon. Maybe he doesn't know I am back yet. Carol told me he has his presentation today so I decide to wait to call him after. I want his concentration to be in Florida and I am sure he has many questions that I will speak to him about when we both have time. Noticing the time on my laptop, I need to get dressed. I power down my laptop and put it into my bag along with my list which I put in the outside pocket of the bag for reference. Once back in my bedroom I walk into the closet and decide on something comfortable for travel. My body still has bruises on it. I grab a black pair of pants, not remembering the material but it never wrinkles. The pants along with the black pullover top with a mock turtleneck is perfect. The sleeves are short but I have a sweater to wear if it gets cold. The outfit is from the designer that I always wear. When I move to the mirror to see how everything looks another flash comes into the mirror. It is Simon but he looks different. He doesn't have his dark-frame glasses and his clothes are from the same designer. He looks really handsome, but what sends a shiver down my spine is his chains. He has a chimney sweep and a Scorpio charm chains. I don't remember seeing them before.

My hand goes to the chain I have on and I look at it in the mirror. It is my charms and the one I am envisioning on Simon. They are intertwined. Where did I get this? Did Simon give it to me? I bring my hands to my head and rock back and forth with my eyes closed. Why can't I remember? There is something I don't remember and it is so confusing. Am I going crazy? I seem to remember everything about my life. Growing up, Charles, my company, everything, but there is something missing and it won't come back.

I glance over the alarm clock and it is time to go. Taking a deep breath I say to myself, you are not crazy you will figure it out. When I walk by the mirror, I pause and stare at the scar on my face with a long sad look and put the article of clothing on my body. My mask. For some reason looking at the eyes looking back at me, I feel normal, myself with the mask on. The past day it is fading. A smile that can't be seen from under my mask. Some of the pain is still there. A reminder the accident did happen.

Once in the living room I grab my bag and take a quick glance around that I have not forgotten anything. The driver is waiting for me downstairs. When I settle into the backseat, he lets me know Carol informed him that we will be stopping at the phone store before heading to the airport. I nod, acknowledging his statement. My hands are clutching my bag. The last time I had a driver, things did not turn out that good. Ignoring my anxiety, I look out the window and glance at the pedestrians walking with their masks on. The sight makes me feel normal again. I look like everyone else.