The Way Shadows Move

Chapter Two: The White Apparition

"Elizabeth it's time to get up, I made breakfast."

My grandmother Rosemarie's voice was always so soothing. I swear she could have been a singer.

"Yes grandmother."

Getting up was always hard for me, I very rarely found peace outside of sleeping. It was my getaway from the world around me. Classes had started a couple days ago, so I was trying to get as much sleep as I could. I looked at my phone to check the time.

It read 8:30am, early as hell. I guess I had to get used to being up early at some point.

A week or so had passed since I saw the shadows on the way to the mailboxes. I hadn't told my grandmother about it either, she would have a fit and never let me out of the house even if I am 21.

Dragging myself out of bed, I forced myself to put on ripped skinny jeans, my favorite sweater, and my checkered vans. Brushing my hair in the mirror felt like it took forever, my curls could be unforgiving. Wetting my hair before I brushed it usually helped. I then brushed my teeth, after I was done, I made my way into the dining room to have breakfast.

My plans for the day consisted of my getting my daily dose of coffee and a trip to the library to work on a few things and get my schedule set up for the week. I liked to write down work that I had to submit for the week. Grabbing my bookbag, I said goodbye to my grandmother and left the house. The bus stop wasn't a far walk, the weather was cool so I wouldn't break out into a sweat. A couple of minutes had passed, and I saw my ride in the distance.

The bus wasn't crowded and there was plenty of seats to choose from, I always preferred the front of the bus. I put on my headphones and turned on some early 2000's rock and melted into the seat. It was about a twenty-minute ride. Looking out the window, I noticed how cloudy the sky was. I should have checked the weather before I left the house. If it rains, I'm screwed.

Usually when it rains it gets darker quicker outside, hopefully I can get as much done as possible before then.

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There was a coffee shop across from the library that I usually went to. There was a couple sitting outside enjoying their hot coffee's as I made my way inside. The bitter sent of coffee filled the small shop, it was comforting. This place was like my second home, and it only ever had a handful of people inside. I took my headphones off.

"Hey Larry, the usual please."

Larry was a sweet middle-aged man with dark brown hair and grey eyes. He owned the place and always greeted me with a warm smile. His wife had passed while I was in high school, and I kept him company in the shop during the summers. It was rarely ever busy when there was warm weather. I'd usually bring a book to read him while he cleaned up or made coffee for the both of us.

"Sure thing Lizzy, we just got a new salted caramel flavor if you'd like to try it? On the house of course."

He always let me try new flavors he'd get shipped in.

"Sounds good Larry, I'll give you a full review."

I'd never turn down a free shot of flavored espresso. Me and Larry had a friendly relationship, I looked up to him almost like a father I never had. His aura just seemed warm. It never took Larry long to make coffee either, he was quick with it. I guess he learned some tricks for when it was busy in here. He had named the shop "Mabel's" after his mother, he told me about it one summer.

My seat was never occupied, it was a window seat that was attached to a little bench by the window. It gave a beautiful view of the library, which was a large stone building that was put on full view. Whenever it wasn't super busy Larry would bring the coffee to his customers, so I went to take a seat while I waited.