I didn't move from that stoop for a very long time, and when I finally did, my shoes were plastered to the ground. I tried to get unstuck but I eventually just abandoned them there. Again, I would never wear them after this anyway.
I dragged myself down the streets barefoot, wincing when I stepped on rocks or broken glass. A few cars passed, honking at me for taking up the entire road. They all looked furious until they saw my expression. I'm not sure what it was but all of them quickly sped away without another sound.
After a while I came across a park and decided it was time to take a break. I threw myself onto a bench, sighed for a full half minute, then started to pick the shards out of my feet. Tears pricked my eyes as a few of them drew blood and the irony of being pained by a small rock but not a lake of flaming mystery fluid was not lost on me. When all the debris was gone, I ran my feet along the grass below me. It made me feel more human.
Remembering suddenly, I lifted my hands to my ears but they had shrunk back down to average size. I felt my face fall slightly and my nails started to detract. I breathed easier still. I'd become a creature and I didn't know if I could go back. But even if my face and body return to normal, I know I still won't be anymore.
I know who I become now if I'm pushed too far and I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse. All I know is that the melting feeling inside of me isn't for calming me down, it's heating me up. The wedding had turned the burner up to a point that I boiled over and no one could've stopped the reign of fury if that came with it.
I wondered if I'll ever regret taking them down the way I did, but I can't imagine I will. If I didn't do it, karma would've. Maybe that's the role I play in this. When there is comeuppance, I am the one who rose to serve it. No one gets out before paying for what they've done, I'll make sure of it.
I went to wipe the sticky sap from my eyes, smearing the mascara from my bottom lashes down my face.
