Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 2

 "I need a BLT with fries and a burger, medium, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and onion rings," Becca called out to the cook, Bill.

Bill had been working here since he was eighteen. Now he was fifty-five and owned the diner. He was a good guy, always offering to walk the girls to their cars when they got off late. He had two daughters who were grown now and five grandkids. He acted like everyone's dad, making sure the male customers behaved themselves. Sometimes the truckers that came in liked to get a little handsy and Bill had no problem kicking them out on their ass if needed. Becca didn't tell him that she was more than capable of handling herself, preferring to stay under the radar.

"You got it Becca," he called back. "Why don't you take your break? You've been going for five hours now. Tracy can bring the food to that table."

Becca nodded, heading to the breakroom in the back. The truth was, she rarely took her breaks. At least when she was at the diner, taking orders and chatting with customers, her mind was occupied with something that wasn't Eddie. Pouring herself a cup of coffee from the pot, she sat down at the small table. Her eyes burned from lack of sleep and she closed them for just a moment, trying to ease the ache.

"You look like you need some tequila, a nap, or a hug," Judy commented, walking in to get herself a coffee. "Sweetie, possibly all three."

Becca offered her a small smile, taking a long drink of coffee. Caffeine had been her savior these last months, the only thing that kept her functional and upright after so many nights of barely any sleep.

"Right now coffee will have to do," she replied.

"Honey," Judy commented, sitting down next to her, "you've been working here for five months now. You walk around with this perpetual sadness hanging over you. It's haunting. Your eyes are full of so much pain. You never talk about it. You're so young. I can't help wondering what could have happened in your short amount of time on this Earth to make you so sad?"

Judy was Bill's wife and she was one of the kindest ladies Becca had ever met. She always wore a smile, the kind that crinkled her eyes at the corners and let you know it was genuine. She was soft and perfectly squishy, giving the best kind of hugs that felt like being enveloped in a warm blanket. Becca couldn't handle her hugs though and avoided them whenever she could. It made her miss her mom and it made her want to break down and she couldn't afford to do any of that right now. She had been trying to get Becca to talk to her for months and she kept shutting her down. She couldn't tell the truth and no one would believe her anyway.

"I lost someone," she finally admitted, giving her something in the hopes that she would back off a bit. She asked every single time Becca worked and she was so exhausted from trying to come up with excuses.

"Oh sweetie," she cooed, taking Becca's hand. "I am so sorry. Who did you lose?"

"I lost the man that I love," Becca answered, her voice catching with each word that left her lips. "It was a freak accident, nothing anyone saw coming. I am just having a lot of trouble moving on."

"The shocking deaths are always the worst," Judy empathized. "When we lose someone who's old it feels natural, an expected part of life. When we lose someone who's been sick, it can almost feel like a relief for them because we've watched them suffer. But when someone suddenly dies, and someone so young, that's a hard pill to swallow."

Becca nodded, tears searing her eyes but she refused to let them fall. When she let them come, it was only when she was alone and even that was rare. She couldn't afford to break down. She had to keep her mind clear so she could focus on getting to Eddie. Becca would not fall apart in front of this woman she barely knew. They might work together but she had worked really hard to keep herself separate from everyone here, to not let anyone in. She had no capacity for relationships of any kind right now.