2 kids

Midnight ice cream.

Ashley.

I get on the subway and sit by the window. The train's unusually empty at this hour, but I don't mind.

There's a mother with a toddler and a teenage boy sitting on the other end of the wagon. The boy's too busy playing some game on his phone and the mother's hopelessly trying to calm down the crying toddler. An older lady is sitting a few seats from me. Her eyes are fixed on the magazine laying on her lap. Every once in a while, when she blinks, she keeps them closed for a few more seconds.

I patiently wait for my stop to come. I didn't bring my book along today, only packed the most necessary things in a small bag.

A little girl, probably around six or seven years old, stands close to my seat. I can feel her look on me, but I just remain looking out of the window. Chills run down my spine, and eventually I give in and look at her. Despite not really wanting to, I force a smile at her. She has big, pitch black eyes. Her hair is the darkest ebony black I've ever seen. She resembles a human doll with perfect porcelain white skin and silky hair. Her beauty is without doubt breathtaking. What's lurking beneath that breathtaking beauty of hers is something wicked, something dark. She's too cute and pretty for this world, but there's nothing of that beauty in those big eyes of hers.

The girl never returns the smile.

I get off at the next stop, glad to have left that train. Maybe I'm paranoid or just really losing my mind, but the girl was looking at me like she knew my darkest secrets. I'm drowning in cold sweat and chills run down my spine again as I leave the train.

I enjoy walk in the fresh air to the café. It's just the perfect distance to clear my mind.

Realising I've come too early, I scan the place to find the perfect table outside. I sit down, the feeling from the train still not leaving me. Perhaps that feeling has nothing to do with the train. Perhaps I've brought it from home.

I couldn't stand being in the house anymore. I couldn't stand my own presence. I felt like I needed to leave, needed to be able to think clearly.

I sit down and pick up the menu card. The waiter comes out but doesn't notice me. I make no effort for him to notice me. It's alright, I can wait..

Looking around I try to distract myself. Observing people and making up hypothetical stories about their lives seem to be the perfect way to kill time. After minutes of making up hypothetical stories about all these strangers, I turn my attention to the sky. The waiter still hasn't noticed me, and I still don't mind.

It's a bright and warm day, almost no clouds. Birds flying around, every once in a while a butterfly too.

"Missed me?"

My eyes flicker to a grinning Mae immediately.

I jump from my chair, almost kicking it over, and embracing her in such a tight hug I might break her fragile ribs.

"So damn much," I say with no shame.

Her friends have taken the best care of me, yet I've missed her presence. Her jokes and our laughs.

"Me too, me too."

Before taking a seat over for me, her eyes scan my whole body. Slowly, she takes in the details of me. Nothing has changed, I'm still the same Ashley I was when she left.

"You know nothing –"

She shushes me. "I have to make sure."

With a laugh I make a spin around, then sit down. Mae takes the menu card, studying it in silence. And while she studies the menu card, I study her.