The Music In Me

2

Irena had driven away from her house with just a suitcase and her laptop on impulse but the gravity of the situation was sinking in now when she had already driven straight for 5 hours straight.  She stopped in the middle of an empty road, checking her phone for accurate coordinates. She was already too far away to return to her Austrian mansion so she decided to drive on. It was still six in the morning. Checking the map for shops or eateries on the way, she drove for the next couple of hours quietly. 

The sun was high up in the sky when she reached the last grocery shop before the highway. Taking out her credit card, she walked inside. It was evident that the shop had just opened as there was only an old lady mopping the floor. Irena wished she had any idea what to buy, but she had never been a fan of packaged food. The fact that she had personal chefs may also have played a pivotal role in this affliction. She decided to pick up whatever she found and finally approached the old lady with a cart full of questionable edibles.

"I am sorry dear, I cannot help you with this. I do not know how to use bank cards. Do you have any cash on you?" The old lady asked. 

Irena was annoyed that the shop did not accept cards but the old lady's kind amber eyes made it tough for her to argue. She spotted the card machine on the cash counter.

"But..." she tried to get a look at the lady's badge to know her name, "Olivia, you have a card machine!"

"I know I do, but I don't know how to operate it. My grandson joins me by noon. He is the one who uses it."

Irena knew that she had poorly planned this trip and it was totally her stupidity that had led her to believe that only a credit card would get her through this impromptu trip. 

"Don't look so troubled! I can keep you company till my grandson comes. Come, let us sit. Most of the customers come in the evening. Are you hungry?" Olivia asked.

Irena knew it would've been polite to refuse but her stomach was almost aching from hunger so she nodded. Pulling up a foldable chair, she sat beside the cash desk by the time Olivia emerged after keeping the mop away. 

Olivia had also brought a box full of fruits for her to eat and Irena felt involuntary tears blur her vision. She was immediately transported back to her childhood when she used to try to convince her mother to fill her lunchbox with fresh fruits. She remembered those times when she was not the superstar Irena Macci or Irena Wallburg, but just Ren. All her friends would ask her to mimic people and her cousins would write and organise plays with her as the lead. It had been many years since she had last called any of them. 

She was harshly pulled out of her nostalgia by the arrival of a girl. She too looked like she was on a road trip of some sort. 

"Can I get some juices and water bottles?" she asked but was cut off by Olivia

"Do you have cash?"

The girl, just like Irene, did not have any cash, so Olivia asked her to join the little gathering so they could wait together for her Grandson. Emerging from behind the food aisles, she immediately pointed out, "You are Rena, aren't you?"

It had been such a long time since she'd heard that name that she was highly annoyed with herself for not recognising who the girl was. 

"I am Rena, but I'm sorry, I don't recognise you" Irena tried to say as politely as she could. 

"I am Leocinda, your bestfriend Crimson's younger sister? You taught me how to ride a bicycle and how to use the computer. Don't you remember us? Back in the day my sister and you used to be inseparable!"

Those memories felt as if they were someone else's. She did remember Crimson, how their windows faced each other's and how much fun they had racing through the streets on their skates or their bicycles. Why didn't they talk anymore?

Leocinda and Irena caught up while Olivia went to the storeroom to stock the empty aisles and give the girls some privacy. About an hour later, the grandson arrived and quickly completed their payments.

"So, where are you headed to?" Leocinda asked as she picked up her bag. 

"I guess I'll just wing it, wherever the road leads me to. You?"

"I'm going to Italy! I work there in a bookshop. I was on vacation with my college friends during the last few days. One of them offered to join me in Italy and take a break before driving back to the UK, but if you are up for it, maybe we can go together?"

Irena didn't hesitate for a moment before agreeing. Both the girls put their bags full of food and juices in the back, Leocinda transferred her luggage to Irena's car and after taking Olivia's number and thanking her, they began their drive to Italy.