close to my dialling heart

4🌹soaked

🎶you picked a chance with the devil, and you lucked out🎶
                        ~Chase Atlantic~

DOVE 🕊

"Shoot!" I muttered to myself as I rummaged through my suitcase, searching for sanitary towels. But they were nowhere to be found. My period was due the following week, and I was completely unprepared. I decided to take a trip to the mall after class, which was miles away from school, but thankfully only a thirty-minute bus ride away.

I didn't have the option of taking an Uber, as I didn't have any contact information for a driver. And to make matters worse, my phone contact list was practically nonexistent. I only had four numbers saved: Nana's, Mal's, Elaila's, and Harry's. Not exactly a vast social network.

After classes were over, Elaila offered to give me a ride to the mall in her boyfriend's car since he came over to fetch her. I didn't like the idea of me being in the car with two lovebirds, but I  agreed to it. I had my eyes focused on my phone the whole time through the ride, trying to avoid listening to their talk. I was relieved when we got to the mall faster than I expected because it was starting to get intense in there.

After classes ended, Elaila kindly offered me a ride to the mall in her boyfriend's car, since he was already there to pick her up. I wasn't thrilled about being a third wheel with the lovebirds, but I appreciated the lift. During the ride, I kept my eyes fixed on my phone, trying to tune out their sweet nothings. I was grateful when we arrived at the mall sooner than expected, as the atmosphere in the car was starting to feel a bit too cozy for my comfort.

After getting what I needed from the mall, I hastened out, my thumbs hooked through my backpack straps as I walked briskly with my headphones on. The soft music helped alleviate my boredom. But the ominous sky, now a deep grey, hinted at impending rain. The sun had disappeared, replaced by an eerie obscurity. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and I quickened my pace, hoping to catch a bus before the storm hit.

Taking a leisurely stroll was no longer an option. I started to panic when the first raindrop hit the corner of my eye. I quickened my pace, but the raindrops soon fell steadily, and I found myself jogging to escape the downpour. In the blink of an eye, the rain intensified, pouring down heavily. I hadn't even remembered to bring an umbrella, so I made a dash for the nearest bus stop to wait out the storm. Luckily, it was just ahead of me. I took shelter there, hoping the rain would let up soon - if it ever did.

Despite seeking shelter, my clothes were already drenched. I resembled a bedraggled puppy, with my hair plastered to my face. The torrential rain reduced visibility, and all I could see was a blur of flashing car lights. I huddled on the rusty bench, praying for a stroke of luck. Shivering uncontrollably, I felt the chill of the rain-soaked breeze and my saturated clothes - even my underwear was soaked through. It was shaping up to be a thoroughly unlucky day. My only hope was that my sanitary towel box had survived the deluge without getting waterlogged.

The thought sent me scrambling to unstrap my bag from my shoulders, and I hastily unzipped it to check on my sanitary towels. A sigh of relief escaped my lips when I saw that the box was still intact, its hard plastic material protecting it from the rain. Although there were a few wet spots inside my bag, the box itself remained dry, and I felt a wave of gratitude for that small mercy on an otherwise miserable day.

Every time I saw lightning, I squealed in fright. The thunder boomed and rumbled, making me even more anxious. The rain showed no signs of letting up, and I felt trapped and alone. To make matters worse, I had no idea if anyone would be able to come and rescue me from this misery. The storm seemed endless, and I felt helpless, huddled in the bus stop shelter, waiting for a reprieve that seemed to be taking forever to arrive.