Haven Heights

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

The air in the cramped elevator cubicle was humid and stifling, making it hard to breathe as sweat trickled down her back.

A tap on her shoulder made Nia's attention shift towards a middle aged blonde woman with a short bop and a healed scar reaching from her temple to fierce blue eyes.

"Can I help you?" Nia asked politley, despite sensing the displeasure radiating from the woman.

She gestured to the doctoral mask covering the lower half of her face then pointed to Nia's bare one.

"Your mask. Where is your mask? You need to follow the pandemic rule. All of our health conditions could be at risk because of you."

Nia quickly skimmed her eyes around the room, everyone was masked up and some looked at her with slight caution.

Cheeks heating up in embarrassment, she gave an apologetic smile before rummaging in her bag until the soft cotton fabric of her mask touched her palm. Nia snapped on the material, adjusting it over her nose for good measure until the blonde lady's piercing gaze finally left her face.

Her shoulders sagged in relief, but still every breath caused a hot wave into her eyes. Making the atmosphere all the more feverent.

It felt like hours passed until they finally reached the lobby. Nia stepped out into the cool air-conditioned space and took in a deep refreshing breath.

She walked passed a vaccination stand near the lounge. People lined up in long ques to take their shots.

Nia considered it for a moment. The flu spreading around was pretty serious, caused high fevers and will leave you stuck in bed for weeks and she especially could not afford that with the risk of losing her job and upcoming college exams.

But ultimately her fear of needles kept her feet brisking past. A thin sharp metal piecing through the skin set her stomach churning with unease.

Her shoulder bumped into a dark haired teenage girl with dyed green streaks. Before Nia could apologise, the girl glared daggers and wordlessly brushed passed, purposly bumping Nia's shoulder again, with her headphones on.

Nia sighed and continued her way, returned the greeting of Frank the old security guard, and was out the main entrance into the hot blazing sun.

---

The next day she was back in her apartment, stocking away as much furniture she could lift in boxes and doing some spring clean work. The moving company would help with the bigger ones like the couches, fridge.

The apartment was filled with the aroma of lemony cleaning products and the sharp scent of bleach. The windows and balcony sliding door was open so fresh air can roll through, so she wouldn't choke to death on sharp chemical fumes.

She planned on doing it yesterday but five hours of sleep could only give you so much energy, and with both work and college to maintain it was expected that she passed right out the moment her cheek hit that pillow.

Nia straightened her back from her long hour crouched position on the living room floor. The box was filled with bubble rap and Lucy's Mexican Talavera pottery safely stored in the center. Lucy had a fascination for the colorful ceramic pottery with traditional patterns when they took a vacation trip to Mexico last summer break when Nia was a senior in highschool. Dolores Hidalgo, located in the state of Guanajuato, known for its vibrant pottery market, where tourist can find a wide variety of traditional Mexican pottery.

While Lucy was into all the traditional ornaments. Nia only cared about the food and spent hours roaming around sizzling street food stands, like a moth to a flame.