Inevitable Flame

Darker Minds

believing this was the absolute peek and peace in her life.  When suddenly she heard.

"Eda?"

The ginger-haired woman turned around, to see her old friend from high school.

"Raine whispers.."

She looked at them surprised, seeing how much they'd grown over the years. From a small kindyouScrawny orchestra kid to an attractive adult who was...

Wait a damn minute..

"I'm sorry, are you taller than me?" Eda blurted out, realizing she was looking slightly up at them.  Raine chuckled, using their fist to cover their smile. "I haven't seen you in... What" they scoffed. "8 years and the first thing you ask is, are you taller than me?"   They teased, making the woman roll her eyes.   "Well, you used to be shorter than me, literally at my neck"    Eda joked, waving her hand at them.  "Yeah well, I had a surprise growth spurt during college," Raine said with a shrug, then noticing the small toddler trying to climb out eda's shopping cart.  They pointed with a silly smirk, making the young woman look back. "Rapsody! Stop trying to climb out!" Eda scolded, Rapsody immediately sat down and shook her head. "I wasn't!"
Eda rolplayfully rolled her eyes.. "So..may I assume you married?" Raine asked, putting their hands in their pockets.  Eda laughed a little nervously, holding the back of her neck. "Uh.. N-no. I'm not married"  Eda admitted shamefully. She didn't want Raine to think she was a hussy.

She certainly felt like one...

Raine looked at Rapsody, then at Eda. "She's adorable," Raine said, hoping to make their mistake better.  "Thanks, she's also a handful. But uh, how's your girlfriend?"  Eda asked, remembering their girlfriend Stephenie. Raine seemed to smile more brightly, as they said. "My wife. Actually... We've been married for 5 years now" Raine said, their cheeks turning a little pink.  "She's actually here. Somewhere" Raine muttered, looking around for their wife.  

Eda smiled, feeling happy for her friend. "Raine that's awesome! I'm so happy for you"  Eda beamed, then felt a box hit her in the back of her head. "Ow! Damnit Rapsody, what's the matter?!" Eda asked, looking back. "You said I could have a toy!" Rapsody complained, folding her arms angrily.  Eda let out a breathy chuckle, then looked at Raine. "Welp. That's baby life for ya" Eda joked. "I'm not a baby!" Rapsody protested, regardless of the fact she just stopped wearing Pampers 7 months ago.  "Okay, okay, we'll go get you a toy" Eda sighed, with a amused tone. "It was great seeing you Raine, see ya around," Eda said waving, as she started leaving for the toy aisle. 

Once she got there, she put Rapsody on the ground, letting her choose what she wanted. While doing so, she pulled out her phone and started scrolling on social media.  Only to hear a loud crash, then a high-pitched scream. Eda looked up quickly to see a woman in a dazzling pink dress that went down to her knees, and sunglasses perched on her head, with a huge coffee stain on her chest.  And her daughter on top of a red shelf, trying to wipe it off with her dirty toddler hands. Because they were covered with a yellow substance.  Eda seemed horrified, then as quickly as she could grabbed Rapsody off the shelf, and used some wet wipes from her purse to clean Rapsody's hands. "Rapsody! What the hell is on your hands?!" Eda asked, hoping she didn't get into chemicals or something. "It's a mustard mama! I have mustard packets in my pockets" Rapsody explained, still beaming with her explanation. "Why do you have mustard packets?" The ginger woman asked, taking her daughter in her arms. "I dunno.. " the 4-year-old replied with a shrug.

Of course...

Then suddenly the woman screamed again. "excuse me!  Your little brat just rubbed mustard on my designer dress!"   Eda looked at the woman, seeing all the stains her daughter caused. However, that didn't excuse name-calling. "Hey now, there's no reason for name-calling" Eda replied, holding her daughter close to her chest.  The woman still seemed angry and yelled at Eda. "Your daughter is disgusting! And you're a stupid bitch for letting her do this to a dress that costs more than her life!!"    Eda's eyes widened, shocked by this woman's words.   Rapsody looked at Eda and tugged on her shirt. "Mama... Is that true?"  Eda swallowed the Lump in her throat and said. "No baby, it's not.. "    the woman was still fuming as Eda set Rapsody in the shopping cart.