Not to be found

Chapter 5 - Day One: Morning

I fell asleep quicker than what I expected last night. It only took a few more minutes of looking at the stars and a change into the baggiest t-shirt I have ever purchased to make me fall completely into a deep sleep.

I'm now lying on my back in this incredibly comfortable bed, which I'm incredibly grateful for. My head is pounding creating images of what today may bring, and also what messages are waiting for me to read on my phone.

My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," I say, sitting up in the bed and trying to straighten my hair with my fingertips, hell knows what I look like?

The woman who showed me in last night smiles as she enters the room, "Good morning, sorry to disturb you but we were wondering if you will be joining us for breakfast this morning?"

Breakfast? Wow. I never realised that I may be getting a proper meal in this place, to be honest I am in desperate need of one because I haven't had one in over a day now. "Yes I will be thank you," I enthusiastically reply.

She smiles and nods her head as she leaves the room. As she goes I pull myself up and out of bed and into the bathroom, the bathroom which I didn't realise had a shower until a few hours ago when I went to go and investigate. I pull the t-shirt up and over my head, allowing my hair to fall onto my back. I run the shower and watch in wonder as the small bathroom fills with a warm steam, already feeling wonderful on my bare skin.

I pull the shower curtain back and step into the cubicle which looks so inviting, the water is warm as it hits my skin leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake, I search the cramped cubicle for shampoo and pour the contents of the bottle labelled coconut into the palm of my hand and then massage it into my scalp making sure that its covering every inch of my hair. I then rinse it out and once done step out of the cubicle.

I step back into the bedroom with the black bath towel secured around my waist and search through my carrier bag of clothes that I purchased yesterday, I can't spend today wearing yesterdays clothes that's disgusting. I settle for a pair of black leggings, simple t-shirt and navy blue hoodie. I once again can't be bothered with my appearance today and leave my room with no make up on. Oh wow what would mother think of me?

I walk down the narrow corridor and into the breakfast room which looks like it came straight from a fairy tale with its fairy lights draping across the ceiling, white walls, roses in vases at every table and picnic blankets covering each of the tables. I now feel hopelessly underdressed, although at the moment I am the only one in the room which makes me wonder if anyone else is actually staying here.

A tall man walks over to me and hands me a menu, he explains that I can have anything off the menu as its included in the price of my stay at the motel. As I browse through the menu a young couple, maybe in their twenties casually stroll into the room, evidently madly in love with each other due to the fact that they can't take their eyes of one another and the girl is giggling like a teenager, also because they didn't even notice me sitting here like a loner. I mean I would at least like to be acknowledged.

I observe as the guy pulls the chair out for his girl and she gives him the brightest smile I've seen in a long time. As I carry on watching them over the top of my menu so that it doesn't look like I'm staring my thoughts drift off to think as to what I would be like in a relationship, I'd never know because I've never had one. Monica was always the one to steal the gaze of all the guys and so I never got a second look. I watch in awe as the guy takes the girls hand and kisses each of her knuckles, I look away as it makes me feel a little uncomfortable with all their public displays of affection. Oh shut up Lacey, just because you've never been in love doesn't mean that you should be jealous of others and their happiness, that's just pathetic. 

The man that handed me the menu returns to my table and asks me what I want to order, I say I would like an omelette and some toast, he then hurries away to the kitchen where my food is prepared. Whilst I'm waiting my curiosity gets the better of me and I find my eyes travelling in the direction of where the young couple are sitting. God, Lacey snap out of it.  He's holding her hand, their faces so close it looks like they're about to......yep, kiss. I knew it. You don't need to have been in a relationship to be an expert in it, I've just read a lot of books.

By the time my food is placed on my table I fear that I've lost my appetite due to the amount of PDA I've seen in the past twenty minutes. I say thank you to the waiter and reluctantly pick up my knife and fork to start eating my omelette, any feeling of loss of appetite instantly vanishes when I put the first forkful into my mouth, it tastes like pure bliss. Its so good that I finish it in less than ten minutes and end up taking the plate to the kitchen myself and thanking the chef for cooking me such a wonderful breakfast. I walk out the room and look over my shoulder as I go to get one last look at the love struck couple, still holding hands like I thought they would be.

I go back to my room and unlock the door, I gather up my belongings and leave the room that I have grown to love even after staying in it for only one night, its been like a sanctuary to me. I go to the reception desk and hand my key back to the woman and pay her the £40. She thanks me with a smile and wishes me a safe journey, I thank her and then leave.

I walk outside into the bitter air and unlock my car, I climb inside throwing everything onto the back seat. I can feel my breakfast rising back up into my mouth as I hear my phone vibrate in the glove compartment. I quickly pull it out without looking at the screen and turn the damn thing off, I then throw it back into the glove compartment like its burning ember and flaw it out of the car park.