In the midst of being torn between two pairs of boots, I glance outside. It's snowing. The snow is falling at a rapid rate, making me wish I had some more wintery shoes. I take a look at myself in the mirror. My black dress has sleeves which stretch out to my elbows. The dress is a silky texture, cutting off right above my knees. I decide on a pair of short, ankle boots. They're black and only for up right above my ankle. The exact reason I call them ankle boots.
I'm still looking in the mirror when my phone vibrates from across the room. I ignore the notification and decide on a pair of small hoops for my ears. My brown hair is curled, half in the front and the other half falling in the back.
My phone vibrates again and I sigh. I know who it is. I ignore it again.
I pull my black leather jacket from my closet and throw it on myself in a quick motion. I grab my phone off my nightstand and attempt to leave my bedroom when my dad walks in.
"Kathleen." my dad begins.
"Yeah, dad?"
"She's here."
I nod at my father as he scans my body, making me feel a little bit conscious about my outfit choice. My dad gives me a faint smile as I walk into the hallway in an attempt to get downstairs.
"Kathleen! I've been texting you all morning!"
"Hey, Ari," I reply, giving a small smile.
Ari is my best, if not only friend. Her full name is Ariana, but she prefers Ari. Something about Ariana sounds too formal to her.
"How have you been?" she comes in for a hug.
"Good, how have you been?" I ask as I hug back.
"You know, same old, same old. College life is boring," she chuckles.
"Well, I wouldn't know," I smile.
After many college applications and many college rejection letters, I kind of gave up on the idea of college. It didn't seem like it was for me. Now, I make my money at a local restaurant, minimum wage and tips. I get by.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Kat," she tries to comfort me. "What do you say we go to the mall, get a cup of coffee yeah?"
In the outskirts of London, there isn't much to do unless you want to go into the city.
Ari and I have lived here for as long as I can remember. Her parents passed away when she was about five. She was an only child, much like both of her parents. It was down to the neighbors, us, to take her in. We'd been best friends before her parents' passing. After the accident, we became sisters. We've never not been there for each other. My mom and dad didn't have a problem taking Ari in, mostly because they wanted more kids, but couldn't have any. It was a positive made from the worst negative.
"Ari, I have to work. Maybe after my shift?"
"Yeah, Kat. Text me, let me know. Whenever is fine." she pulls me in for a hug again and exits through the front door.
I flip down on the couch and turn on the television, trying to ease my mind. My anxiety has been out of control the past couple of days. Christmas is around the corner, Ari is at college, and my parents have been awful quiet lately. I may as well be alone. My job isn't very fun, either. I have to deal with sour people all day. Not so enjoyable when you have to serve a seventy year old grump a cup of tea every morning at 9:30 sharp.
"Why are you wearing that dear?" the man asks me every day. Making me feel like I'm under or over dressed, everyday.
I grab my keys and wave goodbye to my mom sitting at the table, reading the paper and drinking a cup of liquid.
It's cold outside. The snow is piling up very quickly. I wish I didn't have to do to work. Christmas is in two weeks, making me wish I'd taken up Ari on her mall invite. I need to do some shopping.
I start my BMW and attempt to warm up. This is definitely not a snow car, but I love it. Almost everyone in the UK has one. It's strange.
I begin my commute to work. It takes about twenty minutes to get there. My shift starts at nine. It is 8:10 now.
On the radio, a commercial comes on advertising all the things you should be buying your significant other at this time of year. I laugh and turn off the radio.
Nineteen-years old. I'm nineteen and I still haven't a boyfriend. It makes me laugh in a sad way, knowing that it's a stupid thought to have. If something is meant to happen, it will.
The commercial made me think. In an odd way, I felt curious. Would I ever find love? When could I possibly find somebody to love? The thoughts depressed me further. When I tried to shake the thought from my head, more questions came: Who would I fall in love with? Would he break my heart?
Stop, Kat. You're hurting yourself. My thoughts distract me from the road as my car slides in the ice, crashing into something, something I can't recognize.
