I Watched You Drive By

Scarlett

"Can I go use the bathroom first?" The question pops out of my mouth as soon as Sam smiles. I stare at the table as I ask, but I can tell that his smile has waned. The table is full of plates full of not only waffles, pancakes, and French toast, but eggs, bacon, and plenty of other things that I have no name for. My stomach was making the universal whale noises, but I ignored it and turned around to look at Sam.

His smile was now only slightly there, but his eyes-- which are deep green, I notice-- are proud of my reaction. He nods and stands up. "Sure. Do you need help or--?""

I get up out of the chair he helped me into, making sure not show any discomfort when my leg starts to throb again. "No. I got it." I limp as fast as I can up the stairs and make the mistake of using my right hand on the banister. A low hiss escapes, but Sam, thankfully, doesn't hear it. My hand had gotten hurt during one of my many mistakes yesterday and I hadn't even noticed until Sam pointed it out and wrapped it up.

I make it back into the black and white room and slipped into the bathroom with the slow pace of a snail. I didn't give myself enough time to look around, but I knew that the place was just as big-- maybe a little bit smaller-- as the room I woke up in. Using my memory from yesterday, I move around the bathroom. First, I turn on the shower finding the elaborate switches I struggled with yesterday. It's a modern machine that stands next to the shower. I type in hot water and the shower starts by itself.

Next I take off the black sweats and t-shirt and jump into the shower. I thought about asking Sam if I was wearing his clothes. They were a little big on me, but they were also really comfortable. When I had slipped them on yesterday, they smelled fresh and washed, so he had not worn them yet. And that's where I stopped my thoughts. No way was I going to go deeper and ask Sam straight out if he was sharing clothes with me and why.

After my shower I put back on the clothes Sam gave me from yesterday, since I have no idea where my t-shirt and jeans were. I find my shoes next to the bed and put them on. Then as quietly as I can I'm downstairs, opening the large door from before, and I'm gone. With the skills I have learned to master during these past years, I was pretty sure that Sam would never even know that I had left without saying that I'm am. I'll send him and his family a postcard some day. If I make it.

********************

Outside it's not raining as much as yesterday, but there is still little droplets splashing down.  The sky is an angry grey that seemed to be threatening more showers until next year. Or at least until the coming anniversary passed. Surprisingly the grounds around Sam's "house" are not as flooded as I thought it would be. Of course, I think to myself as I jogged out the gate we came through yesterday, he probably has a groundskeeper to keep it flood-free.

It takes me a while to get off Sam's property, but by then I start to recognize some things. The other mansions that are a little bit farther away from each other. The spaces in-between houses, that I counted along the way. It takes me even a little longer to get to the main road. Once I'm there, I stop running but keep up a fast pace. There are a few people outside, who glance my way occasionally, before altogether ignoring me.

I cross my arms over my chest when a couple of guys walk past, staring at me the longest. Both of them are wearing the same type of coat that Sam draped over me yesterday. What they must think about some random girl walking around their neighborhood in just a t-shirt and sweatpants, I don't know, but I don't want to give them the wrong idea. One of the boys, a blonde, lifts his head up in a nod, but I don't reply and walk faster. The brunette guy hesitates, staring at me.

I start running. They didn't look like the type, but you never know in this world. Thankfully the guys don't follow me, and by the time I pause to catch my breath I see it. I see the Tommary Bridge sign and arrow. The sign is blue and little frayed from everything it went through, but I use it as a beacon towards freedom.

All feeling has drained out of me by the time that I reach the hole. The hole is perfect in size, as if it was made on purpose just for this kind of reason. I look down at the water. It had certainly risen overnight. The color is grey, reflecting off the sky, so unlike the summer when it reflects the beautiful blue. The smell of rain in the air makes me hunch my shoulders and clutch onto the bridge rails. I breathe in and out for a couple of times and stand still. The slight wind whips through my hair and I close my eyes.

It's only a matter of time.

********************

I feel his presence way before he speaks a few minutes later. "Wanna go back home?" My hand tightens on the rails and I spare Samuel a glance, before looking back down at the grey water. I have managed to get wet within the time that I have been here. I stopped thinking about time a long time ago. The word 'home' starts a tick inside me.