ASLEEP YET AWAKE

headlights

I had told mia that I would accompany her to the mall today and so I had to get ready to meet her at the mall. Though I was not very excited to go on a shopping spree I could not actually refuse her. since I didnt had any better plans I decided to accompany her to the mall.

I have never been too inclined towards shopping. I did shopping only when I needed to go somewhere. My lack of interest in shopping can be attributed to all the expensive designer dresses that my father used to send me occasionally to make up for his absence in my life. I did not mind the gifts because it was not like I had a lot of money to splurge on dresses. I was content with all i had got. My mom could only afford to give me limited pocket money and in years that went by I had learnt to be frugal.

Though we had little money as compared to my father but we managed to lead a comfortable life. Together my mom and me managed the household. She was most of the time away from the house and used to return late at night. Her work required all the time of the day. We see less of each other but I could not complain because I knew she works so hard for me. She rarely knew about my life but she was proud of me for she has raised her daughter alone and I took care that her belief in me was never broken. She knew that I had been seeing someone but she never enquired further neither did she had the time to do so and I was completely fine with it.

I took out a pair of jeans and a t shirt. I needed to get ready fast. Days of staying in bed has made me lazy and slow. Mia would kill me if i keep her waiting.

I got ready in time and took a cab to the mall. The ride was short and i would have preferred walking if I have had time. I called her once I reached mall. Being the shopping freak that she is. she was already at the mall waiting for me. I met her at the coffee shop. She had already ordered two cups of coffee. I rushed to the table and took the chair opposite her.

"Hey mia".

"You ain't on time but since i am so kind I forgive you". She spoke.

"Thanks". I manged a smile. "What do you want to shop for by the way ?".

"Nothing much. When you have nothing better to do you should go shopping. It's a medicine". she announced.

"Yeah.. yeah..".

"Anyways I just ordered coffee. Lets get going fast". Mia told me urgently.

We finished the coffee and exited the coffee shop. While Mia stood amid the crowd wondering which shop to enter first I browsed the sorroundings.

We decided on starting from style planet. It did not take her long to grab a handful of clothes to try. She played the model while I rated the dresses she wore. Out of about ten dresses she tried she settles on two. After paying for them we went to charisma next. Since she did not like anything much there we were out of it in a little while.

Wandering in the mall our eyes were attracted towards a little shop on the second floor named memoires. The shop looked fancy. I liked the banner of the shop. The name of the shop was written in slanting cursives. The inside were lit brightly and the shop had a warm feeling, A welcoming atmosphere that attracted the passing people. We were instantly attracted towards the little shop.

Mia pulled me inside with her. The little bell on the door trinkled as we entered inside. The inside was mesmerizing. Shelf after shelf filled with shiny metallic item on the right. On the left wall soft toys were neatly arranged while on the farthest corner beautiful flowers were put on display. We walked into the shop awestruck. The shop was filled with people browsing through things. I walked towards the flowers section while mia looked at the shiny things.

The flowers were gorgeous and fresh. Their scent filled my nostrils as I went close. There were daisies and roses, Lily and tulips. All looking breathtaking. I began walking towards the toys section looking at the stuffed animals on the shelfs. I had a lot of them when I was a kid. When I grew old enough I put them in a box and gave them to an orphanage. I had always been fond of stuffed toys. They were cute and cuddly.

I was looking at the pink bears when I heard mia.

"Ohmigod! This is so cute. Lara you gotta see this".

I walked the short distance towards her. "What is it ?". I demanded.

"See these bracelets aren't they cute". She practically thrust the bracelets in front of my face.

It was nothing special. Just a pair of friendship bracelets. A silver chain with a heart hanging from it. At one side of the heart bestfriends was written in red ink while on the other side you and me was inked. It was simple yet pretty.

"Yeah. These are really pretty". I told her.

She beamed at me and without anything turned towards the counter and payed for the bracelets. Before I had a chancd to ask her she was again walking towards me with a grin on her face.

She came to me and grabbed my hand and like a little kid hooked the bracelet to my wrist.

"Your turn". She shoved the other bracelet in my hand and held her hand up for me to tie the bracelet.

I smiled at her childishness and hooked the bracelet to her wrist as well.

She wrapped me in a tight hug and after we broke apart she said," this is a small token to represent our friendship".

I squeezed her hand and told her "love you best friend".

She giggled and replied cooly,"love you too best friend. Now let's go and grab something to eat before I die of starvation".

After ten minutes we were sitting in subway munching at our burgers while sipping coke.

"These bracelets are really so cute". I told her

"Yeah. There was no way i was leaving without getting them". She replied through a mouthful "and thanks to you because i couldn't buy if I didn't had a bestfriend to give one to".

I smiled at her enthusiasm feeling lucky for having a friend like her. She was all I had after Ray.

After hours at the mall. We finally left the mall to go home. I had a large ice cream cone in hand. Mia was going to drop me home. The sun was about to set.
We sat in the car and Mia turned on the radio. With our car speeding and speakers blazing we set off on the road.

I ate my icecream while watching the sorrounding pass by in a blur. Sun was on the horizon ready to dip below the horizon and disappear.

The song changed and surprisingly it was our favourite song that come next. With the speakers screaming we began singing the lyrics of our favourite song at the top our voices careless about the world.

With wind blowing through our hairs we sang-

" we don't care
We are wild
We are free birds
Flying high..
Oohh... ohhh..."

I could see the turn at the end of the road approaching us and the sun halfway below the horizon.

"Life is insane
Life is cruel
But we will sing
Because we are free birds
Flying high..
Oohh..oohh..."

The turn came and mia drove us around the turn. Just as we turned I Saw yellow light approaching us at full speed and the horn of the truck in front of us blaring. But it happened too quick. We hardly had a moment's time. We were blinded by the headlights of the truck . We screamed at the top of our lungs as the truck approached us and smashed into us and suddenly time stopped, the music stopped and everything around me became black.