A Stitch in Time

Prologue

"Crap," she muttered, as a far raindrop landed with a splodge down the back of her neck. She shivered as the cold wind blasted into her faded jacket and her hood was thrown back unleashing a waterfall of soggy droplets into her hair. She jerked as a pothole disguised as a puddle caused her to lose her balance and drop her small holdall. She forced her stiff fingers to grasp the handle and continue on her path. Her face felt numb and wet but with raindrops or tears, she didn't know.

A clap of thunder grumbled through the sky and she tried to ignore the wet thwacking sound the rubber soles of her shoes made as they hit the pavement with each fresh step. The cold her seeped into her bones and her chest felt tight. She spotted a yellow light through the rain and began to head towards it as if it was a beacon of hope. She prayed that it would lead to somewhere warm where she could shelter for a while. As she walked past a small furniture shop and an even smaller hairdressers she tried to repress her panicked thoughts, she didn't know where she was.

She could still feel the stump of the train ticket in her pocket it had seemed like such a good idea at the time. The small town of Hemswick had been far away and she'd managed to get a few hours of sleep on the train which at the time had relieved her of the stares of the elderly couple who were whispering loudly about how peaky she looked.

Regret filled her for being so foolish. She should have made a plan of where to stay and what to do next, those peaceful moments of slumber where she had escaped her fears would have probably cost her shelter for the night. It had seemed like a romantic notion, arriving at the train station and choosing a train and destination at random and travelling as far away as she could, but as reality set in panic began to course through her veins, what was she going to do now?

She had as much money as her bank would allow her to clear out before closing her account, a few belongings and a yearning for a fresh start away from her past, but those items wouldn't last forever and they certainly didn't provide enough to live on for a new life.

The light was clearer now and she released a sigh of relief, a cafe wasn't exactly a home but it would serve as a sanctuary from the storm, even if it was only temporary. As she opened the wooden door, a bell chimed signalling her arrival. She looked around for signs of human life but nobody was around.
The cafe reminded her of an American diner with its rounded wooden tables sheathed in red and white tablecloths, pale yellow walls and artsy pictures placed at strategic angles to reflect the light and capture the interest of punters, yet despite its pleasant appearance there wasn't a soul in sight.

As she sat at a table and gingerly removed her jacket, a blonde haired woman emerged from a back room and strode towards her with a notebook and pen in hand.

"Hiya chuck, what can I get you?" She chirped with a friendly smile. If the sunny waitress was startled by the appearance of a sodden female with tangled red hair, she didn't show it.

"Just a cup of strong tea with three sugars and a splash of milk please."

The waitress scribbled down the order and floated away into the back room leaving her alone.

As she waited for her tea, she groped in her bag for a compact mirror and attempting to clean her face. She was grateful for her lack of mascara but her eyes were shadowed, red and puffy revealing many sleepless nights and bitter crying sessions. Her face was pale and sickly looking with red patches from the cold and her hair that had previously been a long ribbon of auburn curls was now hacked to her shoulders, dyed deep red and was a nest of snarls and tangles.

The waitress returned with a cup of tea and toast with a pot of jam, the simple kindness caused her to well up and before she knew it she was sobbing into her order, whilst the waitress flipped the door sign from open to closed before taking a seat beside her. The waitress clucked her tongue sympathetically and slide a box of tissues across the table to her as she managed to finally regain control of herself.

"I'm sorry it's been a rough day, I've just got here I have no idea where or even if there's a hotel that I can stay in tonight, everything is such a mess and it's supposed to be a fresh start!" She wailed.

The blonde haired waitress seemed to understand as she placed her warm hand over her cool one. "My name's Cheryl and don't worry I'll help you settle in, there's a hotel nearby and I can fix you up with something proper to eat, it's a bloody nightmare out there you'll catch a cold," she said firmly.

She bit her lip and blinked a few times forcing the tears away, she realised that she was still safe and now was the first test of her new life. 

"That would be lovely, th-thank you," she stammered.

The waitress grinned and shook her head, "Don't mention it, although you do look a bit young for a midlife crisis, what's your name?" she asked.

She sat up, dried her eyes and took a deep breath, it was now or never.

"Rissa, Rissa Bailey."