INSIDE THEIR MINDS

We Have To

KATE

"I should go with we need stuff for Nora and he will have no idea what to get her." I said to Phil.

"Here let me come too." Alex said already moving from her chair.

"We don't want to attract attention." I said just needing some time away from both of them.

"Okay. Okay. I will watch Nora for you." She said as she looked over to Nora as she sat happily in her carseat now wedged between the two of us.

I get out of the car and round the corner to the store, Phil thought it would be best to not park out front, but I don't think it really matters.

I was greeted by very bright floresent lights and a young man at the register barely acknowledging my existance as his eyes continued to stare at his phone.

I scan the small store and see Derek's puff of hair just a few rows down. I make my way over to him grabbing a few miscellaneous things on the way.

"Look you didn't have to come." I say to him as he grabs several waters from the stacked fridge.

"I know I didn't have to but I love her." He said not looking at me directly.

"I know but this is dangerous and..."

"And you shouldn't be doing this either. You have a baby and a life and I know you love Phil but your baby needs to come first. " he said as gently as he could.

"I love him and I need to be with him. I can not do this alone." I said already feeling tears in my eyes.

"You wouldn't be alone you have Alex and you have me. " he said comfortingly.

"I will give him a day." I said wiping away the evidence of sadness from my eyes. "W e can handle a day wherever we are and after that we can make up our minds. Nora needs to be safe and wherever the safest place is for her I will go."

"Okay." He said with a small smile as he headed down the aisle filling up his basket with crackers and other odds and ends.

"Just don't tell Phil we talked I will have a talk with him later, okay?" I said following behind him with my own basket filled with more "essential" items including fruit and things for Nora.

"Yes, I can keep this a secret." He says.

"Thank you." I said as we headed to the register, both of our baskets filled to the brim.

The young man's eyes went wide when he saw the amount if items we had gotten but then his expression turned tired once again.

"That will be 76.54." He said in a boring monotone voice.

Derek counted out four twenties and handed it to him then received the change back.

The young man filled our items into plastic bags in silence not paying much notice to us, thankfully.

"Have a good night. Come again." He said as if for the millionth time as we headed out the door.

We didn't answer but instead just quickly shuffled to the van only guided by the thin sliver of moon above us.

PHIL

"Did they have everything?" I ask as I quickly left the parking lot not even waiting for them to buckle up.

"They had enough." Kate said from the back seat as she scowered through the several plastic bags for water then finally clicking her seat belt in.

She handed Derek two and Derek immediately handed one over to me after taking a swift drink from his own.