Bright

three

The rest of the week flashes by. Every day is a routine. I take the subway to school, talk to Perrie before the bell rings, get my daily hug from Ariel, teach until exhaustion, and get picked up by Michael after all the students are picked up. I haven’t seen Ari’s father since Monday. An older woman (I’m guessing her grandmother) picks her up every day, right on time. For the most part, I am relieved but there is a part of me that longs to see the stranger again.

It’s Friday morning and my day is already off to a rough start. I slept through my alarm and had to wake up Mikey for a ride. He was rightfully irritated but pulled through. Perrie came down with the flu so she had to call in sick. It felt weird without her. The bell rang and the students rushed in with their backpacks. A few of the other kids have noticed Ariel’s hugs to me this week and have joined in. I feel a lift in my spirits as they rush to embrace me.

The rest of the day drags on. I feel numb and I can’t explain why. Today just sucks. Michael texts me that he can’t pick me up in time and I feel tears prick in my eyes. Why today of all days? By the end of the day, I feel dead. Today has just taken all of my energy.

All the kids are waiting for their rides and Ariel stands next to me. When a black car pulls up, I feel a twinge of joy only to see the older woman step out of it. Why am I so excited to see the stranger? Ari hugs me quickly before running off.

When all the students are gone, I head home and immediately fall into the couch to cry.

I don’t remember falling asleep but when I wake up it is 8:30. I feel like a train hit me. “Michael?” I call out into the apartment. No answer. He must still be out. I crawl to the bathroom and grimace at the sight in the mirror. I guess I look how I feel. I look pale and bags sag under my eyes. Upon using the bathroom, I realize why I have felt like shit all day. I groan at the sight of blood in my underwear. When I reach into the cabinet, I find no tampons. Crap. I’ll have to make a trip to Walgreens.

The walk from the apartment to the store is about thirty minutes. Geeze, I should really invest in a vehicle. The parking lot is full and I sigh at the thought of seeing anyone important. All I want to do is get in and get out of there.

I wander around the aisles. When did they move everything? I pick up some headache relief and end up on the cereal aisle. I realize a hunger growing in my stomach and everything looks good. I grab some Cheerios and continue searching. After several minutes I finally find the feminine product area. I pick up a box and rush to the register. I turn the corner in a hurry to get out and hear a familiar voice call my name from behind. “Miss Campbell!” Tiny arms wrap around the back of my legs. Crap. Crap. Crap.  I turn around warily and see the tall stranger walking toward us with a full cart. His face is not his usual grimace but full of peace. He’s wearing jeans and a hoodie. I lean down and hug Ariel in a full embrace, “Hi, sweetie!” I make eye contact with the stranger and he shrugs. “She wanted to say hi.” I stand back up and straighten my shirt. “Well, I’m glad.” I ruffle Ari’s hair and she smiles sweetly at me. We all look at each other, unsure of what to say. He looks at the items in my hand and suddenly I feel self conscious of my purchases… This is so embarrassing. I cough awkwardly. His eyes are piercing through me and my flesh burns red. He opens his mouth to say something and I hold my breath, “Hey, Ari? Could you go grab some toothpaste for Daddy? I’ll be right there.” She nods and runs off. Oh shit. I swallow hard.

I speak, “Sir, if this is about the night at the bar-“ he cuts me off. “It’s not.”

“Oh.” I say quietly. “Miss Campbell, I think you and I got off on the wrong foot.” Wait, what? Is that what he wanted to talk about? My head rushed with questions, “Um, yeah. I think we did. I apologize for, you know, dancing on you and keeping Ari in the cold.”