THE BEAUTIFUL ONE~Volume One

Day Two (cont)

"I think I'm gonna need socks and underwear too." said Michael quietly, after a

moment or two more of peaceful silence in the sanctuary. "If that's okay..." he

added, seeming to not want to impose on my generous nature.

"Of course." I replied with a pleasant smile. "We buy whatever you need."

"Great." replied Michael with the same shy smile I'd seen earlier in the

bathroom in my flat. 'Thank you...I had just had so much going on in my life

lately...Burying our mother had been the last straw, you know?...I just needed to

get out of there...so, I grabbed my passport, got a cab to the airport...bought a

plane ticket and...Have you ever felt that way, Ana? Michael asked as we

rebuttoned our coats, gathered our belongings, and strolled out of the

sanctuary, through the narthex and front entrance of the church into the clear

fresh cool outside air. "Like you just want to get up and go, without having to

explain yourself?"

"Oh yes, Michael." I replied. "Many times...that's why I became gypsy." I

continued, and went on to explain my decision to live as a gypsy when I'd

reached the age where youth were allowed to choose between life on their own

where they faced the 'adult' responsibilities of earning a living, and having a

roof over their heads, or being placed in the government funded 'system'

"Close friend from orphanage chose the system...Lived with many families...was never

happy...Was told entire life how to live." I continued as Michael and I boarded

the next available tram car, and continued on our way to the shopping malls in

the downtown area. "Was told who to marry...what to believe...No, life of gypsy

much better...more freedom." I continued with a smile. "Some people bad mouth the

gypsy...tell lies about us...say we are filthy...beg for food...those people don't

know...are jealous." I continued, as the tram car reached our destination, and

Michael and I disembarked in front of the entrance to one of the major shopping

malls in the city.

"Alexia...the one who flirt with you...she chose the system...became run-away...should

have become gypsy...the foolish girl.", I continued, a smirk crossing my lips, as

Michael and I headed from the tram stop, across the cobblestone walk way to the

front entrance to the mall.

Once inside the mall's double doors, Michael and I both 'heard' the 'call of

nature"-having both neglected to use the toilet before leaving my flat, and not

having thought to do so before leaving the church-.

"Restrooms over here." I said, having spotted the 'restroom' sign-written in