Lavender

Chapter Two

The next morning my legs are crossed in front of me as I sit on the cold tiles of my bathroom floor, my head hanging over the ceramic toilet bowl. I stagger when I finally get up, feeling very light headed.

Making my way to the kitchen for a glass of water, I hear an engine rumbling from outside.

Moving the cream colored curtains in front of the window aside, I peek out to see a moving truck in my driveway, the movers just getting out of the cab. Looking at my phone, I notice the big, bright 9:30 a.m.

Right on time.

I race up the stairs to throw on a pair of tight athletic shorts and old tee shirt, and I'm back downstairs right as the door bell rings. Unlocking both locks, the deadbolt, and the chain lock, I let the two burley men wearing stained shirts and ripped jeans inside and offer them a drink.

They both graciously take a Gatorade and walk back outside to get started unloading furniture. Room by room they move everything into the house, the living room being last. The next thing I know, I'm closing the door behind them and collapsing on my plush white couch in the middle of the room, surrounded by mountains of cardboard boxes and plastic bins.

After hours of rearranging end tables, dressers, and sofas, I find myself sitting in one of the rocking chairs on my front porch, wiping at the sweat beading down my forehead. My hands rest on my stomach as I rock back and forth, regaining the energy I lost pushing all of the heavy furniture around.

That's when I see a big black truck drive by my house. It slows down, and I almost think they're going to stop at my driveway, but instead they speed up and drive away.

My heart starts beating rapidly and my mind starts racing when I remember that I have no friends here.

I don't have any family here.

I'm all alone.

I try convincing myself it's fine because getting out of Georgia was the best thing I could have done, the most responsible for all parties involved. But my body is still overcome by a cold sweat.

Suddenly, I get the urge to run, so I throw on my Nikes and grab my headphones. Then, I'm out the door in an attempt to clear the muddy thoughts from my head.

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After a much needed night of rest in a comfy bed, I wake with a fresh mind. Now in need of hearty breakfast to replenish my body, I hop in my car and head to the nearest supermarket. Dancing to some new pop song in the drivers seat of my car, I pull into a parking spot near the doors of the bright, artificially lit store.

Once I've bought everything I could possibly need to eat for the next week, I unlock my car and start loading the many bags into my backseat. I reach around to grab the next one out of the cart, but it isn't there anymore.

Spinning around so quickly that I'm surprised I don't get whiplash, I spot my cart rolling into the middle of the parking lot aisle.

Right in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

I let out a throaty scream and run after the cart before there is a collision and someone gets hurt. I reach the cart in the knick of time and yank it out of the way, just as the vehicle pulls to a stop next to me.

A big black truck to be exact.

I almost scream again until I look up and see the face inside the driver side window. The same big blue eyes that I looked into at the store on the boardwalk, are looking back at me now. Only this time they're watering from holding in laughter.