IN THE HEIGHTS

3

Post-Blackout
Prompt- "I walked home 10 blocks in the dark, my phone didn't ring once. You know one thing I can't stand?"
"A morning without my coffee..?"
"Being left alone.." ~Vanessa

The Club was crowded and dark, people were shouting and it was getting hotter by the minute.

"Usnavi?! Usnavi, help me!" She shouted, weaving her way through the crowds. If there were two things Vanessa hated, it was the dark and being alone.

"Usnavi?" Her eyes weren't adjusting and she couldn't see in front of her. She ran into someone and mumbled a quick "sorry", dashing off again.

People began filing out of the Club, a few having found their various friends and family members. Vanessa continued calling out for Usnavi, but he'd gone in search of Abuela..

Almost an hour later, the Club had cleared out, Vanessa had long given up shouting. If he was here, he'd be able to hear her.

She gave up soon after, biting her lip as she stepped outside into the dark. It wasn't cold, but there was a breeze that made her skirt flutter higher. She pushed it down.

She spent at least 10 minutes fighting her skirt down and walking in the dark. She shivered, not out of cold, and bit her lip. Several times, she thought she'd lost the way home, yet she continued, she'd only get more lost if she turned around.

A group of people ran past, they couldn't tell it was her, thank God, but they saw her figure. One of them whistled.

"Yo gurl, how 'bout you come over to my place?" She ignored him and continued walking.

"Aw, come on, ya know ya wanna, it's dark, babygirl, ya might get hurt" the boy called.

"Yo, dude, she's scared of the dark, go help her out" one of them pointed out.

"I'm not scared, I'm fine" she yelled.

"Yo, its Vanessa" she recognised the voice. It was José, she'd danced with him earlier.

"Where'd your boyfriend go? Did he leave little Vanessa alone in the streets?"

"I don't need Usnavi to look after me" she shouted back. They laughed.

"Usnavi? So you admit he's your boyfriend?"

She rolled her eyes and walked away. When she heard their footsteps following her, she jogged ahead a little, round the corner. She opened her apartment door, went in and slammed it behind her. She sighed and wiped the tears that she hadn't realised she'd shed.

If there were two things Vanessa hated, it was the dark and being alone.