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Chapter Thirteen :Fate's quick mothers

Feeling she'd collapse anytime soon, she sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the window of the store.

"How frustrating, Jesus!" The girl placed her head between her knees. "And I even thought of making a truce. How could I be so stupid?!"

When she gathered strength, she walked inside the store to ask if they had a phone available. It was broken. She tried to hide the disappointment and walked out hastily. None of the men inside even had a vehicle, so she wondered where they were from. There was probably some small town around the area, so she could try to get a phone there.

But what if...

"No." Robin shook her head, clenching her teeth. "No. Stop thinking. He's not coming back."

She had to pick a way to go down the road. She hadn't even seen, while she was in the car, which had been the last inhabited place. It was cold and she was just wearing the thin M-RI uniform, feeling her bones were freezing. With frustration, she remembered that her jacket was inside her backpack. And her backpack was inside the car that had abandoned her. At any rate, she began to walk straight north but she didn't even know which was the right way, and didn't want to lose the gas station from her sight. Otherwise, she'd be even more lost. Why not wait for a car to go get gas and ask for a ride? She could offer some money.

She checked her pockets. Twenty bucks.

Shivering, she walked back to the gas station as tears of powerlessness rolled down her cheeks. It would be dark soon, not to mention the polar coldness that'd come along, and the bunch of drunk men that would walk out the station.

Crying while it was cold made her feel feverish and sick. Robin seriously doubted, as she sat again against the wall of the store, that they'd sell any medicine inside. But she was also getting hungry. Her legs were trembling violently for the cold. And all she had were twenty bucks that she had to save for a ride...

Anyway, how many cars had she seen after being there for nearly an hour? None.

"I hate you so much, bastard son of a..."

Again, she walked inside the place. The man who had been in charge of the store was sitting down with the men, drinking, and now his wife, apparently, was occupying his place. The woman looked up at her.

"Hi," Robin attempted to smile while trying to dissimulate her shaking arms. "What do you have with chocolate in it?"

Actually, chocolate gave her stomach ache, but right then she just wanted to eat tons of it. The woman didn't respond quickly once she focused in her face.

"I can offer you chocolate candies, or our cafeteria menu... with cakes..." She said. Robin nodded, feeling her face was growing hot. "Excuse me, are you feeling alright? Your lips look purple already, child."

"I'm fine," Robin tried to transmit serenity but her efforts weren't enough. The woman shook her head and searched for the menu booklet. "Sorry, ma'am... is there a toilet I could use...?"

"Oh, sure, the door past the TV."

"Thanks." Robin hurried and felt all the eyes of the men staring at her. It was awkward. And baffling. What was she going to do? Then, the reflection of the mirror inside the bathroom called her attention. For real, she looked terrific. The worry had ruined her face.

When she returned, ignoring the glares from the men and their mutterings, she saw that one of the tables beside the door had a warm coffee and a big piece of classic chocolate cake upon it. Robin looked at the woman, hesitating whether to sit down or not.