Salvation

Tranquility

The day had been introduced by another dreary morning, and she had taken to it with a little less grace than she would have liked. Her morning had started out with a delayed alarm, which had left her scrambling to get ready for her shift, feeling much like a beheaded chicken as she bolted around her apartment. In her rush, she had forgotten the laws of physics, and gravity betrayed her when she slipped and took a tumble while exiting her shower. Now sporting a fair-sized bruise on her thigh, she quickly locked her door behind her and ran to the elevator to see the heavy metal doors drawing to a close.

"Hold the door!" She called hastily. Just as the doors were sliding shut, a hand shot in at the last second, triggering the motion sensors to reopen. She quickly entered the elevator, glancing at the man nearest her eith a small smile. "Thank you." But he just shook his head and pointed to someone behind her. Blinking, she turned curiously, and a bright smile instantly stamped itself on her face when she saw it was him. "Hey, neighbour." She greeted cheerfully.

He nodded to her in response, and although the look the other man was sending them appeared to go unnoticed by Tessa, it didn't go unseen by him. She walked over to stand as his side without hesitation, a warm, welcoming smile adorning her feature. When the elevator came to a stop two floors down, the man exited, but not without sending one last nosy, vaguely skeptical glance back at them as he left.

"Really, they should just start taking pictures."

His head turned down to her at her dry tone to see she was shaking her head towards the door.

"I mean, really, is it that fascinating?"

He stared at her. "Where are you heading off to?"

She looked at him. "I have a 7-5 shift at the hospital. You?"

"Heading to a confession."

"Ah."

He glanced at her. If he didn't know better, he might have guessed she sounded distantly scornful. "...what?"

"...what?"

He eyed her for a moment, but then shook his head, deciding it was all in his head. "Nothing."

They exited the elevator together once it hit the bottom floor, and she offered him one last delicate wave and smile before patting her own way. It wasn't until later that night that she returned to the apartment complex. Her manager had requested she stay for an extra two hours to fill in a shift, and, not in any financial position to say no, had accepted. In result, however, a thirteen hour day had left her completely drained. It took all she had not to drag her feet in an ungodly fashion as she trudged to her apartment and unlocked the door with a weary sigh. When she entered, though, she was greeted by an unexpected surprise. Leaning down, she picked up a small paper off her floor.

I believe my rosary is in your apartment. Would you mind looking?

- J

J. What did the J stand for? His real name, perhaps? It was a little surprising to her he would sign that way, but a smile was forming on her lips before she knew it, and despite how tired she was she got right to doing as he asked. The apartment was small, and it didn't take her long to find it. It must have fallen from his pocket or something, and it had found its way under her bed. Carrying it next door, she gave a quiet knock. When the door opened, she presented it to him with a sunlit smile, and when he saw it he took it from her thankfully.

"Thank you."

She nodded. "I'm a little shocked you didn't notice you'd lost it right away."

"You disturb my focus."