run as fast as you can [h.s.]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It's still cold out, as expected. The streets in this area are never overly populated, so seeing few people does not come as a suprise, either. It's a very dull day; you can tell just by looking at the sky.

The sky is a dark grey and the people all look gloomy and bored. I understand why. You wouldn't be gloomy if you were working at this time and had money to feed yourself and your family.

I'm quite tight on money, only buying the necessities. Keeping this in mind, Walmart is only a little bit further down the street, so I decide to head inside to purchase a new alarm clock to replace the last one that broke from being thrown at the wall too hard. I've already been without one for the last two weeks, but after tomorrow I should have good income for a while.

The store seems awfully odd today. It's too quiet for a Walmart, I think. I pick out a trolley and decide to get a few groceries while I'm here.

The click-clack of trolley wheels sounds out around the store and a few children zig-zag through the isles.

As I'm pacing through the rows of shelves and bargain bins, a head of jet-black hair comes into sight at the end of the isle. I begin to move backwards, ditching the trolley full of groceries and turning quickly on my heel. Rounding the corner I speed up and come crashing into a person. I let out a small scream and avoid their face while apologising several times over.

"Don't worry about it," the guy I bumped into says as I walk away.

"Wait!" The man continues, as I pretend I don't hear him

and keep walking, "Hey," he says breathing out and putting his large hand on my shoulder, softly.

I turn around and look up to meet a pair of dark green eyes. He has nice eyes.

His lips turn from a frown into a friendly smirk, then back to a frown and looks at me with concerned eyes, noticing my panicked stance and fearful face, "Are you okay?" he says to me.

"Oh, no, yeah, I'm fine. I have to go." I say in a rushed tone and turn on my heel and walk as fast as I can to the other side of the store.

Chris is here, I would recognise that black head in amongst a crowd of a million with, all with dark hair.

My breathing becomes short and my heart rate picks up. I feel hot and sweaty like I've been pushed into a room and all the walls are closing in on me. My body slumps to the floor and begin to cry between heavy breaths.

I hear feet slap across the shiny floor and a body falls to it's knees beside me, leaning it's face up to my own. The man from before I frantically looking around, hugging me close to his chest.

"I knew you weren't okay, that's why I asked," he says to me, "Jesus, what happened?" He looks panicked, "Do I call an ambulance?"

I grab hold of his arm saying between breaths, "It's just a panic attack," and breakdown into tears again.

He looks at me, then hugs me tighter and we sit on the floor of Walmart for ten minutes as I cry into this stranger's arms.

*

"Muffin?" The man asks me, holding out a muffin he picked up from the center console after we climb into his car.

"That thing looks like it has been sitting there for a week," I laugh and he laughs, too.

"Well, we'll never know, will we?" He smiles, "So strange lady, what might your name be?"

After my panic attack in Walmart, the man who looked after me offered me a ride home, scared I would breakdown again. I declined politely but he insisted so I agreed. I told him a had to check around the corner of the isle, where the check-outs were, before we could go, though, and he acted as if I weren't bad-shit crazy.

"I'm Mel, good to meet you," I smiled along.

"Certainly is a strange way to meet, but I'm glad it happened," he smiled again, sporting a nicely shaped dimple, "Harry," and he stuck his hand out for me to shake before driving off.