I pull my ratty sweater closer to my chest. I keep my head down as I brave the rain, running all the way to the grocery store. When I step inside, I shake out my hair before grabbing a basket and getting down to it. I'm just about finished, all I need is some rice. I turn down the rice isle and nearly run into someone.
"Woah! Excuse me madam." The voice said. I quietly reply,
"Sorry, excuse me, sorry." Looking at the ground as I quickly pass.
"You alright ma'am?" The voice said. The person grabbed my arm and I cringed away.
"Oh. Sorry." He said. I turn and ever so slowly look up to be faced with a kind, clean looking gentleman. He was small and scrawny. He had on a tan cardigan over a light blue shirt. He's got fitted jeans on. He has a nice appearance. He's taller than me but he's still really small, compared to Joe.
"Oh my.." He breathes.
"Is everything...? Your eye." He points to his eye, mirroring my own face. My hand immediately goes up to my bruise. The rain must have washed off my makeup. My eyes widened and I turned and ran off, grabbing a box of rice as I pass it. I pay the cashier and count the change. I check the receipt and make sure the amounts match. If I return with the incorrect amount of change, that was never a good thing.
I glance back, but don't see the man. I grab the bags, thank the cashier and run out. Thankful she didn't say anything about the bruise on my face although I'm certain she must have seen it. The rain has stopped but the clouds were still out. I glance one more time to make sure the guy wasn't following me before I take off in the direction of my crappy apartment.
