Gypsy~S.M.

No Going Back

The picture above is how I imagine Jude to look. Should I include it or leave to your imagination?

Jude walks down the street of the old neighborhood. It's 10:30 in the morning and everyone is either at work or at school so the streets seem eerily quiet. She walks to the bus stop with her head down thinking about all the things she needs to do before she leaves. At the bus stop she digs around her bag for her earphones. Checking to make sure her phone is fully charged she connects her buds and puts on her favorite playlist. And of course Shawn Mendes' voice comes on immediately. It's a cover that he did of Post Malone's psycho and she smiles. Instinctively, she bites her lip. She's obsessed with this cover and could listen to it over and over. Lost in her own world she barely registers the bus arriving until the loud noise it makes in front of her stirs her out of her little daydream. With a small nod to the bus driver she climbs up and puts in her money. Jude looks for a seat in the back. Thankfully the bus is somewhat empty except only a few elderly people in the front. She takes a seat and continues bobbing her head to Shawn.

Thirty minutes later, the bus pulls up to her stop. Downtown San Antonio is always busy early or late. Jude use to enjoy it until her parents passed. Now she's numb to it and only comes for work. The bus doors open to stifling heat and Jude stumbles into the thick of it. Almost missing a step, she adjusts her bag and curses to herself. She hates her clumsiness.
Jude walks a few blocks and enters a small bakery where the smell of fresh bread hits her causing her stomach to rumble. There's only three customers in the shop and a guy is speaking to one in Spanish. He looks up and notices Jude, rolls his eyes at the customer making Jude giggle. It's their code that means the customer is being really picky today. Bernard and her have a whole language made up of just eye rolls to each other. Quickly, Jude makes her way to the back of the bakery into the employee lounge. She opens her locker and collects only a jean jacket and a water bottle. Swiftly she places them in her backpack and heads out to her employer's office. Here she finds Mrs. Martinez or Elida as she likes to be called-sitting at her desk rummaging through papers. The older woman looks up and notices her with a frown. "Jude, what are you doing here? You're not scheduled today. You know I can't afford to give you extra hours." With a small smile Jude responds, "I know. I'm sorry, but I'm here to give you this. Remember I told you I'm leaving." She pulls out of her black bag another envelope and lays it on the desk in front of her boss. "Wait you're serious, mija? When you told me a couple weeks ago you were giving your notice I thought you were just kidding again. You've given me notice at least 5 times in the last year." Elida says and gets up from behind her desk to embrace Jude. "I really paid it no mind. I didn't even prepare your replacement. I'm going to be in a bind, Chiquita." She says placing her hands on her hips. Guilt and worry flood through Jude as she stares at the small, woman before her. Elida has been a grandmother figure to her as long as she was been working here. She is warm, loving and actually pretty intimidating for such a petite woman. But most Latina women are. She'd always be on Jude to drink more water for her complexion, to stand up straight and smile more, and tell her to make sure she's eating enough. "You are way too skinny," Elida would scold. The last part always made Jude scoff and reply, "I'm not too skinny look at me. My butt is so big I'm way too curvy!"And she would respond back, "that's the way the boys like it. Don't lose that butt. Keep eating those tortillas and frijoles!" Lost in thought of how much she'd miss those interactions, Jude realizes Elida has returned to her desk and is calling a temp agency talking rapidly in Spanish for someone to come in tomorrow. Taking this as a chance to get away, she turns and leaves the office. She doesn't want an emotional good bye, the letter will say it all for her. She makes her way to the front of the shop again. Bernard now filling a bag with eclairs for a women and her small daughter. Jude grabs a white paper bag and tongs to help herself to a glazed donut and apple fritter. She closes the bag and finds Bernard staring at her quizzically. But before he can say a thing, five jocks from the nearby college rush in and begin all talking at once. Jude quickly takes out an envelope with a large B on it and slips it into the pocket of his apron. She kisses Bernard on the cheek and heads to the door away from the catcalls the jocks are now shouting. "Where's my kiss, babe," one says as the door closes behind her. Back in the heat, Jude looks into the bakery window to see Bernard sadly staring at her. She reaches for her phone and buds to drown out her emotions. In my blood starts and Jude finally moves. Her feet taking her to her last letter recipient. Which will be her hardest good bye of all.