Coward | kth

8

8 | Shit goes down in Switzerland

When I arrive home a bit later, I pass my Mom, who is resting in the living room and greet her briefly.

Our relationship is still weird. Unspoken words are thickening the air around us and make it hard for me to breathe in.

If I want to improve things in my environment, maybe I should start sorting things out with my own mother soon.

But that is for another day, not for now.

I observe my mother watching TV for a few seconds before I turn around and go upstairs.

When I sit down on the grey armchair in my room, I contemplate about today's possible activities. Right now I really favor the idea of keeping myself busy because I don't want to spend time overthinking things like I normally do.

Decided on doing something active, I weigh up my options. They are unlimited in a city of million habitants.

In the end I reach the decision to visit the mall. Yemi's birthday is coming up at the end of this week and I still need a present for her. Besides the masses in the city will keep me from freaking out. There will be no one I know, I will keep my anonymity.

Before I leave, I change into my own, more comfortable clothes and put my hair into a high ponytail.

When I arrive at the shopping centre, people are already rushing around buying errands although it is still early.

Observing the tons of stores around me, I sigh. Honestly, I have no idea where I should start looking for a gift.

I really want it to be something special. Yemi has done so much for me in our four years of friendship, I can't even put it into words. She shined the light on me when the only thing surrounding me was darkness. Therefore, I want my present to be something that expresses my gratitude towards her. Saying that it is going to be extremely difficult is the understatement of the century.

An hour and two desperate breakdowns later, I finally enter a store which seems to sell the most useless stuff ever.

I have finally arrived at the right place.

When I enter the store, an employee quickly approaches me. "Welcome to Toystorm. How can I help you?" She sounds way too motivated. Then again, she is probably only trying to get those extra coins.

I smile politely. "I am searching for a birthday present for my friend."

The employee raises an eyebrow. "May I ask how old-"

Suddenly seeing the big colorful box behind her, my eyes widen.

Uncouthly I don't give her the time to finish her question, "Is this a cotton candy machine?!", I interrupt her. Taking the huge box into my hands, I happily look at its label and quietly read the words, my face showing several kinds of pleased expressions.

"It even includes seven different colored flavors? Amazing", I say completely overwhelmed. "This must be one of my lucky days. Where are the checkouts?"

The poor employee still looks startled from my excitement over such an irrelevant thing when she points her finger to the checkout where I buy the machine a few moments later.