The AfterMath

CHAPTER 3: Who's That?!?

ANNA

The next couple of months were going to be crazy busy for us at the salon as it's the season for proms, weddings and of course, graduations. 

We're normally busy in general but especially whenever big events such as these come along, back to back, it's a little crazier. But I love it. Plus, it helps when you love what you do and like the people that you work with also. 

When the end of the second week arrived, we all were beat already. Thankfully though we get enough business from Tuesday through Saturday that we're able to close on Sundays and Mondays without it affecting anything. In particular, financially. 

I'm not sure in why I go on Sundays to the grocery store and not wait to go on Mondays when everybody else is working so that it's less crowded. However, as soon as I looked into my fridge and realized I had nothing there except for a few condiments and couple bottles of water and then searched the cupboards and found nothing there as well, I knew I needed to go. 

Sure I can always order out and wait to deal with it tomorrow, but to be honest, I'm a little sick of ordering out as I have been doing that almost for every meal for the past couple of weeks due to being too tired after work to even make a sandwich or heat anything up. I know it's the lazy way, but I like to think of it more as my feet hurt too much and I'm exhausted both physically and mentally at the end of the day. Although wen I did eat out, I made mostly healthy choices, but still. 

Luckily I live just a block away from the local grocery store and can just walk there. I have tried a month ago to do the online ordering for groceries but the few times I had tried to, they either didn't have what I wanted or when the stuff came, they didn't bring me everything. So that's when I decided to just go to the store in person so that way I can make sure everything gets put into the bags. 

Before I leave, I look in the mirror at the side of my neck that I've become self conscious about and try to cover up before I go anywhere everyday, the spot where I have what looks to be a scar that is in the shape of something, but you can't tell. I assumed I got it from the accident or something and obviously just can't remember. 

Honestly, I think it's weird. However, because people always stare at it and ask questions, so I just started covering it up now to avoid the awkwardness. Sometimes, sharp pain comes from it but not a lot and not all the time. 

Once I walk into the store, I grab a basket and begin heading down some of the aisles while putting things in there. 

Then while checking some avocados and seeing if they're ripe, out-of-nowhere the sharp pain from the scar hits me harder than ever before. In fact, it's so intense that it causes me to wince and place my hand over it. 

"Fuck that hurts!" I say under my breath and then the pain begins to fade away. 

Though not a few moments later, during check out, it suddenly starts burning which is a new sensation as I have not felt that before. 

"Are you alright miss?" The checkout lady asks me. 

I look at her and then the people standing in line next to me waiting for their turn and most of them have looks of concern while a few have the looks of them wanting me to hurry. I then look back at the lady. 

"Yeah. I'm sorry." I apologize while feeling bad. 

"It's alright but do you need me to call an ambulance or something?" She asks. 

"No thank you. I'm fine." I tell her again as she hands me back my change and I grab the few bags and begin heading back to my place. 

I try and forget about my little embarrassing moment back there and start putting the groceries away when I hear someone say, 'hey' to me. 

Terrified, I quickly turn around and begin taking a look all over the place. But first, I arm myself with the sharpest kitchen knife and cautiously slowly walk around. 

Once I finish and see that nobody's in here but me, I still have an uneasy feeling. So I call Liza on her cell. 

"Hello Gorgeous!" She answers like always. 

"Hi. Can you please come over right now?" I ask her while trying to hide the true fear in my voice. 

"Are you okay?" She asks me. 

Shit! it didn't work. 

"Yes." I began to tell her but she interrupted me already in panic mode. 

"What's going on? Fuck it, I'm coming over right now." She tells me. 

"Okay, but don't rush. I don't want you getting into an accident. It's just that I thought someone had broken in or something." I regretfully tell her. 

"Well, I'm getting in the car right now. Be there in ten minutes." She tells me. 

Then randomly again, I hear the voice say 'Hey' only this time, it was louder and sounded like a female's. Then the next thing I know, everything is turning black as I lose my strength and fall down onto the floor with her still on the phone. 

The last thing I hear before blacking out, is Liza yelling my name on the phone.

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)