The Happiness Of Tragedy

Chapter 66

I was up the next morning, the rest of the house still sound asleep. I could hear the echoes of their snores that lingered in the air when I made my way down the narrow steps. I grabbed the shoes I'd left by the door, they were blue and white, matching with the dark midnight felt blue and the white shorts I squeezed into earlier. I let out a breath and grabbed the keys off the key holder behind the door and left.

The sun was out of course, the sun is always out here. On days that end up being the worse instead of the best. I liked the sun but I also liked the cloudiness that lingered in the sky especially on days where I'd have absolutely nothing to do but read and relax. I shielded my eyes, looking up into the suns circled glare before I finally opened the car door and climbed into my Audi.

I pulled the hot seatbelt over my body, careful not to touch my skin with the piping metal before I started up the car and turned the air conditioner on full blast.

I backed out of the driveway carefully before I drove my way toward the store. I have no idea what I was or wanted to get, I just thought it was best if I just go and see what I could find that way I could hold it in my car until the day of Christmas. In approximately two days, the best time of the year for some will happen and I had to admit my emotions were pretty neutral about it. These times were always exciting for us, for me especially but this year wasn't really special.

The rodes weren't all that full this morning and I was surprised and also glad. Tomorrow is Christmas eve and I guess everyone has the same mindset. They get out and get their gifts and stay indoors until the madness of this holiday blows over. I was early on getting my friends things but I hadn't wanted to rush and get my family gifts. I stopped at a red light and spotted a police car. It was two cars in front of me in the right lane. What I'd do to have that police car be Collins at a time like this, all by myself so that I could once again bug him about wanting to know more about his son. Just like before, before everything that happened. Back when I'd known nothing about him at all, all I knew was that he was a fighter and he fought for me. Someone he'd known nothing about, the feeling of his being the same as mine.

The light changed and I switched to the same lane to the right at the police car. Starbucks came into view and even though my eyes weren't heavy, I knew I'd need energy for today. I turned on the right blinker and made my way into the parking lot of the shop not daring to look to the left to see if the car I had witnessed held the license plate name of Collins.

I drove up to the window and ordered a caramel frappe blended with creme as I always do before pulling around to the next window. The woman at the window had bright red hair and blue eyes with a dark lip ring. I handed her the money and she gave me the drink I ordered before telling me Merry Christmas, I returned the sweet gesture and smiled before I pulled away from the window allowing the next person to pull up.

I couldn't decide on waiting in the parking lot and drinking my drink or driving toward the mall so I could start shopping hoping I could find everything that I needed. I wasn't and never have been a huge fan of driving, it's been in my bones to drive since I was younger but now that I have it's just driving. Nothing special except for a bill that comes every month like clockwork and paying for overpriced gas.

I sat my cold beverage into the cup holder and started driving toward the mall. Maybe it will be better if I wait in the mall parking lot instead of Starbucks.

I pulled out onto the clear road and stopped at the light. My phone rang in the other cup holder and I peeked over to see who it was, it was Dad. I was just about to pick up the phone when the light changed to a green so I stopped myself and drove toward the outlet. When I got there, I hadn't expected the lot to be so empty but it made me happy inside even though I was shopping late. I parked, removed my seat belt and grabbed my phone along with my frappe.