The Road To Your Heart

1

Maya POV

Once out of the supermarket, I start running through the poorly lightened parking lot pushing a very dysfunctional cart. I get to my car, unlock it and start throwing my groceries on the backseats while getting drenched by the hard rain. The weather is supposed to get worst during the next few days. Thank god it's Friday and I'm free this weekend, I plan to spend it sleeping, eating and watching movies. That's why I bought everything I might need and more.

I start the car and turn the heater on, my feet are wet and cold, wearing converse on a rainy day is very stupid, should take it off? I debate about it but decide against it when I remember that I'll have to put it back again later. I start driving back to my place, I need to be extra careful in this weather, even if the streets are basically deserted right now, the pouring rain makes it very hard to see so I drive like a snail, I'm in no rush better safe than sorry.

A couple of blocks away from the supermarket I see the silhouette of a dog crossing the street, I slow down to give it enough time to cross safely but the dog stops in the middle of the street and start snarling when I get closer. I stop the car startled by his reaction, the truth is I don't get along with dogs in general and strays are the worst, they always snarl at me for no reason, someone told me once 'that they are challenging me'. but I'm not sure about that.

The dog gets closer and I can see clearly how big this dog is, I instinctively look at the dashboard to make sure that the car's lock is on 'As if the dog is going to open the door'. It gets closer and I freeze, it's not a dog, no it's a big gray wolf with glowing red eyes standing in front of the car. Why is there a wolf in here? The wolf advance slowly and dangerously then start sniffing the front of the car, I don't think It can see me with the brightness of the headlights but I'm sure It can hear my fast-beating heart.

One last sniff and then it throws it's head back and howls. To my utmost horror, two more wolves appear from both sides of my car, these two are smaller and have a lighter color to their matted fur. One of them stops by my window and stares straight into my eyes with a weird expression, I'm too shocked to look away, the wolf makes a weird sound before joining the first one. They stand next to each other staring at me and snarling showing me their pointy fangs but they don't make any other move. I don't know how much time passed with them standing there in the rain but eventually they walk away without looking back.

I don't waste any time and speed away despite my trembling hands. It's over, they are gone, they were just passing by, I keep repeating to my self, that's probably what just happened but deep down I know I'm fooling my self. I've been living in this town for seven months now and it's the first time I've seen a wolf around.

I don't know how I made it safely to my place but I was here parked in the side alley of the local coffee place. My place is a small two-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building, I still remember how happy and lucky I was when I found it. The owner of the coffee place used to live there but with his family getting bigger he moved out, renting it to me.

I turn off the car and stare ahead. I'm still shaking and nothing makes sense. I start sneezing and that's my cue to step out of the car but instead of unloading my groceries I walk inside the coffee shop, I need some answers and some caffeine. The moment I step in, I'm welcomed with the warmth of the shop and the smell of roasted coffee beans. "The usual?", the teen barista asks with a shy smile, "Yes, please" I smile back and look around, the place is pretty crowded for a rainy day like this one, mostly young couples. "Guess not everyone is bothered by the rain" I say watching him prepare my Latte, "Well, I guess dates on rainy days are romantic," He hands me my mug with a light blush and I pay for my drink, "Thanks and good night", I take a couple of steps and then turn around, "Hey, I saw wolves on my way back from the supermarket, is it normal around here?", the surprise in his face is my answer, "Are you sure it wasn't just big dogs? It's hard to see in this rain", I pretend to hesitate for a moment, "I'm pretty sure, one of them stood by my window and it was not a dog", he stays silent for few second and I'm pretty sure he still thinks that it was a big dogs that I saw, "Well,I'll ask around if someone else saw it, but I'm pretty sure we don't have wolves around here", I thank him one more time and walk out. When I step out, I put the hood of my padded coat on my head and speed walk to the stares that I climb easily. I take a deep breath before I unlock the door and walk in, I put my coffee on the kitchen island and start taking off my drenched coat and shoes.