Donuts • ch

Powdered

I sat in the same seat that I did day that I had first walked through the glass doors. It didn't help the heartache from splitting my heart further, into two incomplete pieces that needed a lot of mending by a specific person. A person that was long gone.

"How've ya been holding up?" Glenda slid into the chair across from me with a sad look on her face, I could tell she clearly didn't know how to approach me. If I was in her position, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to how to approach a depressed teenaged girl. But she always persevered through even the toughest conversations and problems that life threw at people.

Glenda was the woman I first met in this shop, and the owner, I'd be lying if I didn't call her my favorite. She was a simple elderly woman. Spent her time either into this 24-hour donut shop or getting frustrated while crocheting. She was widowed at the beginning of her marriage with her late husband, Herbert. They traveled the country, hoping for a better tomorrow. She tells stories of the adventures they went on before he died in World War II. When Pearl Harbor happened, Herbert jumped at the opportunity to be a hero for a great nation. Herbert fought for the Second World War and sadly, he died in one of the greatest adventures of his life. His family thought it was the very end of his tale, yet to Glenda it was merely a paused point that would resume a short while after.

Now his sprint lives on through Glenda's stories and his mural on the wall. Along side the mural, is a map of the United States painted on the wall and a red line. The red line staggered all around the many free states, dots littered the line. Showing every place Glenda and Herbert traveled. Their story and love was truly one of a kind.

Though, Glenda never re-married stating her heart belonged to Bert and only Bert. No one else could have it and that's how it stayed. The only regret she has about not re-marrying is the fact the she has no children, but she considers me her granddaughter. We look nothing alike so it never fools anyone.

Her pale skin, golden (now grey) hair and bright blue eyes beg to differ with my olive skin, black hair, and dull brown eyes. Either way we are family not by blood, but by choice. Those relationships are the only relationships that seem to last a lifetime.

I realized my long pause along with her caring look that graced her wrinkled face. I couldn't lie to her, "Terrible." Glenda could have probably guessed my answer just from my appearance alone. My hair probably looks as if it could house a rodent, or a family of rodents considering how long my hair actually was.

She reached her hand out and rubbed my back in a soothing manner, her gesture hardly fazed me. Her fingers were cold yet they gave me a warm feeling deep inside. "Your favorite, on the house." She gave me a wink with a small smile and without having a reply she stood from the chair, it scraped and screeched against the tile, and then she left me alone with my thoughts once more.

To reply I turned and smiled at her kindness, it wasn't a real big smile just small, enough to were the corners moved upward for the first time in a long while. She saw my smile and returned a larger, happier one back. I heard her feet shuffle against the different colored tile flooring as she went to the back of the shop.

The bell above the door made the classic noise, signaling the arrival of a customer. What a strange person they might be for coming to donut shop at four in the morning. That would actually consider putting me in the 'weird' category, but I'm not in the mood to think deeply on that subject matter.

I didn't lift my head up as the footsteps grew closer, I didn't want or need someone else in my life at the moment. People leave and I'm not prepared to let someone in, only to have them shatter my heart.

The foot steps becoming louder as they came closer. I didn't dare lift my head from the table, I didn't dare make a single noise. Maybe the person will walk away because they'll think I'm dead.

I wish I was though, it sure as hell would hurt less than the strong and constant ache I felt inside.

The feet decide to go against my internal thoughts, as the body connected to the feet made the arms move the chair that sat across from my lifeless body. I try to gaze through my hair to see what imbecile would think it's all fine and dandy to sit with me. My hair fails me as I try to peer through the almost blanket that shielded me from the real world.

Over the breathing that came for the stranger sat beside me I could hear Glenda's shuffle. "Excuse me mister, I think she wants to be alone." Glenda's voice broke the heavy silence.

"It's okay I know her." The voice, prominently male, answered back. Yet the voice was unfamiliar to me.

I looked up after he spoke, only to see a face I didn't know. I then looked at Glenda as she set my favorite donut that was placed nicely on a red tray next to me. "He causes you trouble, I'll kick him out." She rubbed her hand on my back in a soothing manner once more.

I only nodded waiting for Glenda to leave. Once she did I turned to the mysterious and unknown guy. "You don't know me and I don't know you." I said while my narrowed eyes scanned over him as if he was pray and I was a predator that was about to attack.

"Oh, but I will."