Small Stories

The Count

Chapter 4

0000 days 04 hours 10 minutes 09 seconds
Today is the day. Today is the day Bella meets her soul mate. Only 4 hours and 10 minutes to go. I woke up early this morning. Nightmare. I have them here and again, it's always the same one. I look beside my bed and read the numbers. 4:30am. Great. I won't be able to go back to sleep for fear my nightmare will return. I get up while sighing and make a coffee. I've gotta wake up somehow. I smile in delight as the warm liquid runs down my throat.
After my hot beverage is finished, I place my red mug in the sink and enter the small bathroom to have a shower. As the hot water runs over my body I feel myself wake up fully. I wash my body and run my hands through my now wet hair. After I estimated what was 10 minutes I get out of the steamy shower and get dressed for the day.
5:00am. 3 hours and 40 minutes until she meets him I sit on the ripped couch and watch TV. Apparently time flies when you're doing nothing because before I knew it, Bella came wandering out. I look at the clock and read 7:20 am. 1 hour and 20 minutes to go.
"You ready?" I ask as I slip on my shoes.
"As I'll ever be." She replies. We head out the door to the bus stop. When we reach the stop, after getting coffee for Bella, she has 20 minutes left.
"Okay, let's do this" she says as she takes a seat.
15 minutes.
A family join us, waiting for the bus. A little girl, no older than 7, a mother and father.
10 minutes.
Bella is getting restless, fidgeting with anything she holds.
5 minutes.
The bus rounds the corner, 200 metres away.
2 minutes.
The bus stops, about 100 metres away, letting passengers on.
1 minute.
The bus stops before us. We let the small family get on first, before we jump on.
30 seconds.
After I give the driver my ticket, I turn and I'm immediately disappointed. The bus is full of elders. This can't be right.
20 seconds.
She's 21! She can't be with an 80 year old!
10 seconds.
The doors close and the bus starts to move. I take a seat and let Bella sit a few seats behind me.
5 seconds.
The bus halts to a stop and a young man, no older than 23 gets on. That's him.
4 seconds.
He hands the driver his ticket.
3 seconds.
He walks past me, to Bella.
2 seconds.
Bella rises up from the uncomfortable blue seats.
1 second.
Deep breath.
0 seconds.
"I couldn't miss meeting my soulmate, now, could I?" He jokes, taking a seat beside her.
I turn around with a smile on my face. Tears start to build in my eyes. I look down at my wrist and scratch at it.

It has always read 0.