Gypsy

Chapter 6

·Zara·

The following morning dawns dark and cold, and as I prepare myself for the day to come I try not to let last night consume my thoughts. But it is hard to put from my mind. I look over at Andre lying closer to Maddox than usual and I know they are taking this just as hard as I am. Sadie was like a mother to us, a grandmother. Always guiding us to be better people, to dream beyond this place that offers us so little.

I blink against the sting in my eyes as they drift to where her pallet lies empty and colder than it's ever been. I close my eyes against a new wave of tears then take several deep breaths to try and control my sadness. The day will not wait for me to come to terms with my grief, and so I have no choice but to keep going despite my loss.

I leave my guitar behind today as I make my quiet way around bodies sleeping beneath scraps of blankets and worn out coats. Today the music is silent in my heart, as if it too mourns the death of our friend. I slip through the streets unnoticed then begin my long trek north.

If life was fair I'd be with the others, taking time to grieve and make plans for Sadie. But it isn't. There will be no arrangements to make, no funeral to attend, no wake where a touching eulogy will be spoken to honor her memory. Those things are dogeared for those who can afford them, for those with families and lifelong friends. Aside from us, Sadie had no one.

I wipe a tear from my cheek then tuck my head against a gust of bitter wind. When the first raindrop hits me, I try to tuck my thin jacket more firmly around myself. It won't do much good for long, but at least it's something. The increasing wind snuffles along its edges then seeps through its threadbare sleeves, even as more raindrops fall to dampen them.

Halfway through my long walk, the sky opens up and Heaven's tears join my own. By the time I finally reach my destination, my clothes cling to me like a frigid second skin. I make for a pavilion to wait for everyone else to show up. Will they reschedule for rain, I wonder? That would be my luck.

Ten minutes later the first vehicle pulls into the parking lot, and I recognize it from the handful that had shown up yesterday. Soon it is joined by more, and while I wait under the roof of the pavilion--sheltered from the cold rain but not the biting wind--I watch for the city truck to complete our merry band of misfits.

Ten minutes pass, then fifteen. By the time half an hour is looming before me and still the truck hasn't arrived, I know the powers that be must have changed their plans. The first vehicle pulls out of the lot, and then a second follows close behind it. When the third pulls out then turns in the same direction the first two had gone, I get a sinking feeling in my gut.

No doubt they're heading to an alternate destination, and I'll be here waiting for news that will not come. I have no phone, no way to receive my new orders, save for word of mouth. A fourth vehicle starts its engine and that sets my feet to moving.

I dart out of my shelter and back into the rain, catching up with the truck that is just about to turn out of the lot. I tap on the heavily tinted window with fingers that are already going numb. For a long moment I'm afraid whoever's inside will just ignore me and pull off anyway, but they finally roll down their window.

I am staring into a set familiar blue eyes. He doesn't try to hide the irritation in them and I clench my jaw against my own annoyance. I am so screwed.

"Can I help you?"

His tone is clipped, as if he's every bit as pissed off by my presence as I am by my ill turn of fate. I bite back a sarcastic reply, as I can't afford his driving off right now. Much as I'd love to see him go, I can't let him leave. Not yet.