Imperfect Pieces

21. acquainted with the night

When the clock struck twelve, the little girl looked around in fear. The air was humid and stuck to her skin skin like leeches and the darkness suffocated her, threatening to crush her frail body to death. She was sitting trapped in a cage. Outside it was pitch dark, but she could hear faint sounds of her parents crying out for help in the distance, screaming her name. She banged at the metal bars and shook them with all her might, but to no avail. Giving up all hope, the little girl curled up in a corner of the cage, covering her ears to block out the tortured sounds, and she cried alone in the darkness once again.

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"Ida! Did you get the groceries?"

Katrina Miller shouted as soon as she entered the small, crowded apartment. Her roommate emerged from the doorway, holding a bag of popcorn.

"Nhmhm," Ida mumbled with a mouth full of kernels.

"What?"

"Nope. I forgot."

Katrina groaned. "Again? How many times have you forgotten this past month?"

Ida looked at her apologetically and held up the buttery, salty popcorn to her. Katrina eyed the bag and sighed.

"Fine. I'll go get dinner. But next time you better not forget."

"I know, I know. I'll try. You're the best, Kat."

Katrina laughed as she put on her jacket once again.

"I know."

Katrina quickly made her way to the supermarket, her hands in her pocket. She didn't look around her, she didn't stop for anything, and she marched on until her destination was reached. The neon sign above the sliding doors blinked invitingly, but she paid no attention and went in. After filling up a cart with milk, eggs, toast, cheese, the latest newspaper for Ida, and microwave pizza, she went to the checkout line. The supermarket was pretty empty- most people were already home eating dinner. The day was fading and darkness was starting to creep in like an unwelcome visitor. Katrina worriedly glanced outside, wanting to get home before dark. After paying, she grabbed the bag as soon as the bag boy finished packing up the groceries and walked out, scurrying along. Halfway there she began to run, and she didn't stop until she was inside the apartment, with the door safely locked behind her back. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Ida heated up the pizza and they spent the rest of the evening exchanging work stories, laughing and talking about their day. At night, nightmares still plagued her, but she had Ida by her side to comfort her when she woke up in the middle of the night. The scared little girl inside of her just wished they would stop.

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It was pouring rain when she first noticed him. Her boss had an extra assignment for her, so she had to stay a bit later after work. The day had been bad even before she had to go out without an umbrella in at eight o'clock at night. This morning she had woken up late, which meant she didn't have time to go get coffee. Ida had already left, so she couldn't get it for her either. Then she realized that she forgot to bring her cellphone, got a ketchup stain on the new white pants she had bought, and was a grumpy, exhausted mess by the time work was over.

She stood in the doorway of the tall office building for a while, contemplating the chances of her boss letting her stay overnight, but finally she took a deep breath and sprinted to the coffee shop across the street.

The bells on the door jingled as she stepped in, dripping wet. The familiar wood counter and velvet armchairs made her feel better already.

The barista was washing mugs when she appeared. He smiled when he saw her.