She could see him everywhere. In a crowd, down a street corner, there were times she grabbed random people who she thought was him. They always ended up giving her that stare like she was crazy or something and she always had to awkwardly apologize and escape quickly. The bastard. Even in his absence, he still had power over her.
Shayne looked up and stared at her reflection in the restroom mirror. She sighed. I look a mess, she thought. The dress she was forced into in what seemed like hours ago fitted perfectly. Exactly the opposite of how she felt. She felt like her world was crumbling around her. It really was, anyway. And he was her undoing. Kim really thought it was a good idea to go clubbing. “The way to forget one man was to get under another”, she always said. Shayne told her she wouldn’t hear of it. She had loved him for years, there’s no way she could get over him so quickly because even after everything she still loved him. She was ashamed to admit it but she did. Kim insisted and here she was in a slutty dress owned by Kim. Instead of having fun and forgetting him as she was supposed to be doing, she was hiding out here in the restroom.
“You are taking ages in there, honey”, that was Kim calling out to her. She could hear the loud music coming from the other room. She was going to have a headache. She needed fresh air. She dashed out of the room and walked straight into a lady coming in her direction. She was about to apologize when the lady emptied the contents of her glass in Shayne’s face. She gasped, her eyes stung.
Vodka, she thought. She looked up to see a smirk on the lady’s face. She couldn’t have stopped herself even if she wanted to. Her clenched fist came in contact with the side of the lady’s face and she screamed. Kim was on her before she could give her another blow to the stomach.
“Girl, you really need to calm down”, she looked at Shayne like she was going crazy. That look again. “Get me out of here”, she mouthed. The lady was screaming her lungs out about how someone should call the police. Shayne couldn’t stop the smile too. The bouncer was trying to make his way to them through the crowd. Kim dragged her and they disappeared into the crowd of dancing people. When they got out through a side door, she couldn’t help but notice the way Kim was trying hard not to laugh. They walked a few blocks before she burst into laughter. Shayne joined in. “Did you see her face? She was squealing … hahahaha….like a pig.
“I didn’t think you’d noticed”, Shayne turned to face her. “What!! Everyone around me did and they knew she had it coming but what shocked everyone including me, was the fact that you reacted like that. I hope you are alright dear. Don’t you think your impulses are rather ….err random? Maybe you should go and see my step-sister, you know, just to talk?”
Shayne stared at her incredulously, “I can’t believe I just heard you say that. You want me to go see a shrink? Next thing you’ll tell me to go see a neurosurgeon to get my brain fixed”. Kim gave a look that said she was making a mountain out of a molehill which she guessed she was but she couldn’t let her have the impression she couldn’t fix her own problems.
“You know that wasn’t what I meant. She is family and it doesn’t have to be official or anything. You don’t have to get through this alone”, Kim said with a sigh.
She’s been good to me, I shouldn’t be lashing out at her like that, I thought. “I apologize, I didn’t mean what I said about your sister, I’m just trying to get through these next few days but I’ll consider your offer. Thanks for being there for me, I really appreciate it”
Mi amor”, Kim said with an accent that wasn’t quite right, she was taking Spanish lessons and she took every opportunity that presented itself to exercise her use of the language, “You know I got your back”. Shayne hugged her, “I know that and I love you for it”.
They had met a few years ago at a grocery shop and even though the location was an unlikely place to make friends considering the fact that Shayne almost always went about her business, she had been drawn to Kim’s charisma. They got talking when Kim asked her opinion about a particular grocery item, she couldn’t for the life of her remember what it was anymore, but they just sort of clicked. Kim’s cheerfulness was refreshing, they exchanged mobile numbers and that was it. Now, she reveled in the feeling of having a friend, and a very good one at that. And she was grateful.
The footfalls pounded behind her as she raced through the streets. She knocked down a trashcan and almost lost her balance as she ran like her life depended on it. It did too. She most evidently wouldn't survive if they caught her. Mira's heart was pounding furiously in her chest, even as her brain worked out how to get off their radar and find somewhere to hide. They were five in number and they looked like the type of men with big brawns and no brains so it should be a easy enough feat. She saw the alleyway she had been looking out for, right ahead. She glided right in and tried to be one with the shadows but she bumped right into a wall. Oh no!, not a wall. She turned round and saw the eyes of her assailant grinning wickedly. Oh God, this can’t be happening.
“Look who we have here", he taunted. “Just kill me already”, she said through clenched teeth.
“I’m in no rush. I have great plans for you”, he kept on staring with that predatory glare. She dreaded to think about the great plans he had for her....