Citrus

400 Block, 9 Minutes

Luckily for me, this block is rather short. It's a strange intersection where the road curves slightly left before reverting back. It's weird. If I'd built these streets, I wouldn't have wasted time making them aesthetically pleasing. I would have formed them into direct and straightforward paths, because nobody has time for winding roads when they've got somewhere to be. Regardless, I'm happy this block is short enough for me to sprint through in, hopefully, three minutes.

I hear a familiar voice calling me from behind. But it's not pleasantly familiar. In fact...

"Miss! Wait, please!"

It's the religious guy from two blocks ago! Oh, no. What could he possibly want? He must have a rejection fetish of some sort. He's lucky I don't have it in my heart to blatantly ignore him.

"Miss, excuse me. Sorry to bother you again," he says as he catches up to me. He's out of breath and seems like he's been running.

"I know you're running late, I'm sorry. But, you dropped your phone back there. I've been trying to catch up to you to give it back." He hands me my phone: completely intact.

"Oh my gosh," I say. I make sure not to say 'god' in front of religious folk as it might offend them. "Thank you so much. I didn't think this day could get much worse, and then I realized I'd lost my phone. Thank you."

"You're most welcome!" He says, seeming genuinely cheerful. "I pray that you make it on time! Have a wonderful day, and God bless you." He turns and walks away.

Well. He turned out to be a nice, kind man. I admit I shouldn't be so quick to judge. That was a welcomed crack of sunlight in this hard brick wall of a situation. And now I can try work again and let them know what's going on.

I wish I had time to stroll; then I might come upon some other unexpected surprises.