City Belle

Starting Over

I looked in the mirror one last time and gulped.  Here it was, the first day of the rest of my life... My palms began to perspire, "no!" this wasn't right, nothing had happened and I was already beginning to freak out.  I couldn't set myself up for failure, not like last time... now I was supposed to be recovering.  Finally, I took one last look around being sure not to leave anything, then I grabbed my keys off my desk and headed out the door.  When I got outside the cold, crisp air hit my cheeks.  I breathed in the cold air smelling the fresh aroma of winter.  I watched as children played tag running around without a care in the world screaming at the top of their lungs nonsense only they could understand.  I tried to think back to when I was a child.  I only had one vague memory of a woman singing, rocking back and forth in the kitchen as if she was serenading the meal she was making.  I don't know who the woman was and I'll probably never find out, but at least I have one happy memory.  Before I knew it I had reached the bus stop.  More and more people began walking over.  As more people arrived my heart beat quickened more until the point where it actually began hurting.  Finally the bus came and people began rushing at the bus.  Nervously, I stepped back, right into a boy who looked about my age.  My eyes widened in shock and I began blushing furiously and sweating all over.  I don't know what freaked me out the most, human interaction, or just being touched simply.  The boy's eyes were kind and he chuckled

"It's ok"  he said smiling as if I had said sorry.  Thus making me blush even more, it was bad enough I stepped on his foot and bumped into him but, then I stared at him like an idiot and didn't even have the decency to apologize. 

"Sorry"  I quickly mumbled and then ran on the bus.  When I got on the bus I sat down near two girls who looked like the human reincarnation of Barbie.  They both looked me up and down and chuckle.  Then one whispered to the other and they laughed even more.  I didn't see what could be so funny.  Annoyed I took out my iPod trying to distract myself from the other horrors that would await me.  It wasn't even 9:00 yet and I'd freaked out at least twice.  Classical music began blaring out of my pocket and I freaked out hastily trying to turn it down or off in some sort of quick manner.  By now I had more than half the bus's attention which is what I really didn't want especially not on my first day.  I scoffed to myself my psychiatrist claimed classical music was supposed to be calming yet it almost gave me a heart attack. 

Before I knew it someone was shaking me gently on the shoulder. 

"Ma'am you have to get off the bus this is the last stop".  A man said to me.  I looked around nervously unsure of what to do.  I had no extra money since I was supposed to be picked up from school.

"Uhmm..."  I said unsure of what to do.   Rubbing my eyes I got up and stretched.  The man bent down and picked up my bag for me. 

"Hey"  the man said looking into my eyes "It's gonna be alright I promise."  I smiled, I didn't know this man from a hole in the wall but, all of a sudden I trusted him with my whole heart  and soul. 

"Ok".  I said smiling. 

"Hey tell ya what?"  The man said.

"What?" I asked quizzically. 

"I'll take ya out to lunch!" he said.  I looked around nervously

"Umm..."  I said very slowly "I kinda need to get back ya know?"  A look of anger crossed his face my heart began beating a bit faster,  I hadn't mean t to upset him. 

"Well..."  he said gritting his teeth "we can make it quick"  Afraid to upset him anymore I agreed, a quick lunch wouldn't hurt, right?

We walked to a cozy looking diner.  It was called 'Maria's Diner '  all of the proud letters standing tall except for the second 'a' in Maria and the 'e' in Diner, which both hung from their hinges begging to fall off at any minute.