Drawn By The Clouds

Two: 11th Street

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Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
Me, myself I got nothing to prove
- Tracy Chapman (Fast Car)
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“Excuse me,” I said for the third time when the police officer at the lobby noticed me. He was busy watching on his screen while eating his snacks that got him crumbles of bread on his moustache. Yuck. He finally turned to me and his face instantly dropped. I beamed at him as I read ‘Smith’ embroidered to the left patch of his uniform. I cleared my throat and neaten my clothes.

“Good morning officer. Do you happen to know if there’s a car accident yesterday near the North University?”

He placed his hands onto his chin while looking up to me. He’s sitting on his swivel chair and I was standing before him. “No,” he simply said.

“No?” I asked him. That’s impossible.

“No,” he repeated. He looked away and took a bite of what he’s eating.

“B-but there should be, I mean I was there...” He looked at me once more.

“You’re saying that you were involved in the ‘accident’?” he said quoting the word accident.

“Yes sir, the car was about to hit me then I don’t remember clearly what happened after. I woke up at the hotel room exactly where I’m staying the other night which I don’t remember going to. Then I checked out and was about to pay the charge but the receptionist said I already paid for it last night which I don’t remember doing! You must think I’m joking but I’m not,” I nervously rambled with fidgeting fingers.

“Were you hurt?”

“I don’t think so. No, I’m not,” I said confirming it to him.

“That leads to one thing, kid.” Confused, I asked him, “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re saying you were involved in a car accident that to my point of view didn’t actually happened. You were not hurt, no bruises, no pain and you confirmed it a while ago. Then you woke up at a hotel and not remembering paying anything for it,” he stated.

“Yes, that’s what I said.” And I nodded in agreement.

“Do you do drugs?” He asked raising one eyebrow.

“W-what? No! I would never do that!” He held his hands in defence and shrugged.

“Ugh, this is useless,” I murmured. Instead of leaving, I asked him if I can use a telephone and gladly, he offered the one in his table.

I dialled Miss Alice’s phone number. The other line started ringing.

“Hello?” Hearing Miss Alice’s voice made me calm down.

“Miss, this is Grace.” I heard her deep gasp of air.

“Thank goodness. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine Miss Alice. Don’t worry.”

“What happened to you? I can’t get a hold of your phone! What have you been up to? Anthony got worried when he did not see you at N.U.”

I explained everything that happened to her from the thief until this morning at the hotel and now I’m at the police station. I expected her to bring herself to North right at this moment and drag me back to the nunnery and say ‘I told you so’. Instead, her voice turned serious and said she’ll contact Anthony right away to pick me up at the police station.

I’ve waited outside the police station until a shiny black car stopped right in front of me. The driver of the car got out, who’s wearing a suit, like those in Men in Black but no black sunglasses. He’s a tall man maybe in his 50’s and walked towards me. He stopped in front of me and I stared at him. He’s eyes reminded me of someone but I can’t point out who.