You Only Get One Shot [One Shot Collections]

When Mirrors & Lights Clear

                  It was another stormy night; the last week in Birmingham had been one storm after another. There had even been tornado warnings, which hadn’t been mentioned in over 8 years. The last tornado was in May of 2005.

                  Elisabeth sat curled up in her basement, her favourite fuzzy white blanket was wrapped around her and her cat slept at her feet. A silent tear slipped from her eye as she thought about the fact that she was home alone during such events. What if another tornado actually happened? She didn’t think she could deal with it being alone.

                  When the last on had occurred she had been living at home with her father and two brothers. They made her feel safe and protected; they made her laugh all night long even though her brothers were younger. This year though, she was alone. Elisabeth’s long-term boyfriend Kieran was out of town on a business trip. He was an executive CEO manager of some big cooperation. Elisabeth found it boring but she loved him so she supported him in anything that he did. The only downside was that he was gone, a lot.

                  Elisabeth thought about trying to call her best friend to see if she would come over but laughed at the thought. Her best friend wouldn’t be caught dead leaving the house, let alone anywhere besides the storm shelter she forced her husband to build.

                  Memories of when her best friend Rain had called her about it. She was cheerful – more like over the moon. She had been begging for a storm shelter for years, especially after 2005. Then another thought occurred. She could go over there; she would feel much safer if she were in a storm shelter underground with her best friend.

                  Elisabeth stood up disturbing her cat that gave out a huff and jumped down before padding off in search of another spot to go back to bed.

“Sorry.” Elisabeth grumbled. Slowly she made her way towards the only window that was in the basement and lifted the blanket she had covering it. It was almost as if the atmosphere had waited for her, lightening went off directly followed by a loud clap of thunder. “Guess I’m not going out there.” She sighed and wandered back over to the chair she had originally been sitting in. She picked up her blackberry and glanced at it. No missed calls or text messages, surely Kieran had to have some free time to call her and make sure she was okay.

                  Hey. Elisabeth began to type. Can you call me please? I’m really scared. I’m sure you’ve heard there is a tornado warning. I’m sitting in the basement with Rambo. He’s being cranky cause I woke him up but I had to see if I could brave it to go to Rain’s but obviously now. Elisabeth let out a sigh and another tear. Please call me and talk to me. I’m so worried I don’t think I can handle being home alone in a tornado. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I wish you were here.

                  Elisabeth sent the text message and sat staring at the phone waiting for it to vibrate and the LED light to green. The weather network was droning on and on in the background. Constantly replaying the same information but Elisabeth was to scared to change it incase she’d miss something important.

                  The minutes passed and she barley looked away from her phone. Five, then ten and almost fifteen before her phone vibrating in her hand and lit up green. It took Elisabeth would of her thoughts as she quickly fumbled to open the text message. She figured since it took him so long to reply it would be a long text message but her heart sank and she noticed just four little words.

                  Can’t. Read the message from Kieran, Busy. Love you. Elisabeth gasped and cried. How could he be so heartless, he knew she hated when he said love you instead of I love you. He could have at least taken a second to type one more word but that could have helped her feel better.