Reborn

At least the coffee was good

I couldn't see much as I ran down the sidewalk. I held my shawl over my head as hail pelted down, bouncing against the pale concrete. Tassels bounced with every step, and I couldn't help but feel foolish for ignoring the forecast. Since when did they get these things right?
I rounded the corner and burst through the door of a bakery. My friend was standing at the register, waiting for a plump old man to fill a pink box with red velvet muffins. I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder.

"Oh, Amanda! Good to see you not in pajamas." He said, turning slightly
"Good to see you staying true to your diet."
"I am actually, these are for my sister."
He paid, and we sat down.

"Katrina is in town?"
"Yeah. Apparently, New York is too scary for her, so she's crawling back for now."
"I can see she hasn't changed much." I chuckled, reaching for the box.
"Neither have you." he said, pulling the box away.
"Excuse me? I have two more boobs then I did five months ago."
"Personality wise I mean."
"Whatever." I grunted, hoisting my satchel onto the table.
"Did Theresa agree yet?"
"For someone who hates my guts, she really doesn't want to get a divorce."
"She knows you're gonna get the most money."
"Yay me, she'll just get to have our kid."

Issac rolled his eyes.

"What? He's my son just as he is hers. I just know she'll never settle for anything other then full custody."
"Is he even old enough to remember things?"
"Dude, he's five. Of fucking course he can."
"What is she supposed to tell him as he gets older?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why he doesn't have another parent."
"She should tell him his 'dad' died in a freak surgery accident. Give it a hint of truth."
"You only had him for a few months though. Is it really that big a deal?"
"The hell Issac? Of course it is!"
"It just seems like you're overreacting."
"Why are you being so insensitive right now?"

My sinuses grew sore. Who the hell was I talking to?

"You aren't even his biological parent. You can't really be bonded to him yet."
"Oh, because you know so much about maternal emotions as a childless man."
"I spent about three years studying to be a human relations major, so I think I do."
"Was there anything in your lessons about maintaining relationships? Because you are doing a shit job at that right now."
"Well I'm sorry, but lately it feels like you've been using me as a free therapy outlet."
"I wouldn't recommend charging, you're pretty garbage"
"You just keep pushing all these problems onto me."
"Because you offer! I don't expect you to solve anything, I just need an ear sometimes, you know?"
"Well I don't know how to help you, and at this point I don't feel like it's even worth it."
"Wait, are you saying that I'm-"

"Excuse me?" A shaky voice mumbled.
We both looked up to see the baker's tiny wife holding a tray of paper cups.
"Free sample? It's our new caramel coffee."
"Yes please!" I said, grabbing a cup and throwing it back like a shot.
The woman gave me a stunned look, and awkwardly drifted to the next table. I slowly grabbed my bag and excused myself. A few too many people were looking at me.

"Amanda!"
"Hey, Issac? Kindly piss off." 
I stormed out faster then I came in.

I headed for the one public place people didn't bother me while I cried; The park.

It was a short walk from the shop, and the hail had let up so I made my way to the calm patch of green. Upon arriving, I noticed a kid who seemed to be throwing rocks at a tree. I jogged over to tell him to stop, because he could get hit by a ricochet but I then noticed what he was aiming for. A nest, about twenty feet up sat skewed on a limb, and a little black head poked over the side.

"Hey kid, cut that out!"
"You can't tell me what to do."
"I can, it's just up to your little brain's moral compass to listen."
"You aren't my mom, so I won't."

He threw another rock, and it hit the trunk beside the baby crow. It made a tiny wheeze.

"You're gonna kill the poor thing if you keep this up. You're like, four. Do you really want blood on your hands?"
"Shut up." He grumbled, throwing a rock past me.

One more hit, and the nest would come down.

"STOP." I yelled, moving in the way of his throw.
For a two foot tall dumb ass, he had a good arm. The rock hit me square in the eye, and I stumbled backwards.

"Crap!" he exclaimed, scrambling away.
"You little twit!" I called after him.
Stumbling over to a parked car, I checked my eye in the side mirror.

That is a LOT of blood, and- Shit! My eye has a weird dent in it. The hospital is... to the left? I shuffled around the side of the car and held my arm out. Might as well get a taxi. I grabbed the handkerchief out of my bag and dabbed my eye. That is still a bunch of blood. A sudden head rush had me falling forwards, but I wasn't too clear on why I was flying to the side. I crunch rang through my ears, and my arm exploded with pain. Holy shit, did I just get hit by a fucking CAR?" I twisted my neck up to see an Aston Martin careening into a lumber truck in the other lane. God, my day can't get any fucking worse, can it?
I think someone screamed, and thanks to them, I noticed that the straps holding down the lumber has snapped upon impact. I stared, dazed, as about twelve 10,000 pound logs bounced towards my limp body lying in the middle of the road.
I stand corrected. Those were my last thoughts as the smell of cedar filled my skull.