Jade
"Trust isn't meant to be broken. It takes so much effort to build yet it shatters in one swift moment." - Jade Storm
Ohmygod! My world is falling apart! I'M GONNA DIE!!
I CAN'T DIE YET! I'M TOO YOUNG!
Everything around me is shaking violently, and the sky glows an ominous red. Somewhere in the distance is a deep rumbling sound. It reminds me of an angry roar. What is happening? Is the world ending?! What should I do!? Looking up at the sky, I hear a voice trying to get my attention... is... is that an angel?
I can faintly see a face in the sky of a... woman? A very angry woman. Her face is red and splotchy and eyes are bulging in anger. I shudder at the image before me. Aren't angels supposed to look angelic? Then, I hear the grating voice again: "Ms. Storm! Ms., Get. Up! You have to leave NOW. Excuse me!"
… Wait, what is that? Slowly, the frustrated face in the dark, angry sky comes closer and closer.
My eyes fly wide open, and I jerk awake. All I see is the woman's angry face in mine. She's furious for some reason. Startled, I fly out of my seat and stumble onto the floor, causing the flight attendant, the captain, and a few others around me to startle and take a few steps back. Ugh, how graceful of me. I sigh in relief; the world isn't ending. My father did always say I had a flair for the dramatic.
Oh wait a second... that's right. I'm on a plane. I hear the rumbling roar again. This time, however, it's coming from my stomach. Embarrassed, I feel my cheeks heat. Did I fall asleep on the plane? Where is everyone?
"Ms., the plane has landed at the Santa Barbara airport. We've been trying to wake you for 20 minutes now." The angry one states, looking down at her watch impatiently. A security guard holds his hand out to me and helps me back onto my feet.
Confused and still in a sleepy daze, I start to gather my belongings. Should I try asking the flight attendant for a coffee or is that too much? Having some sense of self preservation left, I decide against it. She looks like she's ready to chop my head off.
Being the last passenger, I grab my carry on and purse and walk down the plane's steps and onto the tarmac. As I do, the sun's mean glare stings my eyes, and I notice the sky is a light pink and orange shade, making it look like a cat barfed all over it. Ew; it must be sunrise already. Maybe I shouldn't have drank so much last night. But a girl's gotta fall asleep somehow though, right? I reach for my sunglasses and notice an annoying headache creeping up the back of my skull. A salty breeze slightly lifts the bottom of my tank top. I shade my eyes with my oversized sunglasses and shiver in anticipation thinking about my new life ahead of me.
Ready or not, here it comes.
* * *
No idea where to go, I exit the airport and hail down a yellow taxi cab. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the taxi window as I enter the car and shudder at the image before me. My hair is a crazy, rat's nest on my head that used to be a ponytail. Putting on my hoodie in an attempt to hide it, I tell the middle-aged taxi driver to take me to the nearest hotel. When I get there, I pull out a big roll of cash to pay up and notice his eyes widen in shock. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have pulled the whole wad out. Handing him a crisp $50 bill, I step out of the taxi and toward the hotel front doors just as a bell boy rushes past me to get my bags. There's only one carryon that I hand him. Only the few items that I was able to grab in my rush to leave are stored there.
I check in under Natalia Locke, and pay in full for one night in cash. I won't be staying here long, just until I figure out my next steps. I've already brought too much attention to myself to be able to stay here long anyways. After I tell him I don't have a credit card and I'll be paying in cash, the front desk worker eyes the crisp bills for a quick second and then hands me the key card to my room. What is it with people and cash? Jeez, it's like they've never seen it before.
I step into the elevator and press the fourth level. As the door closes, I faintly hear someone yelling "Ms!" .... is that the flight attendant??...again? I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose in a failed attempt to ease the pulsing headache behind my eyes. I must be hearing things in my exhaustion.
After the elevator closes, I realize it was the bell boy running towards the closing elevator with my luggage. Whoops! I think, feeling the elevator jerk up.
The creaking elevator drags up for what feels like forever. When it does come to a sudden stop, I get a dizzying feeling. How I hate elevators... Not only does it give me constant anxiety imagining what the plunge to my death would feel like if it breaks, but it's also a constant reminder of my low iron... I finally get to my hotel room, and a few seconds later, the lost bell boy drops off my bag. I give him a generous tip as an apology for losing him. As I was attempting to juggle the cash and my bag, I drop the hotel card twice. So clumsy of me, as always.
I've never been so exhausted; every fiber of my being aches and it takes every last drop of my energy to lock the deadbolt on the door. A second later I also slide the chain into the lock at the top for good measure. Letting out a deep sigh, I stumble over to my bed. As soon as I hit the soft, plush covers, I pass out with only one thought on my mind.
This is going to be a long year.
* * *
When I stir awake again, the room is shaded in darkness. I make my way over to the window and pull back the curtain a few more inches. As I wipe at the drool on my cheek I notice the sun is already low in the sky and streaks of orange, purple, and red color it in a beautiful sunset mural. The alarm clock on my nightstand shows it's already 7:23 pm. My stomach lets out a loud grumble as it tightens painfully. I haven't eaten in at least the last 24 hours, if you count the bag of chips and tequila I had on the plane yesterday evening. Before that, I don't even remember the last meal I had. Maybe it was the gas station sandwich I grabbed before getting on the greyhound in Indianapolis. I need to get some food in me ASAP before I pass away. My stomach growls again as if in agreement. I go to grab my hoodie, and as I'm about to pull it over my head, I get a whiff of a sudden, pungent odor that makes my eyes water slightly. My hunger dampens as a wave of nausea rolls through me. First, a shower. Then, food.
I stand under the hot stream a few minutes too long, enjoying the strong spray above me. It feels as if the old me washes away as the hot water scalds my skin. I ignore the slight burn. For the first time in as long as I can remember, if ever, I feel free. A dangerous bud of hope blossoms in my chest when I think about the uncertain future ahead of me. Maybe, I'll celebrate and splurge on some room service in bed.