#28 Alone - Ina N-aonar

I waited until the door was closed behind me to allow my body to give out. I sunk to the tiled floor of clutching Mo Soileireacht to my heart. Closing my eyes I took three conscious deep breaths in an effort to clear my racing mind.

What was I going to do now?

There was one thing I knew for sure, I couldn't trust Lyle. Not now that she knew I'd lied to her. My heart sunk as the guilt settled in, it was my fault. Our trust didn't begin fully intact I'll admit, from the beginning there were spider leg cracks that filled with water every time I begged another question. Though this time it was I whose frosty blow forced the fractures to split violently apart. Thousands of pieces lay at my feet and I could see bits of my reflection in the shards but looked away.

I needed to make a plan, somehow I had to leave the cafe and make my way to the train station where the early train would be leaving any moment – all without Lyle noticing. Lifting my head up I took stock of the bathroom. It was a bare room with only a single toilet in the back corner across from a ceramic sink. The walls were a dark purple shade and as I looked closer I could see random doodles covering the walls in black ink.

I didn't focus on the drawings for long as my eyes landed on a beam of light coming from a window no wider than three feet. The window stood directly above the toilet and in an instant I'd risen from my feet, checked the lock on the bathroom door, and come to stand on the toilet's lid. The cheap plastic caved a bit under my weight as I pressed my toes into it so I could get a better angle on the window.

Placing Mo Soileireacht tentatively on the toilet tank's lid I undid the dusty latch holding the window closed. To my surprise the pane swung easily to the side accompanied by a rush of cool air. The window ledge sat at my chest and I poked my shoulders and head out to see where it lead. From what I could see it was a patch of grass in between the café and its neighboring building, a stepping stone path to my left disappeared behind the corner of the brick facade.

Perfect.

Resting Mo Soileireacht safely on the grass I urged my wiry arms to pull my body up and through the tight window. Miraculously, a few odd positions later I managed to leverage myself through the wooden frame and onto the ground.

Without pausing another moment I took off toward the station.

Pushing aside thoughts of Lyle I sprinted down the sidewalk through the chilly air. My footsteps seemed heavy as they met with the concrete. The whistle of the train sounded and I turned to see the slow chug of the mechanical beast round the corner on its way to the station.

The situation felt oddly familiar, except now instead of running with Lyle I was running from her.

A droplet of water connected with my forearm, and then another and another. I looked in frustration at the heavy clouds as they released their weight allowing the rain to fall to the ground. Tucking Mo Soileireacht under my shirt I continued down the hill alone.

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