The storm

~Elena~

“I am sorry, Ma’am but you are creating a scene.” The waitress spoke calmly as I frantically searched the restaurant with tears in my eyes. 

“Don’t you get it?” My voice quivered as I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. “I just got catfished and robbed and you’re telling me you don’t know when one of your customers disappeared? He was right here! Right here!” My voice grew louder as I broke into more tears. 

I covered my face in my hands and kept weeping. All of Sophie’s advices soon began to hunt me and I felt instant regret for trusting that asshole. 

“Ma’am?” A calm voice next to me called, and I raised my head to look at him. He was the manger. “I am so sorry about this, Ma’am, but can you please keep it down? It is starting to bother other customers.” He said it so politely that I couldn’t even say or do anything else.  

It was my fault. I was careless and left my belongings with a stranger. Others did not have to suffer for it. 

I took a deep breath and soon began to think of the next action to take, when a waiter approached, holding the meal Daniel had ordered. I scoffed and shook my head, completely ignoring him. 

‘Can you please read the room?’ I thought, cleaning the tears on my face with the back of my hand. Just then, my attention was pulled to the television in the diner. The manager had increased the volume and everyone was staring in it’s direction. 

On TV, there was a female newscaster reporting; “Reporting live from Massachusetts, a severe storm is expected to hit within the next hour. Residents are strongly advised to return home immediately and take necessary precautions. This storm is forecast to be heavy and potentially dangerous.” 

I groaned in displeasure and looked out of the restaurant door. I could see the darkness in the clouds and the wind starting to blow harder. “Shit,” I mumured, “why is everything going wrong tonight?!” 

While rethinking all my life decisions, I came up with an idea to leave the restaurant right away and start walking home. I believed I was going to make it home before the storm hit if I walked as fast as I could. And even though it started while I was still out, I would be closer to the house. 

This sounded like the perfect plan to me at the time and without hesitation, I walked out of the restaurant, saying nothing to anyone. I hit the sidewalk, and with my head slightly lowered in heartbreak, I began to walk, wrapping my arms around me as the wind blew hard on my skin. 

I was covered with goosebumps from head to toe, but I paid no attention to it. I was ready to get home as soon as I can. “At least he picked a familiar restaurant.” I mumbled to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. ‘What would I have done if I was miles away from home?’

About twenty minutes into my walk, my feet started to hurt badly. I stopped and took off my heels without thinking twice. The wind had grown stronger and I soon started to feel sprinkling on my skin. I kept pushing even though I was starting to shiver like a leaf in the forest. 

“You are almost home, Elena. You can do this.” I said to myself, but I was far from right. The next minute, the rain started pouring heavily, completely drenching me in the first few minutes. My dress glued to my body, I felt the universe was against me at this point. 

I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it was very dark already, and the only thing that provided light to my path were the coming vehicles. I began to wave them down, hoping one of the drivers would have empathy and help me, but I was wrong. They all passed by as if I wasn’t even there. 

This caused my frustration to grow over the edge. “Why are you people so heartless?!” I yelled to no one in particular. Fresh tears rolled down my face, I felt completely alone. The rain was so heavy, I could barely see what was in front of me. The rain kept beating my face mercilessly, forcing me to lower my head. 

I soon gave up trying to stop any vehicle because it seemed like a waste of energy. I kept going, even though each step I took felt like torture. I broke into tears again, this time, heavily, because I knew no one was going to hear me anyways. 

As I weeped, I noticed another headlight approaching from behind, but I was unfazed. This one was just going to drive past too. Suddenly, I heard a blaring honk behind me, startling me and forcing me to stop. I looked back and saw the car came to a sudden stop. 

The headlights were so bright, I couldn’t see who it was, until he called my name. 

“Elena!” He ran up to me holding his suit. He hastily draped it over me and hold me tightly to himself as he walked me back to the car. “What the hell are you doing here?” His voice brimmed with concern. It was Mr. Richard.

With my hope restored, I broke into more tears as I sat in the passenger’s seat in his car. He circled the car real quick and also hoped into the driver’s seat. 

“What happened?! Why didn’t you give me or Martin a call that you were stranded? Do you know how dangerous it is right now?” He scolded, but beyond that, I saw pure concern for me. 

I couldn’t bring myself to talk. I was too cold, still weeping and traumatized. He reached for his seatbelt and was about to plug it in when he suddenly stopped. With a deep breath, he leaned closer, very close, that my breath caught in my throat for a minute. 

His face was a few inches away from mine and I saw his hair all ruined and plastered on his forehead. He looked into my eyes, lingering for a moment before shifting his gaze to the seatbelt beside me. He grabbed onto the seatbelt and plugged it in, making sure I was secured. 

He also fastened his seatbelt and we hit the road. I heard nothing but the aggressive storm hitting the car as he drove carefully. 

“Are you okay?” He broke the silence. This time, he sounded more subtle than the first time. I nodded slowly, cleaning my face with the back of my hand. 

“Thank you for helping me.” I muttered and looked at him. 

“Don’t ever thank me for helping you, Elena,” he shook his head, “It is my responsibility.” He took a quick glance at my face before looking ahead again. 

“That was valid about decade ago.” I lowered my head and began to play with my fingers. “I am an adult now. I should be responsible for myself.” 

He slightly nodded, “You’re right. But even as adults, we do still need help sometimes.” He took a pause and looked at me again. “Tell me what happened.”

“I was catfished and robbed by my date.” I answered with a broken laugh. “I was stupid to think my happily ever after was on a dating app.” 

“That doesn’t make you stupid, Elena. People do find their soulmates on these apps, but there are just many bad people out there these days.” He explained, and I nodded in understanding. 

“I refused to believe that and now, it has come back to smack me in the face.” I sighed, looking out of the window. 

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” He further asked and I shook my head. “He was stupid to fumble a woman like you.” He added with a scoff and I looked at him. 

Hearing him say this made me feel good. Maybe my night wasn’t a complete mess afterall. 

We got to my house and we both ran for the door. Getting in, We met my father in the living room. His brows furrowed as he saw me and he sprang to his feet. “What happened?” 

“I do not want to go over it again, father.” I answered, making my way to the stairs. “I just want to sleep and forget what happened tonight.” I muttered to myself without looking back. 

I got into my room and shut the door behind me. I took off the suit and my dress, letting it slid off my body to the floor. I made a turn to my bathroom when I suddenly stopped. 

I looked back at his suit on the floor and slowly picked it up. Staring at the suit, I recalled how he rushed to save me, how close his face was to mine when he wanted to help with the seatbelt and how he softly he had spoken to me. 

I clenched my jaws as I moved the suit to my nostrils, inhaling deeply. I could smell him, it was as if he was standing right there in front of me. My eyes fluttered shut and I threw my head slightly backwards. 

I bit my lower lip ‘Why does his scent have to be so intoxicating?’