Moving forward

"Why is it so hard to see?" Adelyn questions as she drives down the road with an unknown speed "My gauges are busted again, damn." the car lights illuminating fog as thick as molasses with only the guidance of the moon to lead the way. Her car seems to increase in speed, she presses the brakes but its useless dirt flying about hitting the car windshield. Faster the car urges faster with the passing of time, a dark figure in the distance hands waving to stop but the car won't respond "Look out!" she screams. The face of her brother illuminated by her headlights draw nearer, his mouth moves as if to yell STOP. Adelyn screams "Noooo!" as she stomps on the breaks and desperately pulls the wheel to either side. The cars aim is true as it plows into the figure and the large object behind him. Screaming for help Adelyn cries "somebody help him!" the fog fades away revealing the object he is pinned to. It's another car on its side with a woman hanging out the window blood falling from her temple "Sandra!"

Another typical fall morning for Adelyn as she lay in a pool of her own sweat and tears, remembering only fragments of the nightmare, she got up to make breakfast. A bowl of cereal and milk to start her day she wondered about what Mary had said that day for quite some time now. "Someone else I like more. She doesn't even know me. How could she possible know that I like someone if I don't even know!" she brings a large spoon full of Choco balls to her mouth slurping up the milk and crunching the chocolatey goodness between her teeth. "I don't know anyone that could even be considered on my radar." an image of Sandra popped into her head "That one's impossible for more reasons than one" crunching continues "Maybe I should give her a call, she seemed alright. Kinda pushy but she did give me a ride when she didn't have to. Having someone to talk to about all this could help the nightmares ...." she reaches for her phone "god I hope I don't regret this" searches for the number in her contacts and hits call. It rings a few times "maybe this is dumb" her finger hovers over the end call button when she hears a voice "Hello?"

"Uh hey, it's me" not knowing what to say in the first place didn't help her situation.

"Oh, hey boss, finally gave me a call. I knew you would." the confidence oozed from the phone.

Feeling like she had made a huge mistake already she is regretting calling her even more now. "Yeah, I don't know what I am doing."

"That ain't no big deal, I'll pick you up at seven." 'click' she hung up.

"What just happened?" she eyes her phone for a moment before putting it away. Getting dressed for work she notices the pain in her arm has all but gone away, only a twinge now and then followed by some involuntary twitching in the fingers that she's gotten used to. The doctors said a year before her muscles fully recover. On the way out the door she grabs her sketchpad, she never goes anywhere without it, ever since college it's been with her. Filled with all sorts of things she regularly replaces it with a new one once the old one gets too full. It's as close to her as a firearm is to a police officer, an extension of herself.

After work Adelyn came home exhausted, the bus had been hectic today. It was packed like sardines in a tin can the whole way, she puts her arms around herself and sighs thinking about the last time she was behind the wheel. 'Ding' "Hey I'm outside." a text message read it was from Mary "Oh right...that" she sighed louder in exasperation. She begins to write a reply "I'm not feeling so good, raincheck?" before she could hit send there was a rapping on the door. Adelyn opened it to Mary who let herself in "Nice place you got here boss" her voice always seemed to have an enthusiastic tune to it like nothing ever bothers her.

"Oh, uh yeah it's fine" caught slightly off guard when the woman made herself at home on the sofa.

"Very nice" she caresses the arm of the chair feeling the material as she props her shoes on the table before her dirt falling to the wood.

"Uh shouldn't we go." her question rhetorical as she glared at the mess disapprovingly.

"Yep, let's go" she stands up with a grunt before following Adelyn to the door. Outside Adelyn asks, "So where are we going?"

"I'm starving, let's eat something" she grabs her stomach as it lets out a low growl and smiles.

"Ok, um so ..." Adelyn stammers a bit feeling uncomfortable.

"What suits your fancy Italian or Mexican?"

"Does Tex Mex count?" she replies hesitantly raising her shoulders a bit to brace herself for the usual shock she receives when she tells people she doesn't like authentic Mexican food.

"Sure, I could do Tex Mex" Mary shrugged and walked over to the driver side door to get in.

Adelyn was surprised at that response, she thought for sure Mary would make fun of her. Cheering up in miniscule amounts it was a start.

Mary ordered a colossal steak burrito drenched in cheese with every thing on it, Adelyn's dish was slightly less impressive allowing herself two chicken tacos minus jalapenos. At first the conversation was minimal as they devoured their meals until Mary promptly asked "So. You take the bus huh?"

"Uh yes" was all Adelyn could think of.

"What happened to your car? Surely you can afford one."

"It was um in an accident and was totaled."

"Insurance didn't give you a new one?"

"Why are you so interested in my means of transportation?"

"Just wondering why a woman like you with a decent job isn't driving around in a nice ride." she glances at her car in the parking lot obviously very proud of it. "2007 Chevrolet Camaro, if you hadn't noticed it's my baby."

"Uh yeah. I don't know much about cars." Adelyn adjusts in her seat grabbing a few crisp chips and dipping them into a saucer of queso before filling her mouth, hoping she won't ask more questions.

"So is that what happened to your arm?" glancing at Adelyn's left arm remembering what it had looked and felt like that night.

Nearly spitting out her chips Adelyn coughed cought by a wave of surprise and embarrassment, swallowing hard "You're incredibly forward you know that?" she spat with unintentional anger in her voice.

"That's how I get what I want, so are you going to tell me?" a hint of amusement in her voice knowing she struck a cord.

"If you must know, yes" sighing loudly, an abrupt sadness falling over her.

"Look I didn't mean to upset you, I just thought you've seen me naked at least you can tell me about yourself." her tone light hearted and sincere. A blush crawled up Adelyn's neck to her face hoping to God no one heard that.

"Stop, it's none of your business." throwing up her walls in defense was the only thing she could come up with to keep from breaking down right there in the middle of the restaurant. Silence permeates the air with a thick veil of tension.

"You know, this place has the best dessert, I'll go get us some." Mary walks to the front desk to order the dish. Adelyn picks at her food , pushing the now somewhat soggy chips around her plate thinking "I was probably too harsh.." sighs.

Mary returns with this odd concoction of cookie dough wrapped in flour and fried placing it in front of Adelyn as a peace offering. She looks down at it with wonder before delicately lifting one of the overflowing logs lightly topped in powdered sugar , noticing a dark warm liquid in the middle of the plate she dips her prize into the sauce and takes a bite "Hmmmm oh my gawd" half a mouthful as she spoke. Adelyns eyes widened with how deliciously decadent the morsel of food was in her mouth, going back for more immediately.

The drive home was less awkward after Adelyn apologized for snapping at Mary, deciding she earned a little more information she offered "My arm was fractured in three places...I...it got caught in the steering wheel before the airbag deployed. I was lucky..."

"Damn boss, that's tough."

"Unfortunately the other driver had it much worse." she unintentionally continues, the scene pouring out of her after being held it for so long. Tears fall down her red cheeks by the time she had finished what she had to say. Feeling incredibly vulnerable her body shook with the memories and guilt.

"Hey, shits hard." in a solemn understanding tone Mary's usual smile lowered before returning to her cocky self "I might be a pushy ass, but I'm a good listener so feel free to talk to me whenever you need to." flashing a toothy smile.

"I just might" Adelyn wipes her tears from her cheeks and says her goodbyes. A friendly wave and Mary drove off.