| Chapter 8 | Fates Aligned | Part 1 | {1}

THE NEXT DAY COMES, with the streets bustling with various noises, all of which slightly irritate the Bed-grouch, Aaron Blackwood, who wakes up around midday, a record over the past few weeks, a sign that showed heavily how much he needed to cry out

A small step in the right direction

Dragging himself out of bed

The same bed which he slept on after his small but much-needed rest; after the emotional outburst

He leads himself bouncing from one place to the next

His first destination was the bathroom, refreshing himself, and making himself look presentable

His second was his indoor wardrobe that later appeared in his bedroom

His third and last was the kitchen/dining room

Once set in the kitchen, he slowly begins to prepare breakfast, starting with the pans that were still in their box, Oh right…I still need to unpack. He noted

A misstep on his part, as he intentionally wanted to unpack and set up most of his things yesterday, but it can’t be helped, and besides he had much time on his hands

Aaron places a pan on the stove, but something finally clicks in his mind as he turns to stare with a puzzled expression at his fridge “Wait a minute…” reaching for the fridge door “Don’t tell me–” opening the refrigerator, finding it barren and empty, with only beaming lights that indicated it was on

Blankly staring inside, his shoulders roll down in despair, with his head following in tow, drooping like a wet sock

“SIGH, I knew I forgot something,” groaning with frustration, closing the fridge “Add that onto the list.” He muttered with annoyance to himself

“SIGH…” His stomach grumbles, causing small cramps, and reminding him of his hunger

Grumbling under his breath, Aaron walks in circles attempting to contain his hunger

Which of course didn’t resolve the pain one bit.

Leaning across the counter, groaning in pain “Ugh stomach! Whhhyyy!?” He cried as the pain came and went as it was pleased

Aaron was left with no choice but to comply with his stomach. Leaving back to the room, Aaron got ready for his first morning in his new apartment and prayed that he would have a normal day

But of course, when had things ever gone his way

— — —

WHILE IN THE LOCAL STORE, Paula was also proceeding with her semi-weekly grocery shopping, strolling from one aisle to the next, running down her list, with added suggestions written messily and rushed, looking more like squiggles than words

Pushing down the trolley, making her way through the Canned aisle

Picking up a can from the shelf, and examining the contents briefly, her attention shifts to the side when she spots someone past her, furthermore, someone she was unfamiliar with

A young man who seemed close to her age, possibly of European descent, wearing a pair of shades…Inside?. But besides that personal note, Paula could only think to herself one thing, that he seemed under the weather, in contrast to his neat appearance

Narrowingly following the man who was slouching every now and then, only further confirming her belief, she inwardly said sympathetically, Poor guy…must have had a rough night. Of course, she was partially correct on that

However, those thoughts became a momentary blip

Brushing them aside she checks from one can to the next, to check off her list

“Now…what’s next?” Scrolling down her notebook, “Spreads…mostly Raspberry jam, and cereal.”

With that in mind, Paula guides herself to the AISLE 8, the Breakfast Aisle

Whistling a tune, Paula wonders “Hmm I should also get some pebete [1] on the way home?”

Left in her simple thoughts which would shift, in a few moments. As fate would intertwine her and another, both enduring and facing terrible and joyful moments to come

— — —

AARON FELT DISASTROUS, even though he attempted to settle his stomach with a small snack on the way to the closest supermarket, he still felt hungry, it left him stunned at this point as he and his sibling could fast for a period of time, which was becoming a concern as of late

Pushing through, Aaron continues to map his way through each aisle, rounding the beverage aisle, he finds himself in a section filled with cans, answering which aisle he was in

Strolling through the section, passing another shopper, whose gaze followed him as he passed by them

He of course wasn’t deteriorated by it, but the small stomach ache was another matter

Slouching slightly, he seemed like he was falling asleep on the trolley

Aaron mutters to himself, “I should have made a list.”

An idea that would have proved useful, as well as better than walking around aimlessly shopping on a whim

Placing anything he eats, what seems interesting to try, and a few needs

This of course was a budget crisis waiting to happen

Checking from left to right, he spots from the corner of his eye a sign that enlisted Breakfast foods

Instantly he led his trolley in that direction

Skimming through, “Hmm let’s see, cereal, juice, eggs, bread, milk…” reaching to a full stop, spotting “Hmm, Raspberry jam.”

Seeing that it was also the last one in stock “Seems like a sign to take it.”

Reaching out for the spread, only to meet with collision, as another hand outstretched for it

Both hands pause, left to follow the opposition hand, to meet each other’s eyes

A small set of recognition crossed their faces

Both simultaneously thinking

Hey he’s the guy from earlier. Paula pointed out

Wasn’t she the lady from the previous aisle? Aaron pondered

An awkward silence fell, speculating what to do

Both desired to have the jam spread, but wished to be courteous and offer the other the jam

Aaron contemplated. Should I be nice? Looking down at the object of conflict, staring at it intensely, almost hearing a voice call out to take it

Paula on the other hand, was grim, with a shadow bearing over the top part of her face, she Really wanted to be the nice guy in this scenario, but her sister left her with little choice

A little explanation is that if there isn’t Raspberry jam in the house…it was a call for war, and Paula has one wish, and that is to have a free stressless week- minus the one issue of yesterday with Saul’s acquaintance whom she still hasn’t met yet. And does not want to deal with anything that will instantly give her a migraine

The two share a glance, both instantly seeing conflict in each other’s eyes aiming for the jam

Paula shakes her head, refocusing herself “EXHALE…”

“Um…I know it’s a lot to ask but–”

Aaron holds out the jam to her, “Just take it.”

“I–What?”

Paula just stares at the man as if he had grown a second head

Blinking a few times, the only thing that came out was “I’m sorry?”

“Umm, pardon?” Aaron replied in confusion

“No- I mean- What I was trying to say-”

“Look…SIGH just take it before I change my mind.”

At this point, Aaron was ready to just take it and leave, but a thought came to mind and wouldn’t go away. However as he observed the jittery woman, he could see that she, like him, was an older sibling.

The way she fretted over her words, her mannerisms, but it was most clear when he spotted her paper list of necessities and wants; given by the bright pink squiggly writing at the bottom said anything

The handwriting was unmistakably a young child’s, but what sealed his belief was the sentence written messily, but he managed to decrypt it upside down

It humorously said, Don’t forget my jam Polly!

He lightly chuckles at that

Silencing everything between the two

Casually he steps around her, leaving the object in her trolley, and leaves without another word

And just in time too, as his stomach kicked a sharp pain, he winces but continues to make his way to the counter, and get some food and rest without another strange encounter

Paula stared at the man’s back, gaping like a fish out of water

Left with one question in mind

“Who was he?”

| FOOTNOTES |

[1] Pebete, A pebete is an Argentine and Uruguayan soft oval bun made of wheat flour with a thin brown crust, rather like a fatter hot dog roll