He looked at her. Who is this girl?
Reality told him it's the girl he loved. Reality told him she's running away. Reality also told him to let her go.
Even though the confusion spread through his mind like a grey smoke, he fought it. Fought the instinct to make her stay, to ask her not to do it. Where would she go? What would she do? It's up to her to decide.
She waited to see if he'd stop her or if he'd come with her. The latter she wished for so much. Someone who'd accompany her while chasing some small dreams. But he just smiled and said Call me if you need or whenever you get back. That's not what she expected. It made her happy and sad. He will not trap me but he will let me go. Somehow that angered her too. She got what she wanted didn't she? Then what was upsetting her? That I don't want to leave without him. That I'm becoming dependant. Even when you are not needing me.
Finally she just turned her back on him and walked away. And he returned to his room. She had a vague map in her head. She had a vague plan. A vague challenge to herself. Travel, smoke a cigarette, find someone new to have a random conversation with. She set out.
The first step out of her sanctuary and she was scared. Terrified. It was hot. Heat, one of her worst weaknesses. She took a deep breath and walked. Her steps faltered when she saw a cigarette shop but she didn't stop. She was alone. What if it caused her to cough so much she couldn't keep on going? No, I can not make myself vulnerable.
And further, she reached the junction, the bus stop. But instead of boarding a bus, she simply kept on walking to a place she knew. A big shop and convinced herself that it was for the AC because it was becoming too hot for her comfort. Once inside, she wandered around. Saw a trinket her old friend might like and bought it. Came outside, Sat at a coffee shop and ordered a coffee. She relaxed and finished her coffee slowly, taking around 40minutes for one cup. Then another random wish came true.
Her mind was lost elsewhere. She watched the people on the road. She made a call to her friend and then started reading a novel on her phone. Nothing seemed to make sense but it did.
And she resolved to try to sneak off one day without letting anyone know. Maybe. Just maybe she could try chasing her dreams again.
Maybe she could just draw a map and run.
