The Boy Who Remembered

The fluorescent bulbs hummed loud in her ears as she stood at the counter, making her wonder why the foreboding sound went unnoticed by the hundreds of people who visited the store each day. It always screamed from the ceiling on days like this. She thought that maybe it was her subconscious begging her to run from this place. There were more callings as well. The sweet smell transpiring under her arms and between her legs was a reminder to keep her distance from others. The cling of damp fabric on her chest was crying for her to walk away, to shed the layers of guilt and shame that she wore daily. “Just leave!”

Her body knew what her heart could not see. Isn't it funny how humans avoid the tell-tale signs of a threat just to allow themselves to see the world through rose-colored glasses? Our bodies are professional spies; they nearly always expose the truth. Regardless, she remained in place like a statue, contemplating more deeply than most 20-year-olds take the time to.

“Hey, Irelynn.” His friendly voice pulled her from her trance. As she looked up, she watched his familiar face quickly change from casual to concerned, and for a fleeting moment, she couldn’t understand why.

“Jesus, are you okay?” His voice was hushed. Her hand unconsciously flung up to her face, and she dropped her gaze, allowing her long brown curls to cover her eye.

“Oh, I’m fine. I can’t even feel it. I swear, Justin! It’s nothing but a pretty little accident.” She put on her best face, forced a laugh, and moved on.

“How is Cara? I heard you guys were going out this weekend.” Keeping a casual tone, she aimed at switching lanes. This is what she was good at; pretending. But all it took were a couple seconds of exposure, and he saw the whole picture clearly. He didn’t know her well, but he’d heard the stories. Rumors spread like oil on a canvas, but so do truths.

“I have an uncle in California.” His voice was almost a whisper, but she didn’t follow his lead.

“Does he live at the beach, boi?” she sang energetically. Playing dumb was another hobby she actively participated in, and, obviously, comedy was not. However, she still made the silly joke in an attempt to hide what her body so eagerly displayed.

As she began fidgeting under the shelves, pretending to be focusing on her day job, she watched as he scribbled 10 digits in a small black book that he pulled from his back pocket. His well kept hair revealed his unscathed eyes, his expensive black shirt hung comfortably on his torso, and she was sure as hell he was unaffected by the humming of the overhead lights. What a life.

After tearing the page from his notebook, he silently slid it across the counter and turned to walk away. His body also spoke volumes as he took one last double-take, saving her beaten face into his mental photo album. The look, the one she was so familiar with, faded just like every time before. He’d delete that image as soon as something else piqued his interest, which was fine by her. She didn’t want to be someone’s pity project; at best, she’d like to be forgotten.

Life centered itself once more, the day sped forward, and her senses heightened in double measure as afternoon became evening. After nights like the last, she was always on high alert when the time came to leave work. For others, going outside equated to taking a big whiff of fresh air. Irelynn, on the other hand, felt her lungs cling to their last free breath of the day; walking through those electric doors was the last thing her body encouraged. With the memory of his fists pounded into her flesh, how could it forget?

Looking down into her purse, searching for her keys, she walked towards her teal 93’ chevy cavalier. The jingle of metal on metal played as she looped her finger through her keyring and lifted her gaze. She took a step back and quickly inhaled the icy cold air.

James stood in front of the drivers side door of her car, holding a cheap bouquet of pink flowers, displaying a look of innocence that had fooled her too many times before.

“Hey there, beautiful.” The brisk air didn’t help her reclaim her breath, nor did it stimulate her salivary glands, making swallowing her pride nearly impossible. Her body was working overtime; it wanted her to fight. It was begging for it.

“I told you that I didn’t want to see you again.” She said it with a ferocity that she didn’t know she was capable of. Though he played it cool, his eyes reflected rage, not unlike the previous evening. Her body trembled with adrenaline and panic, a knot of nerve endings fighting to unravel. Though she knew the public setting kept him from harming her (on most occasions), the threat was still prevalent, almost stealing her courage.

“You need to walk away, James.” His anger burned dark, and she could feel the nip of his flames as he moved towards her. The breeze chilled the sweat dripping down her stiff neck as she steeled herself for the blow. He was within a foot from her when his demeanor abruptly changed, fury replaced with a glimpse of fear. He backed away, putting a sly smile on, “Okay, Irelynn. I’ll catch ya later.”

As he slinked away, she uncurled her fingers that had her keys in a death grip, allowing them to slip to the ground. Unaware of Justin’s presence, she remained where she stood, trying to piece together the fragments of what had just happened.

“He’s a coward, you know? You held your ground pretty well. Are you okay?” She turned around to see him, the boy who didn’t forget. He stood there with a halo above his shiny locks of hair. Which in all actuality was projected onto him by headlights from somewhere in the parking lot. She couldn’t think of what to say, so she just stood and took in the scene playing out around her. The theme song was a bit more lighthearted than it had been only moments before, and she could draw in a free breath of fresh air.

“Here,” he handed her an envelope with an address written on it, “My uncle is expecting a call from you. I think it’d be smart if you left now and drove through the night. It’s a 13-hour trip if you take i5.”

“But, I don’t know. Maybe I should...” She stuttered over her words. Once again, she fought against her own instinct, but this time she was 100% aware. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He spoke the words, then turned and left as soon as he appeared. Standing there watching him, she felt her heart racing, but this time it was different. Fear nor adrenaline drove her forward, but it was preservation that took the reins. After picking up her keys from the asphalt, she climbed into her cavalier and drew her attention back to the envelope. Opening it, she saw a stack of cash and a note that read:

Irelynn,

This $20,000 is for your new life. Don’t let anyone stand in your way.

A tear of gratitude leaked down her cheek. What a life.