Fragments of Us

Tessa

Sweat covers my body as I run through the dark streets desperate to get away from my pursuers, my heart beating fast and hard against my chest it feels like I can't breathe. Cutting through the narrow bend, I squeeze myself between two buildings and squat, tears spilling from my eye as I struggle to catch my breath.

A hand covers my face from behind with a cloth and drags me through the muddy streets, I kicked and screamed till I lost consciousness.

.......

Ringgggggggringggggggggg!! ringggggggggg!!!

I stirred in my bed as my alarm clock went off, I quickly sat up, my face covered in sweat and my heart beating very loudly. I dreamt about it again, same dream every day.

Breathing hard I gather my sheets and wipe my face trying to get my breath under control. It's been three years and I'm still haunted by this same nightmare.

I stretch out my hands and hit the clock on my bedside table to shut it up. Gathering more of the sheets, I bury my face into it groaning.

I stood up and walked into the bathroom, bending over the sink and splashing water on my face. That felt better, I moved in front of the mirror and looked at myself, dark circles evident under my eyes and stress written all over my face. I needed a break from everything but I can't take breaks, not now.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I pulled out the shower head and turned it on in full blast, and hot steam covered the whole place. I grab my towel, wrap it around my body and walk back to my room. I make my way to my wardrobe, I need to pick an outfit for work.

Pulling out my favorite pair of blue jeans, a black tank top and jacket to go along with that I was set to go. Grabbing my purse and keys, I lock up my apartment and leave.

Approaching the building of my work place, the name The Coffee Pot hung high and a terrace with ten tables and three chairs each. Opening the door, the walls are painted sky blue with little snowflakes designs, there are twelve tables with three chairs on each and the counter is by the right.

Going over to the counter from the back so I can face the tables, I turn on the coffee machine to get it ready for the day and start setting up the place.

"Good morning" I turned and saw Morgan smiling at me. We both work here at the coffee shop and take shifts with two other workers.

"Good morning to you too" I flashed her a smile and continued to set things up.

Customers came flooding in and in less than thirty minutes the place was packed, sighing softly, I took out an apron and slipped it on. I take orders and serve while Morgan works the register and the coffee machine. I walk to the first table with a book and pen in hand smiling.

"Good morning, what would you like to order, sir?" the man looks up from his phone and faces me. A look crossed his eye but I couldn't read it, it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He reluctantly tears his eye from my face and clears his throat, which has me wondering if I've got something on my face.

"Good morning, what's on the menu today."

"we have the Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, Iced coffee and Americano" I say while tapping my pen on the book.

"Which one's your favorite?" what?

"They're all really good but the Latte would blow your mind, sir." I studied his face, he seemed to be calculating his next words or something.

"I'll take the Latte then." I nod my head, and turn to take someone else's order.

"And I'll like a topping also, choose for me." I turn to see him already looking at me, I nod slightly adding that to his order and walk off towards the counter to get it.

I let out the breath I didn't know I've been holding, that was weird. I approach Morgan and she's smirking at me, I pass her to get the orders ready.

"What was that about?" I stop working the machine and face her.

"What was what about?"

"You and the hot guy you were taking his order" did she see all that? I squeeze my eyes shut and turn away from her chuckling. She bursts out laughing and turns back to attend to customers.

She's always like that, trying to link me up with people, she says I need to get laid but I don't really care.

I carry the orders to go deliver them.

"Here you go, sir, a Latte with whipped cream and cinnamon toppings, enjoy your coffee." I walk away and start serving others, not giving him a chance to say anything.

I took orders and served a lot of customers and didn't have the chance to see that weird person again.

I walk towards the counter taking the door that leads inward with Staff Only written on it, I keep going till I spot my secret place. It isn't exactly secret but it was my place, I slumped into the chair, I was so exhausted.

"Are you here so you can run away from that handsome guy?" I turned my head and saw Morgan already seated on the other chair behind mine.

It's our lunch break so I'm not surprised to see her here, no customers are around now.

"I'm not interested in the guy if that's what you're asking, besides I'm on my break I'm not hiding from anybody"

I close my eyes and relax more into the chair. I didn't want to have this conversation with her. We're co-workers, we aren't friends and she knows nothing about me. It's not her fault though, she tries to be friends but I guess I'm the problem, I didn't want to get close to anybody.

"He likes you, why don't you give him a chance" I keep my eyes closed and don't answer her.

"How are you so sure he likes me?" she always comes to conclusions on issues like this, one looks at me and she says he's my type.

"It's obvious Tessa, he couldn't keep he's eyes off you" sitting up right on the chair, I'm so tempted to tell her to shut the fuck up and that her opinion didnt matter.

Instead I stand up and leave the place, I'm not ready to start an argument with her. She always has something to say that pisses me off.

"I'm going to have lunch, i'll be back in an hour" I shouted once I reached the door. Picking up my purse, I walk out of the shop and head to my usual spot a couple of blocks down the street for lunch. It's a small restaurant and I'm actually friends with the girl that works here.

Opening the door, the place is rowdy compared to other times I've been here. I walk over to her stand but she's not there. I walk over to where other workers are, "Excuse me, is Jade around" a girl turns to face me.

"Yh she's in, she probably went to get something out back, she'll be back" and she turns back to attend to people. I pull out a chair and sit so I can wait for her, pulling out my phone, I start responding to some messages. A hand comes over my eye and closes it, my body tenses up.

"Guess who" the person whispers into my ear, I can't make out the voice. My hands are shaking and breath coming out rough, I open my mouth to scream but I can't make a sound. I raise my hands to touch the ones over my face and it's gone like it never happened.

I turn my head to look around the place for anything that seems out of place but the place is crowded, everybody going about their business. I'm still breathing hard and my hands are still shaking.

"Hey Tessa, come over here" I look to see Jade already at her stand, staking up multiple boxes, I walk over to her. "Were you behind me a second ago?" She looks at me and lifts up one of her brows like she doesn't know what I'm talking about.

"I'm just coming in now, I've been at the back, is anything wrong?" it wasn't her? Then who was it? Could it be? I shake my head to get my thoughts together, it can't be. "No, nothing's wrong, why's the place crowded today?" She lifts her head from the box she has been searching.

"We're offering a discount on all purchases by the christmas season in a few weeks and to qualify for the discount, you must have a certain token that's being given out today once you purchase anything" she bends back down to search the next box on the floor.

"That's quite a catch, no wonder the place is packed, who wouldn't want a discount like that" she raises her head back up. "That's the thing, the token would only be given out today in anticipation for the holidays" she bends again.

"Are you going home for the holidays or you're working all through it" she stands up straight, this time with what looks like a bat in her hand. "Found it. I'm working but I'll take a break from the twenty-fifth till the second of January and visit my mom. What about you, any plans for the holidays" she clears her table and places the bat on it.

"Yes, I'm sleeping in and watching Tv" my phone starts beeping indicating my lunch break is over and I need to head back. "That's boring, why don't you go home" I stand and start to gather my things together.

"No reason, I need to head back to the shop, I'll chat to you later" I start walking off as I wave my hands at her. "Later" she smiles and gets back to work and I make my way back to the shop.