Part Three
Chapter 34
Kallie
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The last two customersshuffled through Kallie's checkout line with the slow, tired energy of people who'd worked too many hours and had too little left to give.She scanned their items automatically, offering polite smiles, nodding along to their small talk, pretending she wasn't counting the seconds until she could leave.Her heart had been racing since seven o'clock that morning, ticking off the hours like a metronome.
Eight hours.Eight long hours away from her apartment.
When the final customer pushed their cart away, she exhaled in relief and closed out her register.The drawer slid shut with a soft click, and she handed the envelope to her manager.Then she exchanged places with Pauline.
"Goodnight, Kallie."Pauline scanned her badge and logged in to the register.
"You, too."She rounded the counter."I need to grab a couple of things before I leave."
She hurried down Aisle 4, past the cereal and canned soup, until she reached the frozen food section.The cold air spilled out as she opened the glass door, fogging the edges.She grabbed a tub of vanilla ice cream and a bottle of chocolate syrup from the shelf on the other side of the aisle.
A treat.
A ritual lately.
A reward for surviving the day.
She paid quickly and stepped out of the store.The cool evening air hit her cheeks, and she breathed it in like she'd been underwater all day.The walk home was only two blocks, but she practically jogged it, her bag bumping against her hip, her pulse thudding in her ears.
When she reached her apartment, she slowed at the sight of Amy sitting on the front step, tying her shoe.Amy looked up immediately, her ponytail bouncing as she straightened.
"Hey, Kal!"she called."I was just about to head to the gym.You wanna come?"
Kallie forced a smile, shifting the grocery bag behind her leg."Oh, um...not tonight.I'm really tired."
Amy narrowed her eyes."You're always tired.You work, you come home, you hide inside.You need to have some fun in your life, girl.You're not getting any younger."
Kallie laughed weakly, inching toward the door."I know, I know.Rain check?"
Amy sighed dramatically."Fine.But one of these days, I'm dragging you out whether you like it or not."
"Deal," Kallie said, even though they both knew she didn't mean it.
They'd had the same conversation more times than she could count.She'd come to realize that no matter where she lived, routines were important to most people.
She unlocked the apartment door with a shaky hand and slipped inside, shutting it quickly behind her.The moment the latch clicked, she sighed in relief.Her heart pounded so hard she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady it.
Eight long hours.
