Relief washed over her as she heard the train conductor’s muffled announcement that her stop was coming up next. She pushed her way past the wheezing old man and the insolent young girl destined for teenage pregnancy and made her way towards the door while trying to balance as the train lurched from side to side. She wasn’t very successful though since she stumbled twice and multiple disgruntled passengers expressed their irritation towards her. She ignored them and finally made it to the dirty doors and peered through the glass. Well, it was supposed to look like glass, really it was just a thick plastic that was so worn with scratches, smears, and germs that would make even a slob squirm.
The train dinged it’s piercing bell, announcing arrival at the station as it thudded to a stop and Kate fell forward and then backwards, grabbing a railing above her to keep from ending up on the floor. She had never been so grateful to see those doors open as she was just then. She had always disliked the metro, but with her recent experience it became so much worse. Every man glancing at her was a suspect, every person bumping against her was an attacker, and every jarring sound was a threat.
She ran up the escalator steps to reach the streets above and turned towards her work. She paused for just a moment, almost tripping in her hurried steps, when she saw the Java Jolt across the street. Normally, she would stop into that coffee shop every day on her way to work. In fact, that was where she had met Derrick and subsequently fallen in love. But now, that was where Craig worked.
Kate continued past the store and on towards her job, but Craig’s face was now looming in her mind. She pictured him in the store serving coffee to an unsuspecting woman, sizing her up and deciding if she was going to be his next victim. If Craig was even her attacker. That was just another of the many unknown pieces in her puzzle. Kate shook her head as if it was an etch a sketch that she could erase a memory with just a simple tousle. If only it were that easy.
~~~~
Kate walked up to the large glass doors to her office building’s lobby and took a deep breath, pushing through them. She was immediately greeted by a friendly face that she had almost forgotten and was so relieved to see him. Herbert was an elderly security guard who checked people’s badges as they entered the building to go to one of the many different companies that rented office space here. He grinned at her when he saw her, always the jovial spirit.
“Miss Kate, it’s been a few since I have seen your pretty face pass through here! How have you been? Did you take a nice vacation?” Herbert smiled a wide, toothy grin and scanned her badge for her as she extended it out to him.
“I know, I’ve missed seeing you!” Kate greeted back, completely avoiding the topic of why she hadn’t been there.
“How is the family?” She immediately followed up by turning the focus on him, hoping he wouldn’t notice her artful dodge. She continued walking as he handed her badge back to her and spoke to him over her shoulder as she pressed the lobby button for the elevator.
“They are wonderful as always, grandkids in college costing me a few pennies here and there. Just trying to help out the kids. Junior, though, he has a scholarship for the football so he is doing just fine. Good grades too! There are some brains in these genes, you know.” Herbert bragged about his family, not noticing her clever evasion.
“I can imagine! That is so wonderful to hear!” Kate responded as the elevator door chimed, announcing its arrival.
“I’ll see you later, Herbert!” She called back to him as she quickly scooted inside the doors and waited for them to close safely behind her, a shield to ward off anymore undesired questions. The elevator slid up towards her office as she realized for the first time that Herbert wasn’t going to be the only one with questions. Kate’s sister, Annie, had told her job that she had been in a car accident. At least, she was pretty sure that that was what Annie had said.
She had spoken to her sister late last night on the phone and it hadn’t been one of their more pleasant conversations. Annie was upset that Kate was going back to work only two weeks after the attack. Somehow the roles had reversed and now Annie, the little sister, was trying to take care of Kate which Kate was automatically resistant to. She was the one who had always been in charge and always handled everything. She didn’t want her little sister carrying that burden.
On top of that, Kate couldn’t possibly stay in her house another minute. The days were becoming endless and spending hours in the same place you were attacked in makes it pretty hard to move on. She needed a distraction and a purpose to get her out of bed every morning. Being an employee was better than being a victim.
At least for today.
A nervous feeling clouded Kate’s mind as she thought of the stares, the questions, and worst of all, the concern of her colleagues. She didn’t want their pity, she didn’t want their curiosity, and she certainly didn’t want their attention. She was the opposite of her mother, the more she could fly under the radar, the better. Whether she liked it or not, the moment came and the doors opened into the office floor and Kate stepped out trying to look as confident as possible. Completely the opposite of what she felt inside.