I didn't mean for it to go this far. I only wanted to teach him a lesson. But I guess I should've known something like this would happen with that crazy bastard involved. I guess there is some validity to that old saying, "hindsight is 20/20." I thought I'd be able to take comfort in knowing that justice had been served…so why do I feel so awful? Maybe it's because there was no justice. After all, my solution to the problem didn't change things much. In fact, it only made things worse. I suppose that just goes to show there is a price to pay for taking the law into one's own hands.
June 23rd - Rachael Hargraves
"Is that all for you today, ma'am?" the bored-looking convenience store clerk asked the young nurse.
"Yeah." Rachael eyed her lunch lying on the counter-a heat lamp hot dog, barbeque potato chips, and a bottled soda-with some dismay. She was well aware that a health care professional should set a better example for healthy eating. Usually she would, but she had already sunk a month's pay into repairing her truck. She looked even more disgusted as she eyed the blue-and-rust colored piece of shit parked outside the door; a hand-me-down from her father, who had recently moved into a retirement community. The price was right so she really couldn't complain, but she usually did anyway. She quickly gathered up her artery-clogging foodstuffs and headed in that direction, but not before running smack into a man who had just walked in.
"Oh! I'm sorry," she blurted awkwardly, keeping a tenuous hold on her items as she staggered and tossed her mid-length strawberry blonde hair out of her face.
"That's…okay." The man whom she had barged into stared dumbfounded at her. He was somewhat average looking; slightly on the heavy side, clad in a well-worn denim over shirt, black jeans, and old sneakers. She didn't pay him much mind after issuing her acknowledgment, and dashed out the door to her truck. She got inside, turned the key, and…
"Damn it! You stupid piece of junk, I just fixed you last week!" She cranked it to no avail, and finally slammed her fist into the steering wheel, but not too forcefully for fear that the damn thing would fall off. Thankfully it stayed in place, so she rested her forehead on it, glancing at her watch in the process. And of course, she would have to be late getting back to work as well. That did not motivate her to move, but a sudden sharp rapping on her window did.
"Miss? I couldn't help overhearing…"
Rachael jerked her head to the side to see that man, the one she had seen in the store, peering in the driver's side window, which she rolled down.
"It does this sometimes…it won't start…I just had it repaired last week. I'm late for work too…" She could not hide the defeated tone in her voice.
"Mind if I have a look?"
With a sigh she nodded, and he instructed her to pop the hood. Within seconds she heard, "Ah, I see the problem." Moments later he returned to her side, wiping his hands.
"The battery cable had worked itself loose. It should be fine now."
Doubtfully she turned the key, and sure enough, it started right up.
"Oh thank God." She let her head fall back against the headrest, and turned to him. "Thanks, I really appreciate it."
"Don't mention it." He smiled and offered his hand. "My name's Mike."
"Rachael." Weakly she returned his handshake.
"Yes, I can see that." He nodded at the nametag on her uniform, still smiling as he released her hand. "Well I'll see you around, Rachael."
She nodded and smiled half-heartedly before she drove off. As she pulled out onto South Ashfield street, she saw Mike in her rearview mirror, still standing in front of the store, appearing to be searching his pockets now. She did not see what he eventually came up with-a pen-nor what he wrote on the palm of his hand with it:
June 6th - Met Rachael…the woman I am going to marry.
