"I wish you would reconsider living in that neighborhood. " Laura heard her mother complain through her bluetooth headset as she wheeled herself in her wheelchair through the streets of her new neighborhood..
"The rent is affordable here, mom", Laura answered as she reached the door of the bodega. She wheeled closer to it, placed her hand on the door handle, and managed to pull the door open a little, the second she did Latin music filled her ears. She wouldn't allow her mother to frighten her. She continued to pull the door until it was open wide enough to fit her wheelchair. She wheeled in, and moved away from the door before it could hit her.
"Laura, are you listening to me?"
"Sorry, mom, I had to concentrate, I was opening a door."
"I was saying, I wish you would come home."
"I can't do that, mom", Laura said, softly as her brown eyes scanned the selves in front of her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm shopping", Laura answered. as her eyes found the bread, Peanut Butter, and Grape Jelly she had been searching for. She wheeled closer to the 2 shelves which were standing side by side. She grabbed the bag of bread first, and placed it on her lap, carefully she grabbed the Peanut Butter, and placed it on top of the bag of bread, very carefully she reached the Gape Jelly, and placed it on top of the Peanut Butter.
"Shopping?" her mother exclaimed. You shouldn't be shopping at this hour. It's almost midnight." Her mother continued to ramble, but she couldn't concentrate on what she was saying. Quickly, she wheeled herself to the counter to pay for her food. The bodega wasn't busy, there was only one man ahead of her in line.
"Do you have my money?" Laura heard the man say. to the old man at the counter. His voice was low and dangerous. She jumped, and felt her food start to slip off her lap. Her hand instinctively reached out for them before they could fall. She held onto the items as if they were a life preserver. She disconnected her phone call, and froze
"I don't have your money now, but I'll have it by the end of the week," the old man replied.
"I want it by Friday, and your instest just doubled. Got it", the man said, sternly. The old man nodded yes, quickly, and the younger man harassing him stode out the door.
"Did you want to buy those things?" The old man asked. Laura, calling her out of her trane.
"Yes", Laura whispered. She wheeled up to the counter, and put her items on it. "Do you want me to call the police?" Laura asked as she unzipped the purse she was wearing across her body, slowly took out her wallet, and placed money on the counter, the old man took the money, and countered it, she gave him 5 dollars more than what her food was worth. He placed the money in the register, and closed it. "Do you want me to call the police?" She repeated.
"No", the old man snapped, "there's no need for the police". He placed her food in a bag, and slowly handed it to her. "Get home, safely."
"Thank-you", she answered, turning away from the counter, and wheeling out of the bodega.
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Laura wheeled all the way to her apartment without stopping. She opened her apartment door, and rushed inside. Her cell phone rang. She answered it to stop the ringing. "Laura, are you there?"
"I can't talk right now, mom", she said. "I'll call you back, I promise." She disconnected the call, wheeled into her kitchen, and slowly put her food away. She was famished when she wheeled herself to the bodega, but her appetite vanished the second she heard the words "Do you have my money?
She sighed loudly. She felt nauseated, she wanted to get away. She couldn't go home to her mother's. She turned back to the door, opened it, and wheeled out. It took her 5 minutes to wheel to the new aquatic center. This aquatic center was the reason she moved to this neighborhood. She wheeled inside, and made it to the welcome desk. "Hello, my name is Laura, How much is it to swim here for the year?"
$170", the young man behind the large welcome desk announced. Laura took out her wallet, and retrieved the last of the cash in it. She tried to hand the cash over to the hand of the waiting man, but she couldn't reach over the large desk. "I have the money for it. Can you grab a pass for me, and walk around the desk, so I can pay you. I can't reach your hand.
"Sure." The young man said, picking up a pass, and walking around the desk to her. Laura handed over the cash. "Here you go, Laura". he said, slowly handing her the pass. "You want me to help you to the pool area?"
"No", Laura answered, "Thank-you." She added.
She turned her wheelchair away from him, and her eyes found the pool entrance, she wheeled to it, slowly got the door opened, and wheeled in as fast as she could. Her arms ached from all the wheeling. she was still scared, and nauseated, but the water would heal her, it always did. She wheeled close to the pool. She lifted her dress off, underneath she wore a sapphire blue, one piece bathing suit. She threw her dress to the floor, then she slowly lifted herself out of her chair. Quickly, she reached the safety bars, and gripped them, and walked down the 3 steps. She swam away from the steps, and got into position to swim her first lap. She took a deep breath in, placed her face in the water, and she was off. She felt her strained muscles relax. She heard the entrance door open, almost instantly she lifted her head from underneath the water.
"Hello". said a familiar voice.
"Hello" Laura managed to say. Suddenly the owner of the voice was in front of the pool. He stood at what Laura guessed was 5'8, his short black hair was cut in a way that was perfect for his flawless face, his practicing green were surprisingly warm. and seemed otherworldly. Laura watched in silence as he climbed into the pool. "I thought I would be the only one here at this hour." Laura knew without a doubt that the man now swimming toward her was the same man from the bodega. The voice was not threatening now, but it was the same voice,
"I'll give you some privacy", Laura whispered as she swam away from him, and to the pool steps.
"Please, stay", he said, just as she grabbed hold of the pool's safety bars.
"I have to go", she replied, without turning around. She lifted herself out of the pool, and sat in her chair. Once safely in the chair, Laura reached down to the floor, picked up her dress. and put it on over her head. When she was done, she wheeled away from the pool, and to the exit door.
"It's late, mami", he called to her. "How are you getting home?" Without a word, Laura opened the door, and managed to exit the pool area before the heavy door could hit her.