At 5 in the morning, the persistent rain drummed softly against the windows, a muted symphony that accompanied Vivian as she slowly roused from an uncomfortable slumber. Her body ached from the hours spent curled up in the same position, the result of a night spent wrestling with demons both external and internal. She uncoiled herself from the fetal position, stretching out her limbs with a groan, trying to alleviate the stiffness that had settled into her muscles.
The room was still dim, the overcast sky casting a gray pallor over everything. She shuffled back to the window, where the rain continued its relentless assault. A sudden gust of chilly air sneaked through an unnoticed crack, making her shiver and sending goosebumps prickling across her skin. She settled back into her chair, the storm outside now a mere background to the calm that had descended upon her mind. The chaos of the night before seemed to have receded, leaving behind a strange sense of tranquility.
Vivian reached into her purse and retrieved a cigarette, its sleek, ash-black body with a golden butt gleaming under the faint light. She lit it, the flickering flame briefly illuminating her face before the smoke began to swirl around her. With each inhalation, she let out small, delicate puffs of smoke, watching as they dissipated into the air. The cigarette seemed to draw a line between her troubled past and the present, creating a moment of serene detachment from her worries.
It was Sunday, and the city was wrapped in the hushed stillness that only a weekend morning could bring. The usual hustle and bustle of daily life were conspicuously absent. She finished her cigarette, crushed it out in the ashtray, and tidied up her desk, preparing to leave. The time read 7 in the morning, and the world outside was still cloaked in rain and shadow.
She made her way to her apartment, exhaustion pulling at her limbs. Once inside, she fell into her bed, the soft sheets enveloping her as she sank into a deep, dreamless sleep. The storm outside was a distant murmur, fading into the background as she drifted off.
Her phone's insistent ringing jolted her awake at 2 p.m., cutting through the haze of her sleep. Groggy and disoriented, she fumbled for the phone, finally lifting it to her ear.
"Hey, Laura," she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Hi, Vivian!" Laura's voice was cheerful, a welcome contrast to the lingering gloom of her morning.
"What's up?" Vivian asked, trying to shake off the last vestiges of sleep.
"Not much, just thought I'd invite you over," Laura said, her tone light and casual. "Why don't you come to my house?"
"Right now?" Vivian asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"Yeah," Laura replied, her tone shifting slightly. "I need to pick up some groceries, and I could use some help."
Vivian hesitated for a moment, still caught in the fog of her recent sleep and the residual weariness from the night before. "Sure," she finally said with a pause. "I'll see you at 6 p.m."
"Great! See you then," Laura said quickly before ending the call.
Vivian's hand fell to her side as she lay there for another ten minutes, letting the conversation settle. Finally, she roused herself from the bed, washed her face, and began to get ready.
She chose her black Lexus for the outing, opting for a casual yet striking look: black pajamas, her hair in a sleek messy bun, cherry red lipstick accentuating her lips, black glasses perched on her head, and a bag slung over her shoulder. She looked every bit the model, even if she didn't feel like one.
At the supermarket, she maneuvered her trolley through the aisles with a practiced ease, the clatter of the cart against the tiles and the soft hum of the store's overhead lights creating a comforting backdrop. The trolley was filled with an assortment of items—vegetables, fruits, salt, sugar, peppers, snacks, tissues, and napkins. As she wandered through the electronic section, she paused in front of an 85-inch LED screen. It was playing a vivid scene of fireworks and a little girl in a red silk dress, running across a field with an air of determined innocence.
Vivian was mesmerized, the bright colors and the child's earnest quest pulling her into a moment of distraction. Lost in the scene, she barely noticed when her trolley got jostled. The impact came suddenly, pulling her out of her reverie. She moved quickly to the side, murmuring apologies as she tried to rearrange her dislodged items.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," she repeated, her hands busy realigning her groceries.
"Vivian?" a voice called out, and her heart skipped a beat.
Vivian looked up, her gaze locking onto a familiar face. Her breath caught in her throat as she stammered, "Max."
There he was, the embodiment of her past, the symbol and the only witness to everything that had transpired. The shock of seeing him there, in the midst of her ordinary grocery shopping, sent a rush of emotions flooding through her.
Max, with a warm, nostalgic smile, moved closer to Vivian. She stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing as he approached. "You're Vivian, right?" His eyes, full of recognition, seemed to pierce through her shocked facade.
Vivian, still paralyzed by surprise, looked from his face to the hand he extended toward her. Max's eyes sparkled with genuine happiness at seeing her again. When he noticed her hesitation, he let out a soft, amused laugh and retracted his hand.
"I guess I need to reintroduce myself," he said, his tone lighthearted. "Hi, I'm Max. We went to high school together."
Vivian was still too stunned to respond, her mind struggling to process this unexpected encounter. Before she could gather her thoughts, a small voice interrupted them.
"DADDDD! I WANT CHOCOLATES!" A little girl, no older than six or seven, tugged at Max's sleeve.
Vivian's gaze shifted to the child. There was something hauntingly familiar about her, but she couldn't quite place it. Max bent down to address the girl. "Ava, here, meet—"
Before Max could finish, the girl, Ava, slowly made her way towards Vivian. Without warning, she threw her arms around Vivian's legs, crying out, "MAMAaaaaa!"
Vivian's world seemed to spin. Shocked and bewildered, she stood motionless as Ava's cries drew the attention of everyone around them. The sudden, intense scrutiny of the supermarket's patrons made her feel vulnerable and exposed. She managed an awkward, bewildered smile, signaling her confusion about the situation.
Max, equally taken aback, hurried over to try and calm Ava. He attempted to lift her, but the girl clung to Vivian, crying even harder. Max's initial attempts to console her were met with resistance. Seeing the distress in both Ava and Max's faces, Vivian felt an overwhelming wave of emotion. Without thinking, she knelt beside Ava, who suddenly hugged her tightly, and Vivian's heart breaking at the sight of the child's tears melting her very core. Her tears welled up, and she felt an unexpected surge of maternal instinct. Max, observing the poignant scene, was unable to hold back his own tears. His eyes glistened as he watched the tender interaction between Vivian and Ava.
The supermarket, with its fluorescent lights and bustling aisles, faded into the background. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The echoes of their shared past, now intertwined with the present, filled the space between them. Vivian and Max, both teary-eyed, looked at each other through a haze of emotion. A bittersweet emotion spread across their faces as they shared an awkward laugh, their tears mingling with the laughter.
In the midst of the chaos and confusion, the depth of their shared history and the unexpected reunion created a profound connection. The supermarket, with all its noise and activity, became a mere backdrop to the powerful moment of reconnection and revelation that unfolded before them.