Unplanned

When she awoke the sun was still shining brightly. The alarm clock read a quarter past three. She sighed and rose from the bed. She realized that she had forgotten her hair brush and toothbrush, among other unmentionables. She ran to her wallet to see if she had enough money for a toiletry bag and some underwear. When she’d decided to just go she threw on a new outfit and ran her fingers through her hair in the hope that it would do some good. She sighed and slipped her shoes on with, again, no difficulty.

The drive to the store was a short one and she found what she needed quickly. Outside she slid some change into the payphone and hoped that the number she dialed was the right one.
One ring.
Two.
Three.

She was shaking and she couldn’t figure out why. She pulled the receiver from her ear intent on hanging up.
“Hello?” she heard a breathless voice on the other end.
“Hi.” She said quickly into the phone.
“Who is this?” the familiar voice asked.
“It’s Cherry. Is this Amanda?”
“Cherry? My god, I haven’t heard from you since graduation. How’ve you been?” Amanda answered to her relief.
“Not so good, I was wondering if I could stay with you for a while. at least ‘til I find my own place?”
“Wow. That’s sudden.” Amanda said.
“If it’s a problem, I understand. I can find another place.” Cherry interjected quickly.
“No, it’s no problem. I was just saying it was sudden. Straight to the point aren’t you? Actually, I was wondering if I should begin looking for a roomy.”

Cherry cracked a smile, an opportunity had opened up quickly, she was glad. No money worries yet.
“So, What happened?” Amanda’s eager voice asked.
“I don’t really know. I just left. Everything about my life just disgusted me.
“Spur of the moment?”
“Yeah, It was.”
“How long ‘til you get here?”
“Um, maybe two hours.”
“I’ll be watching for you. Are you still in that old junker?”
“Yeah, unfortunately.”
“Okay, see you later then.”
“Okay, bye. And thank you.”
“No problem, bye bye.”

Cherry replaced the receiver and took a deep breath. She was one step closer to being gone. She started back to her car and back to her motel room to check out. She grabbed her suitcase and stuffed the new arrivals into it. She picked it up and threw it into the trunk of her car. She gave the woman at the office her key and left.

She drove a little ways down the road until she found a small café she had a light meal. Then it was on to Amanda’s.
As promised she found Amanda on her front porch waiting for her. The gravel driveway crunched under the weight of her old car. Amanda had a smile from ear to ear when she noticed Cherry’s red hair blowing from the window. As soon as she was stopped she put it in park and jumped from her seat. They embraced for what seemed like forever until Cherry finally pulled away.
“Where’s your stuff?” Amanda asked.
“There’s a suitcase in the trunk.” She answered.
“That’s all?”
“Spur of the moment.” She shrugged.

Amanda laughed and shook her head. She reached in through the window and turned the car off yanking the keys from the ignition. She hauled the luggage to the house and just left it inside the door. Cherry noticed a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen and her stomach growled a bit. Amanda smiled.
“Sit down, We’ll eat and talk about it.” She demanded.

Cherry did as she was told. Amanda fixed her a plate and then one for herself. She put them on the table and pulled a pitcher of tea from the fridge. She grabbed a couple of glasses and poured them each some of it and sat down glaring at Cherry.

“Well?” she asked impatiently.

Cherry put down her cup and inhaled sharply.
“I guess I got scared,” she paused, “everything was on a schedule. When we went out, when we walked, even when we made love it was all by his approval. I got scared that that was how I was gonna live my life. So, I left.”

Cherry looked at her friend with the hope that she would have some wise words for her like she always had. But all that was on her face was a small smile.

“I knew he wasn’t right for you. You were always spontaneous and he just never seemed to fit. I think you leaving was a good idea. It’ll give you both time to think about the person you two really want to be with.”

Cherry nodded, she was thinking the same way, and she had hoped that Amanda would agree. They finished their dinner and talked for a large portion of the night. They felt like they were back in high school all over again. Cherry unpacked her suitcase and they had discussed where she might find a job around town.
She had eventually found a job as a cashier at a local gas station. It wasn’t glamorous but it paid the bills and she was fine with that. The next few months passed very fast and she was starting to let him go. She never turned her phone back on and she knew he was probably worried about her. But it didn’t bother her now. She was free.