Today is a new day. This will blow over. And everything will go back to normal. Sera squared her shoulders. I can face anything as long as I get to sing. She took a deep breath. I’m not doing myself any favors, wallowing in my hotel room. She needed a change of scenery… and some fresh air wouldn’t hurt either.
Enjoying the forceful stream from the showerhead pounding the tension from her neck and shoulders, she lingered under the heated spray. Escaping the steamy room, she donned her most inconspicuous outfit—a faded t-shirt and a pair of worn jeans—then tucked her long hair, still wet from the shower, under a ballcap. Finally, she grabbed her sunglasses and purse before slipping out of her room.
As she passed Krista’s door, she felt a twinge of guilt. It’s not like I’m sneaking around. Even she didn’t believe her defensive statement. She knew she’d been avoiding Krista. After a quick walk, I’ll go see her.
The bright sun on this spring morning promised another sultry day. She tugged her ballcap a little lower and put on her sunglasses before pushing open the heavy revolving door. The rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee filled the air, a sharp contrast with its competing scents—malted barley and Mary Jane. She hit the sidewalk, heading toward the nearest coffee bar. It felt good to be out of her room. She dodged a group of camera-toting tourists, turning her face to the side as she passed. Pausing in front of a café that boasted “fair trade organic coffee” to read their sandwich board menu, she decided on a twelve-ounce cappuccino. Coffee in hand, she detoured toward the marina instead of heading straight back to the hotel.
It’s a beautiful morning. She took a deep breath, appreciating the salty tang of the ocean. Neat rows of sailboats lined the piers of Mariners Bay. People bustled along the boardwalk, focused on their various places to go, leaving Sera unnoticed among the chaos. She enjoyed the anonymity. In her casual clothes, no one would mistake her for the musical sensation, Seraphina Jacobs.
Finding an empty bench with a great view of the harbor, she settled down, cradling her coffee in both hands. She embraced the peaceful feeling that something so simple—sitting down with coffee—created within her. In a flash of inspiration, she dug out a notepad and pen from her purse. She scrawled Everything is brighter; I feel lighter on the page. Staring at the words, she realized their truth. Sitting there in the sunshine, things did seem brighter. Far removed from the worries of her reality. She gulped the last sip of coffee, knowing she’d run out of ways to stall her return to the hotel. Her reprieve was over. Time to face the music. She cringed at her unintentional pun, then she grinned as another occurred to her. It’s showtime.
No comments:
Post a Comment