22 A familiar face

After having breakfast Shirley was at loss. She did not know what to do, she was clueless. Her stay was free of cost and there was this one day cruise but that was not happening for the next two days. That's what she was told when she made a call earlier to inquire about it. She had thought that it would be two of them and they would think of something. But that plan had already gone down the drain. She was here alone and this is it. This would be it. There is no way she would go back to that scum. She won't but that's a thing of future that she was sure about… but what about now?

What should she do?

She could use the facilities available at the hotel, there was a beach, game room, gym, or many other things but she was not feeling enough energized to do any of that. She was already feeling sad and she wanted to stop feeling like this. To do that she has to socialize with others, that at this point was what she needed, this is the right thing to do but she just could not bring herself to do that. She could not even visualize herself starting a conversation with others.

Was she being pathetic?

Most likely, and she felt bad for herself but she could not just up and go to the first person she sees and start babbling about the weather. She knew she would make a huge mess of this. She would stutter and most likely she would be talking with a native who does not speak English. She would be making a fool of herself and then she would feel embarrassed and sad. So a big red cross on that.

Shirley was aware that if she went back to her room she would just crawl back in the bed and cry her eyes out. This cycle would repeat until she falls asleep. She was not here for that! She could not help crying, her heart was broken and it really hurt but when possible she did not want to do that all day. If that's what she wanted then she would have stayed back in her house and did just that.

She has already taken the first step and if right now another one was not possible then she would just take a breath here and then do it. She will not take a step back, no matter what. She will walk ahead, so what if her pace is slow? That did not matter. What matters is that she keeps doing it and won't lose her courage, and heart.

Shirley looked out and saw that the sun was shining brightly. Her thoughts have already taken a lot of her time and she concluded that it was enough. She decided that she would go for a walk. She would simply take a stroll in the neighborhood and look around. Her tummy was full, she only needs to take her wallet and phone with her and she was ready to go.

Shirley did not dwell any longer and stood up. Hurriedly she went to her room and then in no time she was out the door. Her pace was neither too fast nor too slacking, she just moved as she felt. It was summer and the place was filled with people not that bustling but lively. She could feel her spirit soaking all the warmth and maybe healing a bit.

A smile tucked her lips, she was not aware of that. She looked right in place with the light blue sundress she was wearing and those white gladiators weaving a criss-cross pattern all the way to her mid-calf. Her light brown tresses that made over her shoulders all the way down to her mid-waist, shone brilliantly under the sun. A light breeze made those silky strands tease the side of her face now and then. She looked like a painter's dream.

She blended in the crowd but at times she would stand out. She was not aware of the numerous admiring eyes that followed her she was lost, taking in the beauty that was all around her. She just turned a corner when someone crashed into her. Both of them fell, when Shirley gazed up she could not stop herself, she was surprised to see a familiar face in a foreign land.

'You'