Retail Therapy

As the first rays of sunlight began to peek through the curtains, Ari's eyes quickly opened.

She lay in bed, her body still trembling from the lived in nightmare from the night before.

Beads of sweat adorned her forehead, evidence of the fear that had consumed her just moments ago.

The remnants of the dream clung to her consciousness, refusing to fade away.

Seeing the scaley snake and it's fanged, slime ridden mouth every time she shut her eyes, Ari held her sweat soaked pillow to her face as she shivered in her bed.

With a deep breath, Ari sat up, her heart still pounding in her chest.

Slowly, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, her feet touching the cool wooden floor.

Feeling a pounding headache she winced and ran out of her room to the bathroom.

Throwing the toilet lid open she doubled over and threw up.

Thinking back to the moment she stepped onto the field and was immediately knocked out Ari felt her head pounding as she felt clouded and dizzy.

"Ugh... a concussion" Ari groaned as she flushed the toilet and groggily made her way back to her room.

Looking at her desk, she grabbed Buttons off of her desk and sat on her bed holding onto him tightly as she continued to tremble.

Seconds turned into minutes as she sat in silence holding Buttons close to her chest as her mind remained plagued with the previous night's mission.

The morning air felt crisp against her skin, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of her nightmare.

With a determined resolve, she made her way to the bathroom, hoping that the familiar routine of getting ready for the day would help chase away the lingering fear.

Turning on the tap, she splashed cold water on her face, hoping to wash away the remnants of the nightmare.

The sensation brought a momentary relief, the chilling droplets waking her up from the haze of fear.

Ari looked at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes still carrying a hint of unease, but also a glimmer of resilience.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting from her cup, promising a comforting embrace.

With the warm cup in her hands, she settled onto the couch, the soft cushions providing a sense of comfort.

She sipped the coffee slowly, allowing its warmth to seep into her veins, to calm the lingering tremors of fear.

Ari closed her eyes, taking a moment to gather her thoughts and regain control over her emotions.

The mission, though unsettling, was now behind her.

With every breath, she let go of the fear, replacing it with determination and resilience.

She knew that she had the power to shape her reality, change her fate and bring her friend back.

As the minutes ticked by, Sarah felt the weight of the nightmare gradually lifting from her shoulders.

The sun rose higher in the sky, casting its golden light through the windows, illuminating the room with a renewed sense of hope.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ari set aside the remnants of the nightmare and embraced the new day.

She was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with the strength that comes from confronting her fear.

Holding her phone in her free hand she read a text from Dave.

[Dave: Hey shawty]

[Ari: No. No. No. You're way too pasty to use the word shawty]

[Dave: *eye roll emoji* wanna go shopping?]

[Ari: What you buying?]

[Dave: Clothes for the party duh]

Ari rolled her eyes as she read the text.

[Ari: What do you even wanna buy? You got the clothes for the theme don't you]

[Dave: Yeah but it's bleh, I need a new Hawaiian top]

[Ari: Ik for damn sure u got five of those but aight I'll come]

Having gotten dressed for the day Ari made her way out into town.

As the sun cast its warm glow over the bustling city streets, Ari with a cookie in hand and Dave eagerly made their way to their favorite shopping district.

Their first stop was a trendy boutique known for its unique and carefully curated selection that sat outside both their budgets.

The store was adorned with stylish displays, showcasing the latest fashion trends. Dave's eyes lit up as he spotted a vibrant floral dress shirt, while Ari gravitated towards a rack of luxury tops.

They spent hours browsing through racks of clothing, trying on various outfits, and providing honest opinions to each other. The two friends left the store having neglected to make a purchase.

Having finished off their hotdogs they wandered into a vintage store filled with retro treasures and spent time rummaging through racks of vintage shirts, pants, accessories, and antique jewelry. Dave found a vintage Hawaiian shirt, while Ari found a pair of rimless sunglasses that perfectly complemented her old beach top and skirt.

"Wait that's all you're getting?" Dave asked as Ari made her way to the register. "Yeah why not? I got a top and skirt already" Ari replied.

"Yeah no, hold this" Dave said as he handed her a long sleeve black see through crochet top and short set.

"Dave come on, I'm good" Ari said with a smile as she handed back over the clothes.

"Yeah no you're not, this is the first party you've been to in ages, treat it like a new start. Plus if you're wearing white you won't just punch people so" Dave said as he handed Ari the clothes and turned her towards the register.

"Um hey I guess I'm buying all this now" Ari said to the lady behind the register as she turned to scowl and roll her eyes at Dave. Dave smiled back at her and blew her a kiss.

Cracking a smile Ari caught it out of the air and pressed it against her lips as she chuckled and paid for her clothes.

"Say nothing but thanks for this I really needed it" Ari said as she hugged Dave. Caught off guard by the sudden embrace, Dave hugged her back before they parted ways.