She was an outcast, or what some considered, a Loner. She had an odd style, emo. She enjoyed horror films and anime, loved classical music and enjoyed trap music. She liked puzzles but also watched shows with subtitles. Never fully fitting in, but always standing out.
The rain fell almost silently amongst the city. The sky was gray but the humidity was there. Marie was feeling something warm and to hit the spot.
Winter was in full swing in November; fall had come to an end, and it was now colder than ever. Marie wasn't going to let the winter blues get the better of her this time. She went to get her nails done, bright pink and gold. It was her birthday.
She pulled on her Adidas track pants and turtleneck crop top, finishing the look with some sneakers. She scrolled through her phone to call Felicia, her best friend. Her sister answered the phone and said, "I'm going to call you back!" as the call went out.
She put on her gloss and set out on the cold streets of London. As she held her umbrella close she reminisced on her last year. She broke up with her longtime boyfriend Phillip as he was a narcissist. She deleted and blocked some other fake friends on Instagram. She was kind of starting over, this was gonna be it. It was her year.
As she turned onto Adelaide Street North and opened the door to Pho Lee, a Vietnamese noodle shop that is rated four stars on trip advisor. Marie has been going there for the last few months.
Marie was so excited, it was a highlight of her day. She closed her umbrella as she entered Pho Lee.
“Hi, How can I help you?” Asked the server. “I would like to order the rice noodle soup with shrimp and crab stick oh and can I get a coke?” Marie bit her lip thinking of the spices and noodles “Mhm fifteen-fifty” said the server.
Marie pulled out her debit card and said debit. The server poked at the machine and handed it over to Marie. “Tap, ok fifteen minutes,” said the server as she turned on her heels.
Marie took a seat by the counter and pulled out her cell phone and started to scroll through the for you page as she sighed.
The earth started to shake, slowly at first and then with more force. The picture frames that lined the walls danced and fell off one by one. The plates crashed from the shelves onto the floor. Sirens.
“Mam, your food ready” Marie snapped out of her daze. She looked up at the Pho Lee worker. A look of irritation on her face. “tại sao tất cả các khách trở nên bối rối” Marie stood up and walked toward the counter and smiled at the attendant “Thanks” as Marie hurried toward the front of the store. “Take care mam”
As Marie pushed the front door “OOF, hey watch ..” Devon stood there almost speechless. Marie was Devon's school crush. He could never muster up the courage to approach her. She was guarded and was dating his brother Phillip for the past few years. Every Time he saw her his heart fluttered. “Oh Hey Dev, sorry about the door, I-I was about to.” Marie felt flustered. Devon smiled and gave her a hug “ Marie it’s all good, Where are you headed?” “Oh, I was just gonna go home and ..” why are you talking so much girl damn! Marie scolded herself. A few seconds passed without many words. “Well I'm gonna order let's sit together, Devon stepped into the store and Marie reversed and followed Devon to a table. It was as if he had a remote and was controlling her, with Devon it didn't feel forced but as if she doesn't have control of herself. Her heart led and her body followed.
Devon pulled out a chair for Marie and one for himself. “Your bag?” Marie handed it over without protest. He set out her plate and her cutlery and set aside her coke. “I will be back” he went to the counter and picked up his order. Devon had thought ahead and called it in advance. “Thanks” he said to the shop owner and turned toward the table and Marie. He sat down across from Marie, he removed the lid from his noodle bowl and also removed Marie’s. He smiled at Marie and she smiled back at Devon. They were eating noodles all the while slurping and chomping.
As Marie lifted her bowl and set it down. The emergency sirens started to blast loudly throughout the town. She looked up, and she and his eyes made contact. “Did you hear that?” Devon asked, surprised. “You too?” Marie responded bamboozled.
Before they could say another word an enormous tidal wave of water crashed through London. Before they could leave the Pho shop the waves covered the windows and doors and came pouring into the store.
“Take cover!” Devon yanked Marie and they jumped the counter spilling over the condiments and trays.
The water splashed into the store destroying everything in its path. Marie looked up and Devon was pulling her toward higher ground. Marie was frozen as her life flashed before her eyes. “Come on” Devon called as they followed the shop owner up into a crawlspace. “No, I can’t” Marie started to break down into tears as her painful memories of her childhood rushed into her vision. As she banged on the door of the crawlspace, crying and hysterical.
“Marie, it’s alright I’ll use my phone to light the way.” Devon shone his light on the crawlspace and as Marie opened her eyes she saw the shop owner Lee holding out his hand “move your feet”. Marie started to crawl toward Lee and she could smell the salt water.
“Marie we have to go” Devon yelled at Marie from Behind. Marie grabbed Lee’s hand and he pulled her out onto the rooftop.
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