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My parent’s house is only a ten-minute walk from the pharmacy where I work, so it gives me ample time to think about the dream I had last night. My mom offered to drive me, but I thought the walk would clear my head. It’s not working, and I’m still a bit freaked out. I would have thought that after everything Jack and I have been through together, or haven’t been through should I say, that it would have been him that I would dream of. But no. Jack is all I thought I ever wanted, yet now someone else is occupying my dreams. I can’t get his eyes out of my head. I don’t remember his face, only his eyes, his mahogany brown eyes. However weird it sounds, they gave me a sense of home and feeling of belonging.

Attempting to shake away the thoughts and unease, I put on my headphones and press play on one of my favorite audiobooks. Physical books are my thing, but I love a good audiobook when I’m out and about. Even if it’s just for ten minutes.

I’m about to cross the road at a crosswalk, when I get the feeling that someone is watching me. I search around, trying not to make it obvious, but I can’t see anyone. I’m about halfway to work, and I’m wondering whether to take a scenic route the rest of the way. I dismiss the thought. That’s a stupid thing to do just because of a feeling I have. I do, however, walk slightly faster, and once I’m at the door to the pharmacy, I stop, searching around again. I still don’t see anyone so I chalk it up to just being on edge. Especially with everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours, my feelings are all over the place.

Pushing open the door, I walk inside. “Honey, I'm home,” I yell as I make my way through to the back, a little joke me and the girls have. Since I made a statement a couple of months ago about work feeling like home, we have been running with it ever since. After I put all my belongings in the locker, I make my way back to the front. Lauren is the first I see. With her short, bright red hair, she is hard to miss. She stands behind the counter with her little notebook and a cup of what I presume is a pumpkin latte. Her dark green eyes meet mine as I make my way to where she is.

“Raine, you sexy bitch, how was your weekend?” She beams, as I sit down on the chair beside her.

I huff and reply, “Umm, yea good.”

“From your tone, it doesn't sound good,” she says, leaning forward on the counter, her gaze locked straight on me.

“It's a long story.”

“What's a long story?” I hear from a voice behind me. Scanning the area, I see Natalie bouncing her way toward us, her long black hair swinging behind her.

“Just my weekend.” I give her a weak smile. “I'm not ready to talk about it yet, I’m still processing things.”

“Ok, Hon. You let us know when you are ready, we’re here for you. You know that, right?” Lauren says as she gives my shoulder a slight squeeze. Making her way over to Natalie, she gives her a kiss, and then cuddles up beside her. They make the cutest couple, and I’m in awe of them.

“Get a room,” I say jokingly and pretend to gag before I start laughing.

I’m still laughing as a customer approaches me, looking for some help. I straighten myself up and go to help the older man with what he needs. After I finish finding what he came in for, I set to my daily tasks. I need to sort out the medication and other supplies for tonight's deliveries. I get so caught up in what I’m doing that, before I know it, it’s two o’clock and I’m starving.

I tell the girls I’m popping out for lunch, when Natalie says she will join me as I grab my coat and bag from the back. Natalie kisses Lauren goodbye, and we both head out, deciding on the little Italian cafe at the end of the street. They do amazing mozzarella, pesto, and chicken sandwiches. They are so mouthwatering, my belly rumbles just thinking about it.

We place our orders and sit down before Natalie looks at me nervously. “Raine, can you do me a big favor please? I will love you forever if you do.” Intrigued by what she wants, I motion for her to continue. “Could you please do the later delivery for me tonight? I have a surprise for Lauren that I need to pick up.”

“Surprise? What’s the occasion?” I ask, afraid I missed something important.

“No, not an occasion, just a friend of mine's dog had puppies, and I got one for her. I planned it months ago. I just didn’t realize I had to pick him up tonight. It totally slipped my mind.”

“Oh my God, she's going to love that, she has always wanted a dog, which breed is it?”

“It's a pug, and yes, I know she’s always wanted one ever since she was a kid. But with her parents not being animal lovers, they never let her. So, I thought it was time. She is going to love him so much. So, will you cover me?” She pleads at me with wide eyes.

“Sorry, yes of course, I will.” I answer, nodding my head.

“You can’t let Lauren know, though. She’s leaving early to have dinner with her brother today, so she won’t be around at closing. She thinks you are closing the pharmacy, and that I’m doing the deliveries.”

“Yes, not a problem at all. I would do anything for you two,” I reply with a smile, and she gives me one of her biggest grins in return.

It doesn’t take us long to eat our food once it arrives. Neither of us leave a crumb. We head back to work, laughing and joking on the way. Yet, I still have that strange feeling from this morning. It’s weird, it’s like it has settled in the pit of my stomach and hasn’t moved all day. I’ve checked my surroundings several times, but each time there’s nothing there. Again, I just shake the feeling away and continue laughing with Natalie.

I have a couple of consultations for prescription medication booked for after lunch, and once we get back to the pharmacy, I get straight to it. After my consultations are finished, it’s closing time. Natalie helps me pack up the van before I grab my stuff, and leave her to close the shop. She gives me a big hug and thanks me again, before I head off.

***

The deliveries take about two hours to complete, and I’m exhausted by the time I wrap up. I feel so mentally drained. Before I head home, I grab a coffee from a little coffee shop near the last delivery. I sit outside the shop, sipping my coffee, daydreaming. My eyes wander to the area surrounding me. The unease from earlier comes back tenfold when I think I recognize the neighborhood. I do, but from where? Scanning the area again, my brain goes over every detail, then realization hits me. It’s down the street from the funeral place we went to yesterday, the one with the sunflowers. What I would give to be in that garden right now. I love how peaceful it felt there. After everything that happened with Jack last night and then the weird dream, I could use that type of peace right now. For several minutes, I fight the urge to go to the garden. But me being me and unable to resist, the urge wins, and I finish my coffee as fast as I can.

Jumping back in the van, I drive up the road to see if I was right about the funeral home. What would you know, it’s here! I pull up right outside, gazing in from the van window. I deliberate and question myself so many times whether to go inside or not. The sunflowers win the argument, and I decide not to dwell on it any longer. I turn off the ignition in the van, get out, lock the vehicle, and start walking slowly into the garden.