Bill of Human Wrongs

Eve sat in the hotel restaurant sipping her late morning coffee while thinking about the disastrous way her evening had ended. It had been a cruel sequence of events. First, Conchita, then feeling relieved to tell Claire and Rachel her story. Finally, their rejection. What had she said to make them distrust her? And yet, thinking back, Claire had told her. Latino Town, the township. But why did she act as though she’d never heard of these places?

Then Eve thought of the last words coming from the coffee house waitress, her preposterous notion. Why couldn’t I leave through the front door? Just remembering gave her an urge to do it. To do what she wasn’t allowed to do. But why?  What would I see? What is this forbidden experience? Suddenly, she needed to know. Is that lady looking out for my best interest? Or, is there something out there worth seeing, some kind of ownership that I deserve?  So many questions. She sighed. There would be time to explore her new life. But now, today she would take care of her pre-imminent problem, she would go to the Latino Town hospital. After fearing it her entire life, she was about to learn about existence in a township.

In a way, she was elated. Her viewpoint was changing. She would follow through with the trip, in spite of her knowledge of Conchita. In fact, she would do it for Conchita. She owed it to the woman. After today, she would better understand time in this foreign land.

Eve’s adrenaline was waking her up, prompting her to treat her reality as a daily adventure. She picked up her purse, the only possession she now had, other than her car, and paid the bill with one of the money scanners she had escaped with. Her decision was made up, she’d go to Latino Town and find a doctor who would help with her problem. Baby steps, yes. That’s how she would handle her new life. Baby steps.