One of my new friends was waiting in the lobby and talking on a pay phone. She mentioned needing to get somewhere and not having a drive, so I asked, “Would you like me to drop you off somewhere?” We didn’t know each other very well but she must have trusted me and said, “Sure.” We headed out of the lobby and into the parking lot, then walked towards the car.

Her brother was at the mall, so she could meet him there. We talked about school and I mentioned that I was a scientist. She was in the arts, a lot of people get arts degrees at university, no science for these minds. Art can be fun and there’s lots to do, but none for me, I needed solid answers.

I bought up our job and suggested my dislike for it by telling her, “I want to quit very soon.”

We talked a little more about out occupation and arrived at the mall. Pulling into the parking lot and up to the doors near Sears, I stopped the car. She got out and said, “Good night, thanks for the drive and see you tomorrow.” Thoughts flowing though my head, I didn’t focus on what I was saying, “Oh yeah, you too… I’m probably not going to come in again, so have a good life.” She didn’t really take me seriously and started to walk away. I’d found her cute before, and now my only chance was slipping away. She said, “Good bye” one last time and I said nothing more, she was gone.

Car rolling, I headed home.