part V

The young man ran as fast as he could. He had no idea where she was, but he let determination be his guide. He knew of places that she loved like the bookstore and the coffee shop and the rooftop of this abandoned building where the rats had even moved away. He knew not where to begin so he decided the logical choice was the coffee shop for it was the closest.

There were times when he traveled faster than the traffic beside him, but he took no notice to it. The rain had begun to fall and was getting heavier with each passing minute. He broke through the door of the coffee joint as if he were on fire. The hippies and internet junkies and businessmen were startled and upset by his entry. It seemed he had disturbed their plastic reality encased within the walls. She was not there. As quick as he came in, he left just the same and continued on his journey.

The next stop would have been the bookstore, but he was stopped by a crowd of people and police before he could turn the corner. Traffic was not moving. There was an accident that had put this tiny portion of the city at a standstill. He too was halted in his previous agenda. Curiosity got the best of him and he wound up becoming one of the strangers behind the taped up police line wondering who it was laying in the street. Nothing brings a group of strangers together like a tragedy. Little did he know of the tragedy that was waiting for him around the corner.