The Teller

"I'm sorry, but we're closing now."

She kept a straight face as she looked right into her eyes. Her customer, once smiling and compliant, was beginning to show signs of frustration and anxiety.

"I know but I just need to open this account! My son is growing up, and... He needs to start his own life. Can we please stay a little longer?"

"Ma'am, I would love to help you but we legally have to close at 5. I'll save everything we've done today and we can pick up where we left off, okay?"

She sighed. "I just don't see why we can't do this right now. We only have a few more minutes, right? I really want it today so he can deposit his check tomorrow, he's so excited because he hasn't earned any money before, and I want him to be able to spend it, and -"

She took off her glasses in a somewhat huffy manner. "Ma'am, we have been here for three hours. We have been trying to open an account for your son... For three hours. We made some progress, but I'd really like a break. Okay? I'll see you tomorrow."

She turned away and her customer got up with a sigh, finally leaving the building. Her boss kept his eye on her for the last three hours and, now that she was free, he wanted to know what was going on.

"I was busy, but out of the corner of my eye I saw you were having trouble with that customer. What was wrong?"

"She wanted to open an account for her son. He just got his first job and she wants him to be able to save his money with us."

"And?"

"And, well, she was very talkative. She didn't have any of the information she needed with her, so she had her friends bring it over. They talked with each-other for a while until I reminded them that it is a bank, after all, and that she was trying to open an account. I want to help her, I really do, but she's just so difficult..."

He wasn't one to smile much, but the corner of his lips began to lift towards his eyes. He had always admired her patience and persistence, and today was no exception!

"You're certainly more patient than I would've been. Hopefully you can finish up tomorrow if she doesn't give you a hard time. Have a good night!"

She smiled as he turned around and walked back to his desk. She smiled, but honestly something was gnawing at her, something she had trouble explaining. She had a good job, a great husband, and the best kids in the world - why would she ever feel like this? Why did she feel so empty, as if something was missing? And even if she knew why, could she figure out how? Was it even a big deal in the first place? All of these questions ruminated in her mind as she got up and shut off her desk light.

"Sweetie, I'll be home late tonight. Don't worry about dinner, I'll pick something up when I'm done. Love you!" The text message disappeared as she shut off her phone and turned on the ignition. Perfect. This meant she could sit down at her restaurant and try to piece it all together. She was a smart cookie, smarter than she gave herself credit for, but this time something felt off... She really had no idea why she was feeling this way. She valued her wellbeing, though, so she was going to find out one way or another.

The drive to Mediterranean City was a blur; she ordered her food in a blur; she sat there, waiting, with her hands on the table and her head in place of... Confusion? Anxiousness? Emptiness? Confusion. She decided it was confusion. Why was she confused, she asked herself? Because she felt off. Wait, did she feel confused because she felt off or did she just feel confused? She felt confused because she felt off. Well, then the problem was more complicated than she thought!

She shifted in her chair as anxiety began to rise within her. Maybe, she thought to herself, it was just nothing after all. Maybe it was something bad she ate the day before. So then, why did she feel the need to sit by herself and figure it out? If it was "nothing" she never felt the need to do that, so this must have some kind of meaning!

She took her little black notebook out of her purse and began to write down her thoughts, her emotions, her goals, her dreams. She just wanted to write and write, even when her food came she couldn't bring herself to eat it. Writing was cathartic at this point and she was going to do it no matter what!

She put it away after a while and began to eat. She felt better, but she still didn't know the root cause(s) of her pain, so she decided she wanted to head home and go to bed early toni-

Her head suddenly became heavy and she cried out in a yelp of pain! She immediately rested her head in her hands and heard a ringing in her ears, almost as if someone was calling her name. She saw something in her mind, but she couldn't quite make it out other than that it was really, really bad. Her lips began to quiver and tears began to flow from her face, and right as she began to panic the feeling faded away.

This had never, ever happened before... Sure, she had problems, but nothing ever like this. No history of migraines or anything like that...

"Are you okay, dear?" Her and the waitress were good friends since she ate there often, and the sudden expression of pain quickly caught her attention!

"I... Yeah, I'm okay. I just had a sharp head pain, but it went away... I don't know what that was."

"Maybe you should see a doctor, honey. Sharp, sudden head pains are never any good, okay? Since you're almost done I'll bring you the check."

She smiled as the waitress walked away. She didn't want to sit there anymore so she got up and went to the bathroom to look at her face.

Pale white. Interesting, but nothing else was out of place, on her face anyways. Sue felt extremely off and anxious, wondering what just happened to her! And even if she knew what, then why? And how can she prevent it in the future?

That's when her phone buzzed with a text message. She jumped a little since no one really texted her at 6:30pm, and she didn't know what to expect when she opened it!

"Kathleen? It's your mother. I know we don't talk very often but I have some important news. Some sad news. Your brother has just been shot on the front lines serving his country... He was a brave man, and we want to have a funeral for him as soon as we can. I know you don't believe me when I say this, but I love you, and I'll see you soon."

She began to cry again for the second time that night... She didn't care if it was a bathroom, her and her brother were close and she was hoping to see him when he got out. He only had 3 months left. Three months too much, she thought...

Why did he join? Why did he ask to be in battle? Didn't he know the danger, the risk involved with that?! She begged him to stay, to find a woman and raise a family, but he said he felt a calling to serve his country, a calling which he couldn't ignore... A calling which just devastated his family.

Her phone buzzed again. "We just found out he wants you to have 1/3 of the money in his account. He wrote it in his will. After it's worked out you'll be receiving $20,129 since they have to round up. Okay, love you, I won't text you any more today."

She wiped away her tears and couldn't believe what just happened. That's why she felt the sudden head pain... It wasn't a migraine, but it was her close bond with her brother being shaken and, ultimately, shattered. She didn't believe in spirituality, but after tonight, she didn't have to - she experienced it for herself.

After letting the tears flow for what seemed like forever she got to her feet and stepped out of the bathroom. The entire restaurant was looking at her, some with sympathetic faces, some with confusion in their complexion, some with anger, and some with judgement. She tried to focus on the people who were treating her kindly as she looked at her check.

"No no, dinner's on me tonight" she said as she rushed over and put her hand on her shoulder. "I don't know what happened in there but you should go home now, okay?"

She nodded and smiled as she got up and made her way to the door.

Her emotions were like a rollercoaster for the rest of the night. She definitely went to bed early, and she cried some more when she told her husband what happened. He held her and said that he wanted to help, however he could.

Eventually she drifted off to sleep, where she dreamed that her and her brother were in their childhood home together. They were playing, arguing, and talking about the cartoons they used to watch. They ran in the yard and sprayed each other with the hose, they climbed their favorite tree, and then begged mom for some cookies. She would always give them one if they had been good that day.

And she smiled, in real life, as the happy memories of her brother helped her through this difficult time, and helped her let go of the man who she had loved so much.

"Goodbye, I'll see you soon I'm sure." Her husband heard her talking in her sleep, and smiled as he decided to drift off as well.