Dropping Clues

Miranda plops down on her couch. She grabs her favorite book from the table in front of her and curls up. She’s trying to distract herself from her thoughts and she knows that a good book should do the trick. Her thoughts start to untangle and her body starts to relax. Old memories are lost as thoughts of wonder and mystery from her story are found. She’s reading a fiction about a man convicted of murder. Currently the killer is on the run and the main charter, Sarah, is right on his tail. Sarah finally catches up to the killer, but only to be shot down cold. The book continues showing how Sarah’s loved ones celebrate her life and how they wish they could have saved her. Miranda puts her book down and starts to gets ready for the day. She dresses in a red cropped top with a small stain on the shoulder with high waisted baggy jeans. She ties the laces on her midnight grey boots and throws up her raven black hair. She grabs an apple for breakfast before walking out of her rusted apartment door. She meets up with her best friend, Bree, downstairs in the same complex. Bree and her laugh and chat as they start to walk down to their favorite coffee shop around the street watching out for daily city dangers. They both have been living Chicago since they were kids. They enjoy the city life, but they both know the risk that comes with living in Chicago. The Windy City has a very high crime rate. Before reaching the coffee shop, Miranda spots a middle age man with messy clothes that have more holes in them than fabric and a shopping cart with a single pillow and what looks like a moldy loaf of bread. The man has a nearly empty cup next to him with a few coins in it.

Miranda spots the man staring at her apple that she grabbed from her apartment. She quickly looks at the man’s eyes. His thoughts become hers as she starts to read his mind. Memories of a better time flood his brain. Hunger is clear as day and his hope is lost in the dark. Miranda’s eyes flash back to reality. The man is still looking down at her apple. She starts to approaches him with giving hands. The man grabs the apple and mumbles the words.

“Thank you,” he said.

“You are more than welcome,” Miranda replies.

As Bree and her walk away, Bree turns to her and ask a question.

“You did it again didn’t you?” she asked.

“Yeah, I did,” replies Miranda slowly.

Bree and Miranda are talking about the fact that Miranda can read minds, something that she was gifted with only a few weeks ago. No one can figure out what caused this power, they just know one day she woke up no longer as a normal 21 year old adult. Bree continues to talk to Miranda.

“You are going to be okay,” Bree states.

“I am just scared, I don’t know what to do anymore,” Miranda replies.

“You can’t do anything, this is just who you are now. Just imagine the people you could help. I mean you just helped that homeless man out.”

“I know, I know. Sometimes it’s just a lot. I have never had to read so much in my life, but it’s the only distraction that can give my brain a break.”

“I know and I am really sorry. Just remember you always have me,” Bree says with a smile.

“Thank you, I don’t know what I would do without you,” Miranda smiles back.

Bree and Miranda walk into the coffee shop with hope that everything would be alright, but little did they know Miranda’s story was just getting started.

To Be Continued...