Kammie could say, with full certainty, that she’d finally settled in Scarlet Oak. Barely ten days had passed since she moved into town, which made it all the more surprising that she’d been able to find a comfortable (and affordable) apartment, as well as a job. This was what convinced her that her presence here was meant to be. How else would these things have come together so perfectly, were it not for the fact that fate put her here. She’d even made a friend -- the first of many, she was certain. Her job, which she had stumbled on in the same manner that she had found her apartment, was teaching Yoga at a small fitness gym in town. It was a mom and pop gym -- if such a thing existed -- owned and operated by a man who wanted to give the people an affordable and friendly place to work out. These were the kinds of places that opened their doors more readily to someone like Kammie, a drifter who wandered in off the streets offering them her services. The man, Jeff, had actually been thrilled at the idea of providing his members Yoga. He’d even suggested that Kammie teach a class specifically for the “advanced age” members, since he’d had many request a class that was a bit more inclined toward their skill level and mobility. How could she say no to something like that?
Today had actually been Kammie’s first day working at the gym. She’d had to take a first aid class before Jeff could officially offer her the job. It felt great to be leading a class again, and she left the gym feeling invigorated. Every muscle in her body felt warm and loose, and she felt full of energy. Though she’d never taken drugs before, Kammie couldn’t imagine any high that would make her feel better than what she was experiencing at this moment. She felt so good that she decided to pop into a diner that she passed by on her way home for a treat. The diner was not unfamiliar to her. She’d remembered it because it was one of the only greasy spoons in town that offered a wide assortment of vegetarian options. Kammie strolled in, nearly feeling as though she were walking on air, and made her way to the barstool she’d sat on the last time she was here. The waitress smiled at her and handed her a menu.
“Should I give you some time?”
There was a look on her face that made Kammie realize that it was the same waitress who had waited on her before, the one who had learned the hard way that Kammie needed no less than ten minutes to decide what exactly it was that she wanted to eat. Kammie returned the smile and nodded her head as she unstrapped her yoga mat and began to peruse her options. It was easy for her to become distracted in this position. Though she didn’t realize it, it was almost as if her mind looked for things to help in putting off a decision. She looked up from the menu to scan those around her to see what they had ordered. That was when she spotted the man at the booth directly across from her. He had a cheeseburger and fries sitting in front in him; in fact, Kammie felt as though she could remember it being there when she’d first walked in. She watched him, first with curiosity and then with a smile.
“I can’t decide if you’re looking forward to that meal, or dreading it.” She inclined her head toward the plate. “Most people don’t show as much restraint when their food arrives.” Kammie wasn’t judging those around her, but the urge to tell them that eating slower was better for their digestion was certainly there.