Lost and Found
Tag: OPEN


Bridget sat in the booth she always did with the cracked vinyl and the cushions that squeaked. The small eatery was deserted aside from herself. 

She was the lone soul in the establishment; it used to be a busy place steady with customers and filled with enthusiastic conversations. She longed for the days when there was chatter. As much as she appreciated the quiet, this place was never without noise...and she liked that. It was pleasant, but things had changed. The diner no longer shined. It was dim and dull. It seemed a place that not even the sun found pleasure. It was as if it merely glanced in the plate glass windows and moved on. 

The blonde thought to herself it was a rather dismal day. The weather wasn't great, just cold and overcast. But the lack of natural light didn't add to the ambiance of the place. She took in a deep breath and exhaled heavily. She didn't know why she had come to the restaurant, nor did she know what she was looking to find. Perhaps coming there was just something to do, an unnecessary stop to pass the time. Perhaps she was in search of something she wasn't able to pinpoint, but there she sat.

Alone in the silence. In the darkness. 

She sighed again and glanced out the window. Someone was crossing the street. At this time of evening, she rarely saw people. However, it wasn't often she left her apartment during the twilight hours...at least, not anymore. Time was ticking on and it was nearing curfew. Only fifteen minutes until the city shut down. 

"I should probably go," she mumbled to herself while thinking about the walk home. It would take about ten minutes or so. She looked down at the black purse with the pebbled leather that sat by her side by her side. 

As she stood, there was a light thump; it was her purse slipping to the floor underneath the table. The sound was lost on her as quickly as it had come. Her focus had shifted to a chilly draft that came from the kitchen area. Bridget shivered and tugged at the front of her cream cardigan. She pulled it tightly around her body and tucked her hands between her arms and torso. The woman began heading toward the kitchen where a backdoor led to the alley. As she neared it, she noticed it was open. Granted, it didn't lock properly. By pulling the exterior handle up, the deadlock would release. It wasn't supposed to be like that. She only knew from a waitress she'd befriended after years of service. There was a night when they had entered the building after hours to retrieve Bridget's phone. Bridget was always leaving things places and tonight was no exception. 

She pushed the thick metal door that led to the alley and stepped through the threshold. 

It was halfway home when she went to check the time and she realized she'd forgotten something. Her phone...and her purse...were both back at the restaurant. 

Silently cursing herself, she turned back and hurried back to the restaurant where the door was again cracked open and there was a slight buzz coming from inside.