Part 22
A Life Remembered
 

In my apartment, I searched for anything that seemed out of place, nothing was amiss. My bag, the envelope, and Mae were still on the bed where I had left them.

  I thought about Dominik, and of the time I was lost.

I whispered to myself,
" What the fuck  
     happened?"

Dominik had a complete melt down.
Then the worse thought came, and panic hit me.

  "No, no, no!"

  I stripped off my clothes, threw on some jeans, and t-shirt. Then grabbed my boots as I headed out the door.

Running as fast as I could towards Ghetto Cafe, my mind was racing with all kinds of bad shit. Worse case scenarios kept popping in my head.

When I finally reached the cafe, I stopped just outside it's doors to catch my breath. I needed to calm the fuck down before going in.
I didn't want to scare the crap out of the customers.

After a minute or so, I walked in, but my anxiety was getting the best of me.

Natasha was at the counter, and suddenly had a concerned look on her face as I came in. I was beginning to think something bad had happened.
I picked up my pace, and she came around the counter. I heard the confusion, and concern in her words.

She asked,
" Shannon are you ok?"

  My panic attracted the attention of the customers.

I asked with a little bit of hysteria.
" Where's Brandon?"

She asked,
" What's wrong? Why are you asking for him?"

I didn't mean to snap at her, but I needed an answer now.

I said to her, almost shouting.
"Natasha please, tell me where Brandon is!"

I didn't realize I was roughly gripping her shoulders.

Her expression was confusion, and worry combined.

She said rather loudly.
" Ouch Shannon, you're hurting me!"

Fuck, I felt bad that I did that.

  I tried to calm down, but I really needed her to tell me where....
She interrupted my thoughts.

She said,
" He's out back taking the trash out.
What's going on Shannon?"

I seriously wanted to climb over the counter, and was about to when Brandon walked through the side door.
He was wearing a headset, and a smile.

Pulling the buds out of his ear, he said,
"What's up Shannon, it's been a good minute.
How you been doin?"

No one can imagine the relief I was feeling. I wanted to rush over to him, but thought it might not be a good idea. 
It was bad enough that everyone here was staring at me as if I had lost my marbles.
I believe I've lost a bag full.

For a brief moment I just stared at Natasha, and Brandon.
It was really them. The one's I had left behind, but where were the other's.

My mind was on overdrive, and I was having trouble keeping up with my thoughts.

Dominik had dropped me in this new life, and I never knew who they were.
They also don't know who I really am.
Why would Dominik do this?
Boy this sucked big time!

I felt heavy in the pit of my stomach.
Shit my legs were about to give out.
I took a step forward, and sure enough they buckled.

Brandon quickly took hold of me.
He said,
" Whoa, I gotcha, just lean on me Shannon."

Natasha said,
" You need to sit down, Brandon help her over to the corner table. I'll go get her some tea."

I sat at the table, and thought, what the fuck is wrong with me.

He asked,
" What's going on Shannon? You don't look so good....