All The Time Lost

June was exhausted as she rode back from work but she couldn't complain when she somehow got lucky enough to find this gem in the dump.

She worked from six am to one pm, five days a week, when she arrived in town it was close to two and a half so she had time to do whatever she needed to, such as going to the library to find a cheap TV on second hand websites. She got down from her bike and walked next to it because her thighs ached. She was passing before a coffee shop when she saw her.

The young woman was beautiful. June could have drawn her from memory after spending so long staring at her pictures but she was even prettier in the flesh.

She sat at a table with a friend who was chatting excitedly while her daughter nodded and laughed along. June didn't know how long she spent watching her but a group of teenagers appeared out of nowhere and June felt her stomach drop and her blood run cold in her veins as they all raised their head to look at her and pointed through the window. She was frozen as her daughter slowly turned, her face pale and distressed to meet her eyes.

No, no, no.

This couldn't be how they first met. June unconsciously raised a hand to tidy her messy hair and she hated the reflection she caught in the glass. However, the thing she hated the most was the look of pure hatred her daughter sent her. She couldn't even see the laughing teenagers anymore, the only thing she saw was her daughter's face, twisted in fury and resentment.

She wasn't even breathing until her daughter turned her face the other way and shouted something at the laughing crowd before running out of the cafe. June jumped on her bike and rode as far as she could as fast as she could before losing her balance and falling. Her hands and knees scraped the ground badly but she didn't feel that pain. No, the pain that turned her into a sobbing mess came from her chest.

« You're okay ? » A kind voice asked after a long while. They stood in an almost empty street she often used to get to the library peacefully.

June hiccuped but she couldn't manage to form words.

« Here, let me help you. »

June allowed the young woman to help her up and tried to thank her when she accepted the offered handkerchief but she still couldn't get herself under control.

The woman led her to sit on a bench and sat down with, gently rubbing her back in a soothing manner. It had been so, so long since anyone had touched her like that. If this stranger knew who she was and what she was accused of… June felt herself crumble and sobbed harder.

« I'm sorry, » she finally managed through her puffy face after calming down.

« It's okay, » the stranger smiled kindly and June was struck by how beautiful she was. She was tall and thin and had the most beautiful fiery red hair she had ever seen. Her face was dusted with freckled and her blue eyes were bright. « Do you want to talk about it ? »

« No, thank you, I've already bothered you so much, » June smiled back and got up.

« Not at all, » the stranger shook her head.

« You don't know how much you've just helped me, » June put a hand to her heart in emotions. « I hope you have a great day. »