The appointment
Shekinah's eyes darted round the restaurant. It was full and busy again, today. Nothing was unusual, the busy movement of the people in the restaurant, those who came for an early morning coffee or their regular order of fried chips in a brown carton packet.
Shekinah was also the same.
Aloof, unbothered and hardworking at the same time. The only that were working right now were her eyes, ears and hands. Even her feet didn't move. Everything was right on the cabinet in front of her and she didn't need to stretch her hands too far to get anything that was being ordered, otherwise, you could as well get it yourself if it needed her to move.
She was a pretty, petite girl but with an aura that dictated something close to power and a whole lot of fear, a unique personality that made people stay away from her, as if she was a plague.
"Good morning, Shekinah." Alice, an older woman greeted her.
Shekinah smiled, a smile that obviously didn't reach her eyes, but that was the best smile she could give.
"Good morning, Miss Alice, what do you want today?" She asked, like a robot. That was the only thing she said, during the day and that even, was only if you knew her button.
Fortunately, Miss Alice was a nice woman who had been very friendly to Shekinah ever since Shekinah started working here at the restaurant. She came every morning for one snack or the other and always gave Shekinah tips.
Not like Shekinah needed it anyway, she didn't even touch her salary, apart from having snacks here and there.
She was staying with her father and her stepmother, Veera and their child, Moxie. Their child, yes, because Shekinah was not considered a part of the family. Even her, didn't consider herself a part of that family.
"Burger." Alice replied curtly and Shekinah sighed inwardly. Now, that required her to shuffle her feet. But she would do it, because Alice was not the kind of person you would get angry at. Only if Alice knew she shouldn't smile at everyone in the whole world, looking so innocent would get her into a pile of trouble and betrayals, Shekinah didn't tell her that of course.
Instead, she moved quickly and came back with a large burger, packaged in a brown carton packet too and handed it to Alice.
"Thank you." Alice said, bright eyed and left, adding a usual little something for Shekinah over the bill.
Shekinah wondered why Alice was not yet married, despite her kindness and goodness to all of mankind and by that, she meant herself. Alice was already a little bit old and the creases that had gathered on her face over the years could not hide the fact that she had matured a long time ago, probably a little bit over 40 years.
"Coffee." Someone suddenly said and that was when Shekinah realized she had been staring at the young guy without knowing.
She blinked and recollected herself. It was a usual thing with her, to stare at people or things for a very long time, without even realizing it.
Shekinah passed the cup of coffee to him and he smiled, drank the cup of coffee right there, before leaving.
It should have been surprising but Shekinah wasn't a bit moved. She also didn't know why people sat on a table for hours just to sip a cup of coffee from tike to time, when you could just empty the cup of coffee at once and get over it quickly.
"Hey, Shekinah, your shift would soon be over." Someone shouted from behind. It was undoubtedly her boss, Afify Atonal.
Shekinah was on the night shift but the next person had reported late this morning, so Shekinah had filled in. It was nothing to her, as a matter of fact, she felt the work took her mind from a lot of things.
As she passed the apron over her head, her eyes caught the phone on the counter and in a second, she could remember the last guy had dropped it and probably forgotten it.
She shook her mind of it, he would come back later on, to find it, when he noticed it was gone. But the phone suddenly started ringing...
"Isn't that your phone, pick it up." A poke nose, as Shekinah always referred to them in her head, interfered.
"The phone would be here, someone would come to pick it up." Shekinah said plainly.
"Don't leave anything at my restaurant, take it with you when you leave." Afify said.
Shekinah clicked her tongue slowly, she didn't like that man. Especially his name, Afify. It felt weird to her. What did it even mean?
"Sir, it is a customer's phone. He forgot it...."
"If he forgot it, Shekinah, then quickly go after him and give it back. It's so simple." Afify was adamant. He was oke of the many people who loved using their powers on their workers, an attribute Shekinah hated to the bones.
However, she picked the phone and slipped it into her bag, walking out of the restaurant without another word, her shift was over.
**
The door opened and closed, featuring Shekinah as she walked into the house. It was quiet and someone could even hear a pin drop, but it wasn't empty.
Richard, Veera and Moxie went mute the moment Shekinah walked in, their eyes the only sense in their body working at that moment.
Shekinah stared at them plainly and turned, climbing the stairs.
"Your session is on Thursday, 5pm." Richard broke the deadly silence and Shekinah stopped, her raised foot resting on the stairs.
"I'm not interested." She said plainly.
"You have to go, I didn't waste 200 dollars to book you an appointment." He replied.
"I'll refund you, ten times more. In return, don't ever try to book an appointment for me again." It wasn't a deal or a kind of contract, it was a warning. Shekinah was warning Richard.
"Shekinah!!" Richard has had enough as he banged his hand on the table hardly, getting up at the same time.
"What is wrong with you?" He gritted her teeth. Shekinah blinked, the only thing that showed she was still alive but definitely unaffected by his tantrums. She smiled a little afterwards and turned, going into her room, breaking the silence again with the loud bang her door made as she closed it.
Richard sighed shakily, as he sat down, his hold on the edge of the table, tight.
"I'll talk to her." Veera said and stood up.
She knocked sharply on Shekinah's door and didn't wait for her to reply before going in.
Shekinah was relaxed, her hands folded on her chest , standing by the window side.
"Didn't you say you'll be moving out?" Veera's first question came.
"I thought you were going to try to coerce me into going for a therapy session but obviously I overestimated you." Shekinah replied and turned to look at Veera.
"It's not my fault you were diagnosed at a psychopath at six, lady." Veera said and Shekinah's lips pressed into a thin line, that, could be regarded as a smile from her own end.
"But I have never tried skinning your baby, have I?" It was a question but Veera shook slowly, hot vibrations going through her body.
"You wouldn't even dare. You'll be labelled as a murderer and besides, Moxie is all grown now." She shot.
"Of course." Shekinah said and walked past her, going to sit on her bed.
"When are you leaving?" Veera was impatient.
"Shh. He could hear your voice if it goes over the top."
"Just answer me!" Veera scoffed.
"Someone would think you were threatening me, Veera. And then, suspicions would start growing...."
"Suspicions?" Veera was appalled by Shekinah's words.
"They will start thinking, Veera....if you were the one who sent my mother faraway."
