Soulsworn- Awakening

Chapter 4

Bridget opened her eyes and winced at the soft light coming in through the window. She hadn't been able to hold back the tears when she climbed in bed last night, and had sobbed uncontrollably for hours. She walked into the bathroom with a glance at the mirror and winced again. 

"Well, I look like hell," she said out loud as she studied her face. Hours of crying had left her with red eyes, a runny nose and swollen eyelids. She shook her head sadly as tears threatened. "I will not call him," she said firmly as she looked at herself in the mirror. The tears started again.. he wouldn't call her either..

She decided she needed to start her day and turned the shower on. She undressed and stepped into the warm water, tilting her head back to wet her long hair. Her last haircut had been right before she met Shane, almost three years ago. Her hair now trailed in curls halfway down her back.. 

I think I need a breakup haircut," she said to herself. Her mind turned back to Shane, eyes watering as she fought back tears.

"No. Stop. I'm not going to keep crying over him," she again spoke aloud. "But I should probably stop talking to myself.."

Her best friend would comfort her. Heather was always there for her, though they lived on other sides of the state. They often spoke for hours a day. Lately a lot had been about Shane and Bridget often apologized to her best friend for being a broken record. Heather would listen and always give the right advice, whatever they discussed she had insight because she knew her friend well. She pressed the number for Heather's speed dial and waited while it rang. The voice mail picked up so she hung up and shot her friend a text, "hey lady, rough night, call me when you can.."

Bridget was determined to stay busy so she opened her delivery app and claimed an order. She arrived at the store, sent the required texts to the customer and began shopping their order. As she stood in the produce section choosing avocados, she heard an extremely loud voice..

**eggs, bread, cheese, milk, tomatoes, 2 cans of black beans**

She glanced around and the produce section was empty. She shrugged and continued her inspection of the avocado in her hand.

**eggs, bread, cheese, milk, tomatoes, 2 cans of black beans**

Again Bridget glanced around and saw no one. She shook her head slightly and placed the avocado in the waiting bag in her other hand. As she grabbed another to inspect closer, a tall man entered the produce section, pushing his cart quickly. A standard disposable face mask covered the lower half of his face and above it his blue eyes were quite focused. He strode over to the tomatoes and again Bridget heard the voice exclaim loudly..

**eggs, bread, cheese, milk, tomatoes, 2 cans of black beans**

Bridget shook her head again, this time in wonder, why on earth would someone be practically shouting their grocery list?

**TOMATOES!! eggs, bread, cheese, milk, 2 cans of black beans**  

She nodded slightly to herself as he quickly grabbed some tomatoes and went on his way. She was still puzzled as to why he was speaking so loudly but who was she to judge? Maybe he was hard of hearing..

**eggs, bread, cheese, milk, 2 cans of black beans**

As he walked away his voice faded and she returned to her list. About halfway through she jumped as she heard **EGGS!!** ring out through the store. The woman next to her in the aisle gave her a puzzled glance. "Sorry ma'am," Bridget said as she met her eyes, "that man shouting about eggs startled me.."

The woman chuckled softly, "oh, wow, I didn't hear anything! I must have really been focused on this rice!"

Bridget chuckled back but was inwardly confused.. how had the woman not heard that? It was practically deafening!

**MILK!!** Bridget jumped and winced as the voice rang out yet again. The woman openly stared at her. "Miss, are you alright?" she questioned, concern evident in her expression.

Bridget exhaled and drew a deep breath, "ma'am, I'm quite alright, it's just that shouting keeps startling me.." she explained she regained her composure.

"Sweetie, what shouting?"

**CHEESE!!**

"ma'am, that shouting.. he just shouted CHEESE," Bridget continued after the voice rang out again, even louder.

The woman just stared at her strangely.. "funny, I didn't hear a thing.." she said as she returned to her cart and continued down the aisle.

**BREAD!!**

Bridget lifted her hand to her temple to lightly massage it. Her headache was getting worse by the second. What the hell was going on?