Tracers of Time

Looking at the people in the parking lot of Erish City's biggest mall, Tracy couldn't help but wonder why her life ended up like this - just a mere sales lady of a small clothing store inside this glamorous mall with just enough salary to get by. "Perhaps, God must be mad at me for being a pain in the neck before." She murmurs upon opening her red lunchbox wrapped inside a small white plastic bag and grabbing a piece of a*****e-brought cheap sandwich inside, then slowly bites a small amount of it. This may not satisfy her taste buds but it will fill her gut specially during these time of the month where her finances are at its lowest. Life has been rough for her after graduating from her college degree in Education three years ago. She took several licensure exams for the past two years needed for her to finally become a licenced educator but all ended up in failures. Ashamed and devastated for her parents and for her big brother Prince who's currently working abroad helping the family's finances, she decided to move to Erish City to look for a job and to aide her feeling of failure. It has been a year since she stepped into this big city. Applying from private schools to corporate companies were just a failure after failures. Opportunities are scarce to an inexperienced and just graduated applicants like her. After a number of tries to land a decent and sustainable job, and with only a few hundred bucks to support herself, she decided to apply to her current job as a sales lady in a small clothing store inside the biggest mall in Erish City. The job may degrade her capabilities, specially graduating from a highly respected school in Glenwood Springs, but having this job is better than going home and become a burden to her family. She thought. As she remembers her hometown, Glenwood Springs. She looked back in her good old days. She remembers her Grandma Lilith's delicious coconut pie and how she loves them so much that she remembers ended up having a stomach ache for eating too much one afternoon. She also remembers her big brother Prince. She recall him being gentle and caring. He usually drove her to school on his bicycle. She commemorates him in a song, written by her on a rainy night in Grandma Lilith's house. She also remembers her parents - her loving parents. They disagree when she decided to moved to Erish City but Tracy was certain about her plans. She never considered her parents' demands. These memories strikes her heart completely. Her eyes exerted tears of sadness collected by so many years of griefs and sorrows. Then.... she remembers Nathan - her first love. Nathan was charming, playful and talented. His dimples on both cheeks appears whenever he smile makes Tracy's heart melt. Thinking about those precious memories with Nathan sparks a happy emotion to her face. "Hmm! He's really such a jerk back then." Smiling hopefully, she wiped her tears and watched the time on her phone. It's almost One PM, she needs to go back to the store and continue her now lifeless situation. Upon entering inside the store, Tracy bumped into a seemingly familiar lady scanning through the line of sundy dresses located at the expensive items of the store. She looks like a celebrity wearing a light pink dress that reveals her curvy figure. With a flawless skin and tantalizing eyes, she captures the attention of both the employees and the customers inside the store. Suddenly, the lady turns her face to the direction where Tracy at. The moment she recognizes who Tracy was, she immediately calls her. "Tracy?! Is that you?" The lady asked as she walk towards Tracy. Smiling amazingly. As the lady walks towards Tracy. Tracy freeze and wondering who this gorgeous lady is. "Tracy Wilson? Are you THE Tracy Wilson from Glenwood High School?" Ask the lady, excitedly hugging Tracy. Trying hard to remember who this beautiful lady in front of her. Tracy smile in confusion and hugs back to her. After a few seconds of hugging. The lady right away understands Tracy's puzzlement. "Oh, for geez sake, Tracy! I am Glenda! Glenda Anderson. The working student serving food at the canteen in Glenwood High. Can you still remember me?" - Glenda trying her best to let Tracy remembers her. Hearing that, Tracy almost jumps out of surprise recalling thier happy memories with Glenda. "Glenda?! The Happiness Guru of Glenwood High?!" -Tracy's assurance to her long lost friend. "Yes! Yes! Yes! THE ONLY, Glenda of Glenwood High!" - Glenda "Wow! Is this really you?" Where have you been all these years?! You looked nothing like before!" - Tracy's amusement "Well, you know, after graduating from GHS, I worked as an intertainer in Ruku City then a millionaire widow asked my hand in marriage and here I am. Hehehe ?" - Glenda "I'm happy for you, Glenda! Finally, you got what you always wanted. A life of success. ☺️" -Tracy "Thanks, Tracy. By the way, where is Nathan? It's been years since I saw you both, the famous lovers of Glenwood High. I am dying to know how your lives now. Do you have kids already? I bet you two are now happily married together. ?" - Curiously asked by Glenda Upon hearing Glenda's inquiry, Tracy's face turns to frown. The pain of those questions pinned deeper to her heart. She looks at Glenda's eyes and make a force smile as she opens her mount and answer the most painful question of all. "I..I mean.. We did not get along." -Tracy Seeing Tracy's reaction gives Glenda a hint about the topic and immediately change it. "Well, anyway! I am here in Erish City with my husband for his business meeting. Would it be okay if you can show me around sometimes within the week? We can have a great time together. It will be fun! Please.. You know how I miss you.. Hehe ?" -Glenda Tracy thinks for a while and then decided to agree. "Alright! It's my day of tomorrow anyway and I don't have plans yet." -Tracy After hearing Tracy's acceptance, Glenda almost jumps out of joy and hugs her friend happily. "Yehey!! It's my treat! We'll do shopping and more tomorrow. It will be great. " -Glenda