That was impulsive.

Hardening her resolve Nezani decided to take the bus downtown to kill some time. She figured she could burn some time walking around before heading to the shelter.

While walking over a bridge she paused at the top to take in the cool summer breeze and the calming sound of the trains on the train track that ran underneath.

The shelter, a few blocks from the base of the bridge, was a huge dingy blue building. She noticed there was no one standing outside. She walked up to the door - “Can I help you?” said the woman sitting at the desk in the hallway.

“Um, I’m looking to get a room here in the shelter while I get up and run-”

“It don’t work like that, this is a daily shelter, and we’re already at capacity, try again another night!” the women barked back.

“But the website said the cut off time was 5:30pm” Nezani questioned.

“Yes, but doors open at 4:30 and we met capacity at 5pm, try again another day”.

Dejected Nezani walked out of the building. Her mind racing, she figured she could grab some food.

Nezani walked a couple of blocks without thinking and then remembered a block or two away had began the gentrification process and there was an All Foods. She grabbed something from the hot bar and a few waters and decided to go sit on the bridge and eat her food.

While she was walking up the bridge, she noticed a weird spot on the fence of the bridge. It looked like a section in the middle of the fence was warped and sunken in space, like something out of Interstellar.

She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again and the spot was gone.

It must have been my imagination.

She sat at the top of the bridge just above the train tracks and ate her food. Over the next few hours, she went in and out of daydreams staring at the sky and listening to the playlist her brother had made for her graduation bbq.

The sun began to set, and she decided to just stay at the top of the bridge, the clanking of the trains on the train tracks was calming. And for some reason she felt safer high up on the bridge where she could see everything and everyone.

People seldom bent their necks to meet her gaze or show any concern as to why she was sitting there.

With the sun fully setting Nezani looked up at the night sky and closed her eyes to let the night breeze wash past her face.

It was a calm summer night; the sky was varying colors of a beautiful dark blue black spackled with twinkling stars.

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The moon was shining so brightly that Nezani could see the outline of her shadow in front of her.

With every passing car the smell of asphalt and gasoline would waft up into her nose.

It was a perfect night to be stranded atop a bridge in the heart of the city.

Thankful for the cool night, Nezani sat on top of the bridge watching cars and people pass.

Before rising anxiety could trigger her to run back to Aunt Maries house, Nezani closed her eyes to try to calm her nerves.

Resting her back on the cold chain-link fence she remembered how her mom used to help her relax. “Take a deep breath babygirl and tell me what you feel”. Her mom’s soft voice echoed in her head as she began to take note of what she felt.

“What do I feel…..I feel the cold chain-link on my back, the concrete ground is cool to touch and peppered with holes, I feel the wind on my face and the soft bounce of the bridge as cars speed by”. Slowly opening her eyes Nezani took note of her heart, and how it was no longer racing.

Hours flew by as she sat on that bridge cycling between calming herself and people watching. She decided to count the stars

“Why not? There’s nothing better to do”.

She began counting the stars she could see; her eyes began to get heavy.

As much as she didn’t want to fall asleep alone on top of a bridge in the middle of the city, it was the first time in months she felt like she could.

Before she knew it, she was soundly asleep.

Just as she was beginning to fall deeply into sleep, a noise began to rattle in her skull.

Clack! CLack! CLAck! CLACk! CLACK!

Nezani opened her eyes to locate the source of the sound invading her skull.

The figure elegantly and strongly walked up the sidewalk where Nezani is sitting. As the figure got closer, Nezani sees that it is a gorgeous young woman.

Unable to take her eyes away Nezani studies the features of the woman approaching.

She is average height, silky brown skin glistens in the moonlight, the stars seemed to dance off the afro that was sitting atop her head.

“But what is she wearing…..and why is she staring back at me?” Nezani whispered to herself staring back at the woman.

Not breaking eye contact until well passed her the woman continues to powerfully walk past her.

Just like the others

Nezani thought to herself.

No sooner had the thought popped into her head, a stern voice rang into her ear. “Nezaniiiii, I see you”.

Snapping her head to her side Nezani forced her body back when she meets the eyes of the woman she just watched disappear out of sight off the bridge.

“What the hell!” she screamed, trying her hardest to create distance.

“No need to be scared beloved, I’m not here to hurt you, quite the opposite actually”.

Wearing a dazzling purple overcoat, the woman seemed to be sparkling all over.

Frozen into place Nezani couldn’t unlock her eyes from the woman’s sparkling gold eyes. “How do you know my name?” Nezani managed to get out.

“You’ll see” the woman said, snapping up to stand.

“I’ll be seeing you, but for now I think you need to rest”.

Before she could respond, an overwhelming tiredness came over her body. She watched the woman walk away slowly as her eyes shut.

“Somebody get the phone!” Nezani whispered to herself hearing the constant ringing of a phone before remembering she was on a bridge.

It hasn’t been that long since she had encountered the strange woman on the bridge.

Trying to open her eyes Nezani winced as the brightness forced her to shut her eyes.

She slowly opened one eye, then the other.

Vision blurry and doubled she opened and closed her eyes until they adjusted to the light.

“Where am I?” Nezani said panicked.

All around her was white light as far as the eye could see, the ringing persisted. Turning her head in the direction of the phone Nezani’s vision cleared and in the distance, she could make out what looked like a lobby.

To her left was what seemed to be an infinity of light and to her right a lobby.

“I’ll take the lobby for 300 Alec” Nezani said to herself deliriously.

She got up slowly from her place and slowly began to make her way towards the desk in the lobby.

Just as she began to walk two bellhops one man and one woman walk behind her and load all her stuff onto the cart and whisk away to the elevators.

How did all my stuff get here?

Nezani stood in front of the woman behind the desk for what seemed like an eternity, watching her answer the phone.

“Welcome Nezani, we’re so happy to have you here in Katria at Madam’s Hotel. Give me a moment and I’ll get you all checked in”.

“Where is here?” Nezani thought to herself. Looking down beneath the womans’ shoulder, a gold nametag glared back at her.

Wondering if she’s dreaming Nezani pinches her arm.

“Ow!” she let out before meeting the eyes of Jane.

“I assure you you’re not sleeping” Jane said dryly.

“Full name please” she asks.

“Nezani Marie Young”.

“Great and how long do you plan to stay?”.

Perplexed by the question, Nezani answers “Um I’m not sure, I don’t even know where I am. Where am I?”

Jane snaps up to meet her eyes and pushes up her glasses “Nobody has time to respond to questions I’ve already answered.”

“Walk through those doors and the attendants will help you get ready to meet Madame.

“Madame has been awaiting your arrival, she’s a busy woman and doesn’t have time to wait, make haste! Have a wonderful stay!”.