she should have called off, should have stayed home in bed. but, it was the weekend and trying to find someone to cover her would have been impossible. makeup covers the dark circles that have formed under slate hues, dulling her appearance. stomach had been a wreck, causing charlie to become averse to any sorts of foods and liquids. everything seemed to make her sick.
it’s not long before head feels light and her eyes struggle to stay focused on a particular thing. spots litter her vision momentarily before they dissipate, returning every now and then. the bell above the door jingling draws attention from her phone to the woman walking in. throat clears and posture straightens. hands TIGHTEN around the edges of the counter, leaning frame into it as she inches to it’s edge. ❛ bonjour mademoiselle. ça va ? ❜ voice croaks out. it’s unsteady and throat feels like it’s going to close at any second. breathe. focus. breathe.
SHE’D INTENDED TO SIMPLY return the blouse and slip back out, head to an early lunch, enjoy the short time she would have in France before she had to head back to Afghanistan, but the moment she walked up to the counter, she knew it would be a bit longer than that. The clerk appeared to feel completely awful, as if she’d forced herself to come in ill...
LAYING THE BLOUSE DOWN, she leaned against the counter, scrutinizing the other woman with as much tact as she could manage. ❝ Bonjour... comme ci, comme ça mais comment allez-vous? ❞ A bit formal at the last, but she wished to make it clear she wasn’t simply asking to be polite. The American felt honestly concerned for the woman and if she could help, then she would gladly do so. ❝ Est-ce que vous allez bien? ❞