Page 93 of Falling Backwards
“Okay.Shoe department after I see about this stuff?”
“Mmhmm.”
The fitting rooms are set in the middle of the apparel department, but they’re separated for women and men in a back-to-back kind of way, with the women’s facing the front of the store and the men’s facing the back.Each cluster of rooms is nestled amongst the many racks of appropriate clothes.While we leave my area, I glance around, feeling the slightest twinge of discomfort.Before I went into the fitting room, we thought we heard someone call out for a Kyle from out of sight.It seemed more like a dad looking for his kid than anything else, but I guess that name alone is going to unsettle me for a while.
Luke insisted on waiting while I tried the clothes on, rather than splitting away to try his on, too, and save some time.I appreciated that.Weird though it was to know he was nearby during my various stages of undress, I felt guarded.
So I instantly feel vulnerable when he enters the men’s changing area and I have to hang back to wait right outside like he did.
He notices and pauses.
Contemplates me.
Scans the vicinity.
“You….”He clears his throat and gestures to the rooms.“If you wanna come with me, you can.”
The offer makes my stomach flip-flop for a few reasons.
I focus on the one about how he’s probably not allowed tomakethat offer.
I say, “I’m pretty sure couples aren’t supposed to be in there together.”
He glances around at the walls, then shrugs.“There’s no sign strictly forbidding it.Or an employee to stop us.Or anyone else around to complain about it.”
Nervousness aside, I give him a look.“We both know that if there isn’t a sign, then it’s an unspoken rule, and we should—”
“Idon’t know that.”
“Well, I do.”
“Do you work here?”he counters.“I didn’t realize you had a second job.”
I roll my eyes.
He gives me the same look I gave him moments ago.“Look, I know how in love with rules you are, but it’s not like we’d be doing anything wild back here.We just don’t want you to be left alone if you’re afraid.In fact, I’d be more than happy to explain the situation to anyone who might come around with something to say about it.”
That sweet protectiveness has my stomach flipping again, like the eye-roll-worthy response before it never existed.
“But I won’t make you do it,” he says.“I’m nearby no matter where you stand.”He gestures to the rooms again, then continues walking to them.“If you change your mind….”
I watch him disappear around the inner corner.A few moments pass before a door closes.
Pursing my lips, I choose to stepjustinside the fitting room area.I can lean against one of these walls without technically being in a no-Maggies-allowed zone—I can’t even see the hallway of rooms from here, thanks to that corner.
Not inappropriate at all, and I still won’t be out in the open alone.
It’s so quiet out there, I notice.And motionless.
Even after another minute or so.
It’s kind of eerie, really.It’s a normal time of day and everything, but it doesn’t really feel that way since I can’t see the front of the store and the daylight beyond, only racks of clothes and some unremarkable carpet and the stretch of the industrial-type ceiling.Like Luke said, there are no employees in view.And the lady we encountered earlier and the calling-for-Kyle man were the only other customers we’ve been aware of since we got here, which was some time ago by now.
As I continue gazing out into the bit of store I can see from here, I keep my eyes peeled for anything overtly unusual.
Only when my back starts aching do I realize I’m hunched and tense against this wall, my new leggings held close to me.
I inhale slowly, then force myself to relax.
