Mortified

“We’re closing in 10 minutes.

I stopped short. God, did I hear that right? I cocked my head and listened straining my ears, but heard nothing more, just music playing softly in the background.

I slowed beside a lady looking through the cards. “Excuse me”, I touched her arm, “did you just hear the store is closing in 10 minutes?”

“Uh, I think so, I wasn’t really paying much attention. Sorry. Isn’t it a little early?” she added looking at me skeptically as she glanced at her watch.

“I agree,” I said over my shoulder and kept going.

I hurried through the mall to get to the public bathroom. It was quite a journey to get home so this mission was priority one. Plenty of time. It wouldn’t take 10 minutes. I slowed, pulled up my sleeve and checked my watch. 3:40….I know I looked puzzled. I felt puzzled. What’s the deal closing this early

Looking around I saw no one seeming to be in any kind of a hurry. Maybe I didn’t hear an announcement at all. For all I knew it was part of the song playing. No, I was sure a male voice made that announcement. Well, it wasn’t worth taking any chances. I couldn’t find a dress anyway. At least this way I wouldn’t be in the change room with half my clothes off.

The washroom sign loomed half way down the mall. I dodged to the other side of the aisle. There was a young woman with her daughter at one of the sinks when I entered.

“Did you hear an announcement that the store was closing in 10 minutes?” I asked.

“No,” she punched the button on the automatic hand blower and it whirred to life. She pushed the little girl forward and shoved her hands into the heat. She turned her back to me and I was dismissed.

Okay then. So much for any polite conversation.

I ducked into the first cubicle and fumbled with the lock. Damn, the slider didn’t line up in place. Three tries later…

A sharp pain went down my legs as I sat. ‘Oh, please. Not now. Don’t fail me now.’

I talk to myself and the older I get, the more I enjoy it. I ‘m on a waiting list at the moment for a hip replacement and I usually carry a cane, but I took an anti inflammatory today of all days and stupidly decided to leave my cane safely by the door...at home.

Trying to get up and stand sent sharp excruciating pain that ruptured from inside both legs sending shock waves all the way to my feet. I gasped, and fell back, landing hard . It momentarily took my breath away. Breathe, Sandy, breathe. In for four, hold for four, exhale for four. I tried again. There was no time to waste sitting here with my pants down, just in case I was right and they were closing in 10.

My pants slipped down around my ankles and I couldn’t bend to reach them. I couldn’t tie my own shoes anymore or put on my socks unless propped on the edge of the bed. How bloody embarrassing. Humiliating to say the least.

I leaned forward and my knuckles managed to brush the door. I rapped on it, held my breath and listened. “Hello, is anybody out there?”

“Anyone?”

I was alone. Seconds later the lights went out. It was pitch black. I stifled a sob. I had to figure out how to get out of here. If I could just get the cubicle door open I could pull myself up. I fumbled for the bolt but that proved hopeless in the dark.

My phone! As luck would have it I had it in my pocket. Thank God! I turned the flashlight on and the cubicle came to life. I reached for the lock. I swung my right arm up until my fingers caught the slider. Again and Again. Finally! The door swung inward and I took hold of both sides of it, braced my feet firmly on the floor and pulled myself up to standing. My pants held steady at my ankles. My purse was hanging on a hook on the back of the door and I remembered tossing my shoe horn in it a few days ago. I maneuvered around and lifted it off the hook and dug around to the very bottom, of course.

I tried to envision if there was a hook on the end of it and as luck would have it, there was. Perfect. I steadied my legs and scooped up my pants, panties and all, in one fell swoop. I juggled until I was decent again, not that it mattered at the moment in the situation I found myself in.

The pain was excruciating but I had no choice but to try to block it out. I limped over to the washroom entrance.

Looking left and right intensified my anxiety as it was pitch black. Not a sound of anyone around. There was nothing but an echo in a giant space. I couldn’t see far with my phone. I tried to get my bearings. No generator lights even? What the hell was going on?

I leaned up against the wall and checked for cell reception. No bars! Stupidly I hadn’t told anyone what I was doing today, so no one knew where I was. I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to stifle the overwhelming panic. I shuffled along leaning against the wall using my arms for support making my way to the mall entrance or the way I thought the entrance should be.

Another crippling pain rippled through my whole body. I felt myself sliding and then NOTHING.

* * * * * *

“Sandy, Sandy, can you hear me? It’s time to wake up now.” A gentle voice.

I’m trying to surface but I feel too warm and comfortable. I feel a bit groggy.. I moved my head side to side and tried to clear it. Reluctantly I opened my eyes…..WHAT?

“There you are. It’s time to wake up. How are you feeling? You did so good!”

Ah, reality was coming back. I’m in the hospital. Yes, I remember now. This room and this nice lady, the nurse! She had said, "see you in a bit."

I must be out of surgery. My nightmare wasn’t real? ‘WHEW!’

“Im feeling better by the minute.” I smiled.