It was time to finally admit it.
Lilisa was lost.
Lilisa was absolutely, irrevocably lost in her new city.
Her phone was dead, she was somewhere deep inside one of its Residential Hell mazes with seemingly no way out – and she really needed to pee. Like, really. If she didn't find a toilet soon, she was going to either burst or have an unfortunate accident that would mean having to move to another city again, because there'd be no way she'd be able to show her face in this one ever again.
Unfortunately, she couldn't just go around knocking on random people's doors, asking if she could borrow theirs – most people were probably at work anyway. No, she needed some kind of... public space. She just hadn't seen a single one in the last 10 minutes.
Unless... Lilisa squinted, tried to focus on the far end of the street she was on. Yes! That was some kind of business' sign! She began to jog – quite carefully, but determinedly. This was her only chance.
Please be a bar or a restaurant or... or... something
Please be a bar or a restaurant or... or... something
Please be a bar or a restaurant or... or... something
The closer Lilisa got, the clearer the sign became, and when she read the name It's Just A Pizza Place!, she almost wept for joy – or perhaps the tears were a sign of things to come, because her need had only grown, and it became a race between her bladder and her getting to a porcelain throne in time.
In the end, it was a very close call.
Lilisa burst through the restaurant's door, sending the little bells jangling with wild abandon. Four men sitting at a table rose as one, but she had no eyes for them. She'd spotted a woman behind the counter – an incredibly striking woman wearing a crisp white dress shirt – and she made a beeline for her, her head filled with a single thought, repeating over and over again.
I need to pee
I need to pee
I need to
"Pee!"
Oh god. She'd just said that out loud, hadn't she? Shouted it right in the woman's face, actually. Heavy footsteps behind her.
The woman seemed taken aback at first, then laughed softly, leaning forward on the counter. "I'm sorry miss, we're fresh out. Can I interest you in something else, maybe?"
Lilisa wished she could sink through the ground, but her body was sending her urgent signals she couldn't ignore. She could be mortified later, it said. "Can I use your restroom? Please?" she begged, dancing from foot to foot, desperately trying not to make an even bigger mess than she already had.
The woman gave her a slow – too slow, Lilisa's bladder protested – once-over, before pointing at a door marked Employees only. A smile. "Sure. Through there, second door on the left." Something in her face tightened. "Make sure you take the second one, otherwise you might trip and fall down the stairs."
Ugly laughter from the men who'd returned to the table, but Lilisa paid them no mind. "Second on the left, got it. Thank you so much thank you thank you thank you." she burbled, already speed-inching towards the door, its slam cutting off any further 'thank you's.
Her pressing business completed successfully and feeling much lighter, Lilisa cleaned up after herself, then made her way back to the front. She almost opened the wrong door, her hand already on the knob, barely remembering the warning in time. The second door. This one was probably a basement entrance. Not what she needed. She'd embarrassed herself enough already with these people.
When she reappeared in the restaurant, the mood was weirdly strained. Something must have happened. Maybe someone'd gotten bad news or something. Oh well. Lilisa made her way back to the nice... Cashier? Barista? Bartender? Whatever, the really intriguing woman, who looked at her and asked "Found what you were looking for?"
Weird phrasing, but she had almost taken a wrong turn there, and probably taken forever to do her business. "Yes, thank you so much. Again. And sorry about shouting at you. Again." Lilisa replied as the woman waved her thanks away. "How can I repay you? Should I order a coffee or something?"
The woman gave her another one of those long, searching looks, before she smiled and shook her head. "No need, miss. Just glad we could help."
Speaking of help...
Lilisa blushed. "Um. Do you know where I can find the nearest bus stop, or metro station, or... something? Taxi stand, maybe? I'm... a bit lost." she admitted.
The woman pointed out the window, down the cross street. "There's a bus stop 3 blocks that way. That should get you back to Grand Central Station." A subtle pause. "Where is it you wanted to go?"
Lilisa's attention was slightly too focused on the woman's long, slender, surprisingly delicate index finger, and almost missed the question. "Buh. Oh, I'm staying in the guest professor housing at the university, for now. I can find my way from the station..." She hoped. "... thank you!"
Her eye caught the big clock hanging behind the counter, reminding her that she had a meeting with the dean in an hour. An hour to get back to, if not civilization, more familiar surroundings... in a city that was anything but. Lilisa yelped and scooted towards the exit. "I'm sorry I have to go now it was really nice meeting you I'll come back and order some food next time bye!"
She was almost out the door when she heard the woman call back "Please don't, and watch out for evangelists in the area!" What a strange thing to say. The first bit. Not the bit about the evangelists, because she clocked two very serious, dry-looking men in suits approaching from the other side of the road, trying to angle their path so they could cut her off. The woman wasn't kidding! Jesus!
Lilisa had no time, and definitely no need to be saved, so she quickened her steps, turning it into a full sprint towards the bus stop that left them staring after her when they tried to speed up to match pace, and failed.
Whew, bullet dodged. Time to focus on her prep for the meeting while braving the streets of her new city... if she could put that woman out of her mind...
