book-cover
The Lady On Red
Immaculata Essien
Immaculata Essien
4 months ago

It was a Saturday morning, and the rain was coming down heavily. I sat behind the counter of the supermarket, attending to customers. The supermarket belonged to my great aunt, and I assisted her on weekends. It didn't have the grandeur and luxury of the big supermarkets in the big towns, but we sold everything you needed for everyday life.



There was a bell at the entrance that rang whenever a customer walked in; my great aunt preferred this to installing cameras outside.Saturdays were always busy in the supermarket, as lots of customers trooped in and bought numerous items; my great aunt loved it, as she claimed she made more sales on Saturdays.



I was attending to my last customer for the moment when the bell rang, indicating another customer had just walked in. I felt a sudden pang of disappointment because my legs were already hurting from standing for too long, and I wanted to sit down before another customer came in.



As I waited for the customer to pay for what he had bought with trembling, uncertain hands, my eyes followed the lady who had just walked in. There was a mysterious aura surrounding her. She wore a tight, fitted, wide-neck red gown and red stilettos, paired with a black fur coat.



Although the rain was still falling heavily, she didn't look drained, nor did she leave any stained footprints on the white-tiled floor of the supermarket. Her fluid movements in those high heels fascinated me as she disappeared into the rows of shelves.



She reappeared a few minutes later, holding a red umbrella, which she dropped on the counter. I didn't see her teeth when she asked for the price of the umbrella, except for the parting of her lips, which were red as a rose. Her scrupulous behavior was truly exquisite. After paying for the goods, I watched her leave with the same mysterious aura she had when she came in.


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