The Watcher, Part I

April sat across from the two women on the train and tried not to stare at them.  She felt the tension from her grimacing forehead and knew that she wasn't doing a great job of averting her glance.  She had seen them on the train before. It seemed like maybe they met up at the station and traveled into work together pretty regularly. 

"Girl, please," one woman said to the other, gently slapping her friend on the arm.  "You know my boss is not going to let me take a Friday off before a long weekend."  They were familiar.  Familiar enough for one of them to know what the other's boss was like. 

"Yeah, I know.  That's why I wouldn't even say anything to him about it.  Just call in sick.  He won't want a doctor's note if it's less than three days. You can't say no to a weekend on the Vineyard.  You know I can't pay for that whole place by myself."  Familiar.  Familiar enough for one of them to know the other's financial situation.  April sighed, and turned to the back of the Metro.  She might as well sign up for one of the medical studies.  She figured that, aside from her students, no one would miss her much if she disappeared for two weeks for a sleep study.  April scanned through the ads, stopping briefly at the one about depression.  She didn't know if she was clinically depressed, or just sad.  Was there a difference?  When the two women laughed aloud, April almost cried.  Why was it so hard to find a good friend?

She had come close several times.  It seemed like she was connecting with Robin at work. Robin was one of those down to earth women who could easily be trusted, and was quick to say yes to a girl’s night out.  She had even invited April to be part of a book club, and even though April hated the book, she endured it to enjoy Robin's company.  But Robin's position at the school was cut, and she was working in another part of the city now.  April had never been a phone person, so they tried keeping in touch through texts and Facebook.  Out of sight, out of mind took over pretty quickly, though, and she hadn't heard from Robin in over six months.  

Just before her train approached the station, she reached the back page of the Boston Metro, and found a handwritten note between the pages.  Meet me by the Dunkin Donuts.  Weird.  She was sure that note must’ve been intended for someone else.  Who would’ve even had a chance to put this note in there, though?  Just like every morning, she got her paper directly from the guy who handed the papers out to passengers as they rushed to their trains.  Morning, grab your freeee Metro.  He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would’ve written that note.  And which Dunkin Donuts?  The one at the station she left, or the one at the station she was headed to? 

April glanced down at her watch as the train pulled into the station, and realized that she had a little extra time.  What could it hurt?  She could use a little adventure.  She took the stairs two at a time and stood in front of the Dunkin Donuts just outside of the station.  People rushed out with their coffee, and in looking for their morning fix.  She stood there for five minutes, and nothing special happened.  April went in and looked around.  Everything seemed normal.  No one waiting around.  She held the door for the next person to enter the store on her way out - a teen-aged girl with tears streaming down her face. 

“Thank you,” the girl said to April.  “That’s the first nice thing that happened to me all morning.”

April looked down at the note, checked her watch again, and even though she risked being late to work, she had a prep for first period, so it wouldn’t be so bad.

“Are you okay?” April asked the girl, closing the door, and pulling her to the side near the straws and napkins.

“No,” the girl said, shaking her head and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, which April noticed was bruised.  “I’m not okay at all.  I’m in a lot of trouble.”