Devi didn’t mean to slam the door against the metal barring when she stormed out of Benji’s. The rain had slowed down and was no longer pouring per se, but it continued to fall without signs of stopping. She jogged down the stairs and towards the main road.

She heard the door open again behind her. In her heart, she wanted to look back, only she lacked the courage to do so. Her mind was scrambling to rework her plan, simultaneously trying to navigate her to her temporary shelter.

She hadn’t been courageous ever, that's how she ended up in this situation in the first place. Her chest tightened, she couldn't panic yet, she had to find cover.

“Hey wait!” 

The sound of Mars’ voice behind Devi made her chest ache. It didn’t slow her down, speaking to Mars would do little to alleviate her humiliation after all.

But because Mars was significantly taller than Devi, she had no problem catching up to her. She didn’t touch her, instead she went around and stopped before her. 

Devi couldn’t look her in the eye, and she didn’t know what to do with her arms. “What—ohplease don’t—I have to go.” 

“No—” 

“Don’t worry about me, I’m going to leave you alone forever now.” Devi meant to explain herself, until she realized that there wasn’t much she could explain. Not at this moment. There was no time. 

“Actually—”

“I promise I didn’t do anything weird… I’ve got to go think about my mortality and probably cry.” She mumbled the last part to herself as she turned away.

In a final attempt to get a word in, Mars called out again, “Devi, I won’t tell anyone your secret! I just need your help. I won’t ask about whatever you’re trying to do.”

Devi did a double take, squinting at the taller woman, confused. “What? No, it’s too late for that, I have to go.” 

She whirled back in the direction of the street and flashed into her translucent feathered nature. Poor choice in the rain, but her entire life had been a poor choice.