Her mood could not have been better. She had arrived the day before, knowing that back home everything was settled. Her former boyfriend had finally realized that it was over. Her boss had given her three weeks of vacation and she had recovered from the flue. So, everything was good. Even the sun seemed to be in a good mood. It had shone from the very first moment Stephanie had sat foot on US-Soil.
Stephanie had a good Hotel and enough money to spend. How good could live get?
In the morning the young woman had left the hotel for her first big shopping adventure. She knew that there was no better town in all of the United States to do shopping than New York. She took a cap to Fifth Avenue and left it in front of the biggest mall she had ever seen. She looked up and could barely see the top floor.
- Perfect. Iâll shop till the credit card glows -
And so a young woman in an expensive silk blouse and equally expensive pants entered a shopping paradise. She was in her best mood. But that would change.
But at this time she didnât know. All she knew was that she wanted to forget all the tears of an ended relationship. And she would forget.
Stephanie spent the whole day in the biggest mall of the country. She went from boutique to boutique, spent a lot and had a coffee from time to time. Around three in the afternoon Stephanie got a little tired. She went to one of the bigger restaurants and had a decent meal. She called her American friend over her cell phone and spent way too much on her phone bill. But she did not mind at all. Once an old lady had said something funny that Stephanie still liked very much...
- Spend all your money ... cry later -
And for now that was her life philosophy. Around six Stephanie left the joint and went on shopping. She thought about buying a dress and so she smiled when she stood in front of the most expensive boutique ever.
Attention all customers. Due to special circumstances, today we are being forced to close down the mall early. Please proceed to the nearest exit.
Stephanie looked up to the ceiling and nodded. On one hand she was a little disappointed since she was still in the mood for wasting her well earned money. On the other hand she was even grateful since her body was crying out loud for some rest.
- All right then. If they donât want my money Iâll leave -
But then she realized that she needed to go to the bathrooms first. She obviously did have way too much coffee. And so the young woman locked away her newly obtained belongings and looked out for the signs that would show her the way to the mallâs bathrooms.
In order to find the bathrooms one had to enter the corridor that also lead to the malls offices. Those corridors were badly illuminated. And to put a worse in the idea there were only small signs with âbathroomâ on the walls. Stephanie exhaled and shook her head. What kind of idiot had created this mall?
One minute later she found her destination. Though the facilities were on the top floor and Stephanie had to shake her head because she did not understand the architects mind to locate those important rooms in the most remote area of the mall, she smiled and entered the ladyâs room.
Finally Stephanie felt better and exited the bathroom. Slowly the young woman led her steps back to the shop area. Or so she thought.
Her first worry kicked in when she again heard the voice of the mallâs announcer. But this time it was so low, so distant that she instantly began to wonder if she had taken the wrong corridor. She stopped and looked around.
Stephanieâs heart began to beat faster, her pulse went up.
"Oh no. Please donât ..."
But she knew that she was lost. The young woman kicked one innocent wall and bit her lip. She went back into the direction where she had come from.
Twenty minutes later Stephanie still hadnât found the exit.
"Nooooo! "
She was screaming with frustration.
"God dammit. "
She leaned against a wall and closed her eyes for a minute.
"Quiet Stephanie, quiet. "
After another minute she opened her eyes again and pushed herself from the wall.
"All right. Letâs find the exit. "
And so she started walking and hoping again. And then, after almost half an hour she found it.
Light brown steel doors blocked her way to the shopping area.
Stephanie stood in front of them, glaring at the steel, not believing what had happened.
They already had closed the way to and from the offices and the bathrooms.
"Idiots! "
Stephanieâs otherwise very innocent features distorted into a grimace of raw frustration and hate. Again she kicked something lifeless and shouted into the cosmos her frustration.
Her heart was pounding and the only thing Stephanie could hear was her blood rushing through her head. She started sweating, her short dark-brown hair was sticking to her head, and panic arose.
"Calm down ... calm down Stephanie. You will make it. You will...! "
There had to be a way out of hear. And then she remembered her cell phone. Quickly the young woman pulled it out of her purse. One moment she did not know whom to call, but then she did not spend much time with those worries. She just punched the re-dial button. Her New York friend would do.
Excited she put the phone to her right ear and heard ... nothing.
Confused she looked at the display only to see that there was no connection at all. Again she hit the re-dial button. Nothing.
"No! "
It was of no use.
Trying to stay calm, Stephanie put away the small phone. She knew if she would use it again only to see it wouldnât work, she would throw it against the nearest wall.