Jioni’s limbs, one by one, stiffened and she stopped. Her pause was so abrupt that it caused Brandon to bump into her; she was motionless, then she turned around and spoke in Brandon’s face, which startled him and forced him to stagger backward.
“The brochure! Ah—I’m like a huge idiot–I think I might’ve-!”
Jioni struggled to get the words out as she attempted to recall this morning’s events—a web of memories and pathways raced in her head and they all led to nowhere. She tried to remember: had she placed the brochure on her hammock, underneath it, or back in its hiding spot? Her eyes widened.
“Might’ve what? What happened, Jioni?” Kathy asked.
“I think I might’ve left my brochure out— if someone barges in, they will take it—It’s happened before,” Jioni said. “But obviously I wouldn’t just leave it out, would I?”
Jioni spoke to herself more than to Kathy. She tried her best to comfort herself despite knowing she had no idea where she had put it. She stepped backward and acted as if she would return home—something didn’t feel right—but she had no way of knowing: It was paranoia, no it wasn’t, but it was. She hesitated, then stopped walking, continued, and reassured herself she was okay. Jioni shook the stress out of her body.
“We need to hurry so I can get home asap,” Jioni said as she leaned against a wall.
