The beds on display are all beautiful… big, comfortable-looking mattresses with elegant frames, but most of them are far too large for my tiny room. If I’m going to upgrade, I might as well get something that actually makes the space feel a little less like a shoebox. I run my fingers over one of the mattresses, smiling sadly to myself.
A friendly salesman in a crisp polo shirt interrupts my thoughts, approaching us with a professional smile. “Can I help you folks with anything today?”
Selina gives me an encouraging little nudge with her elbow, her eyes bright.
I swallow hard. “Um… I…”
My throat feels tight. The social anxiety I never used to have creeps in fast, making my voice crack. I laugh awkwardly, the sound too quiet and nervous, and whisper, “I need a bed.”
Selina sighs softly beside me, a little sad, and starts rubbing gentle circles on my back with her free hand.
The man smiles kindly, completely unfazed. “What size are you considering?”
I glance up at Selina, breathing a little heavier now.Oh god, I think I might actually have a panic attack right here in the middle of the store.I try to act casual, letting all the nerves leak out as sweat instead of words.
Selina jumps in smoothly. “He has a pretty small room. He’d like something that gives him more space.”
The salesman nods enthusiastically. “Oh, I’ve got just the thing. Follow me.”
We trail after him through the display area until he stops at a sleek white wall unit. He reaches up, pulls a hidden string, and with a smooth mechanical motion a full-sized bed folds down from the frame, complete with a thick, luxurious-looking mattress already made up.
Selina claps her hands together, genuinely excited. “Oh my god, Kitty, you have to get this! Think of all the space you’d have.”
I nod, offering an awkward little smile. “Y-yeah… okay…”
The man gestures proudly. “It also comes in black if you’d prefer that option.”
I nod again, quicker this time.
Selina asks, “Do you have any in stock?”
“Let me check,” he says, stepping a few metres away and speaking quietly into the small comms device clipped to his collar.
I turn to Selina, voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t show up with a massive box, Selina. Soren will know… and besides, who’s going to install that onto my wall? The frame is pretty big.”
She smiles, completely unbothered. “Oh, Ralph used to be a builder.”
I frown. “The security guard who works the front gate?”
She nods. “He’ll happily do it for you. He’s fast, won’t take him long at all.”
“Oh…”
The salesman returns, still smiling. “We have a black frame in stock. The white has sold out, other than this display piece.”
I swallow, trying to be brave, and manage to say, “I’ll take the black please.”
“Excellent choice. If you buy the mattress too, I can give you a two-hundred-dollar discount instead of purchasing them separately.”
Selina doesn’t even hesitate. “Oh my god, yes, obviously!”
I let out a small, nervous laugh and nod in agreement.
“I’ll have everything waiting for you by checkout,” the man says cheerfully before wandering off to arrange the order.
As we stand here, the reality of what I’ve just done settles over me. It feels like a surprisingly big step, like I’m finally trying to turn my tiny shoebox room into something that actually feels like my own space after twolong years. The thought both terrifies and excites me in equal measure. I squeeze Selina’s hand a little tighter, grateful she’s here, and let her lead me toward the next aisle while my heart continues to race with a strange mix of fear and quiet hope.
ChapterSix
