She took a book from the shelf and came back downstairs. In the living room, everyone was watching Jamie Oliver cooking something delicious. At least, that's how it looked from where she was standing. She sat at the kitchen table, lit up a cigarette and opened the book. For five or ten minutes, everything was the same. Then mom entered:

"You're smoking, again. You said you'd quit."

"Oh, mom, don't start again with the theory. I didn't quit. I was just on a very short break."

"But, you know how bad it is for your health."

"I know, mom, all these facts. They are everywhere."

"So?"

"So what? I'm smoking now. That's that."

"Promise me you'll smoke less."

"Oh, mom, don't start again. Ok, I'll try."

Her mom left the kitchen in a hurry to catch the end of Jamie Oliver's show. She remained at the kitchen table with the book opened. She didn't feel like reading. She wanted to do something different that afternoon. Closing her eyes, she started browsing her mind for an activity that could entertain her for a few hours, maybe even get her out of the house that was pressing against her shoulders every minute. Going to the mall, some window shopping popped up.

"Mom, I'm going out. I won't be long."

"Where are you going now?"

"To the mall."

Her mom returned to her show and didn't ask any more questions. She was focused on the cooking and couldn't process other information. She wanted to tell her mom a few things, but gave up quickly when she saw that no one was interested.

A few moments later she went to her room, took a shower and put on some clothes she found lying around. Luckily, they were clean. She grabbed her purse and left. She reached the bus station, thinking of calling someone to join her, but her phone wasn't in the bag. The bus came after five long minutes. She got on and sat on an empty chair by the window...They were moving slowly. The bus stopped at a station, more passengers got on. '4 got on the bus, 2 validated. Validate now!' said the electronic display from behind the driver's seat. Of course, this was inaccurate. More passengers got on. Who knows how many validated!? Not being a life and death matter, she focused again on the outside. More grey blocks of flats.