Manhattan imposed a level of security uncommon for someone from South Carolina, and Lexy's borrowed condo required she lock the knob, twist it to confirm locking, turn the knob on the deadbolt and slide the golden brass chain on the track when she entered. She did all this the Friday evening of the storm known as the Maelstrom before plopping on the lumpy sofa. She kicked off the jogging shoes she wore to tramp around the hard streets of her new hometown. 

This fifth-floor condo, which belonged to Pris, her sister, had not only the door locks, but full-time concierge service. Pris assured her the condo and the neighborhood were as safe as could be for New York City. 

"Niarrrr?" Bootsie greeted her as the white-toed cat strolled out of the kitchenette, tail questioning.

"I'll feed you soon, Bootsie," she said. "I have to shop for dinner first. What a day at work." She put a hand on her back, straightening up, and put her purse and tote on the small dining table. "Delivering mail to the office, delivering special packages for the partners, all over the city." You're talking to the cat again, she told herself.

Distant thunder boomed, and she saw the sky over the city darkening, with heavy black rainclouds over the water, flashing lightning and more thunder. "That's some storm coming, Bootsie," she said. "I wonder what Nat will find to cancel our date tonight.

She checked messages on her cell phone. A text from Pris telling her the doctors said the marrow transplant for Pris's daughter Bunny was scheduled for August 31. Pris would be back from Milan in July, preparing for her wedding to Dex before going to Columbia to stay with Bunny during her procedure. Lexy matched Bunny and had immediately offered to donate. 

Rain splattered against the condo windows and the sky darkened. Her phone rang. Nat's photo appeared on the screen. "Hello, Nat, what's up?"

"Hello, Lexy. The storm tonight is going to be bad. Like a hurricane, the weather says." She warmed at the sound of his deep voice although the message wasn't good.

"Yeah?"

"We shouldn't be out. There's talk of flooding."

"You could spend the weekend here," Lexy said. She really liked Nat, but he wouldn't commit. He still saw his ex-girlfriend, and she believed he was waiting to make sure she would be the sister-in-law of the managing partner at his law firm before he made his choice.

She couldn't blame him. She'd lost her job in the pandemic, was basically broke, moved back with her mother, moved to Manhattan when Dex got her a temp job at his large law firm, with the promise of permanent. Pris let her stay in the condo on the Upper West Side. She was fortunate, she knew, but longed for more. Her own life, stable, secure, someone to share it with. A family of her own. Some day. Many days passed by as she waited for some day.

"Not good," Nat said. "I have to work over the weekend. I'll see you at work Monday. Stay dry and safe. Call me. Bye."

"Bye," she said, and tapped the off button.

She was lost in thought until thunder boomed loudly, and she jumped. The storm was closer. She put on her rain jacket, got her purse, and left, promising Bootsie she'd be home soon.

The deli she favored was a block away. She held the door for a woman leaving, and went in. The smells of spices, coffee, and food made her mouth water. Lunch was a long time ago. She ordered a half pound of cheddar, sliced, got a loaf of sourdough bread and a can of tomato soup. Grilled cheese and soup for dinner. She got a chocolate bar and stopped by a book and magazine rack. A Superman paperback caught her eye and she read the blurbs for 'Phantom Attack.'

The last son of Krypton soared across the cover in his blue costume with red cape flying behind. A spaceship with a Kryptonian villain at the helm shot bolts at Superman, which bounced harmlessly off his "S" symbol. "I'll send you and your troops back to the Phantom Zone, General Zod! Earth is under my protection!" Superman's word bubble declared.

She hurried home with her purchases, trying to beat the storm, which rushed towards the city. Purple and green lightning lit the sky as a cloudburst drenched Manhattan. A cool wind blew through the muggy June day as she reached her building and hurried in. 

"Hello, Lexy," said Lazlo, the concierge. "Rain's here. Gonna be a bad one."

"It sure is. I'll be glad to stay home tonight." She pushed the up button on the elevator. She got out on her floor and entered the condo.

'Niarrro?"

"Ok, Bootsie, I'll feed you now." She popped the lid off a cup of cat food, plopped the food in the bowl, and set the bowl on the floor. Bootsie wasn't her cat, just as this condo wasn't hers, and New York City wasn't her city. She was 34, single, 13 years of dead-end jobs and dead-end life. The storm thundered, pouring steady sheets of water on the windows.

This storm could be a metaphor for my life, she thought. Things were finally going well in Columbia, had a semi-serious boyfriend who was talking of marriage--finally. The pandemic happened, lost my job, boyfriend moved home to Texas after a half-hearted offer for me to join him, Bunny got sick, my brother died of Covid. Pris has given me a great opportunity and Dex will find me a good job at his firm. Why don't I ever feel like I'm home? Home, at last.

She grilled her cheese sandwich, heated her soup, and got comfortable on the easy chair before the TV. She watched the weather news as she ate. The storm, called the Maelstrom, was approaching Force 5 hurricane levels. Just as well Nat cancelled their date.

The sandwich was tasty and crispy, and she dipped piecces in the tomato soup. Bootsie jumped on the arm of the chair, washed himself, and curled on her lap. When she finished, she opened the Superman paperback and read how Superman stopped an invasion from the Phantom Zone led by General Zod.

She flipped through the channels and found a Superman movie. It droned on as she cleaned up. She curled up in the chair with Bootsie and dozed off despite the raging lightning and thunder in the city.