A shopping mall.

It took a bit of driving around, but eventually Kathleen found some familiar terrain and followed it to a highway leading back into town. As she drove, she passed through a commercial district she hadn't been to in nearly a decade. It was near the local college and was very popular with the younger generation. There just weren't that many shops that interested her anymore; she'd outgrown that sort of thing.

But there would be food and Kathleen was hungry; she felt like she hadn't eaten in days. When the bright signs for the various stores came into view, she didn't hesitate to turn off the road into the parking lot. She climbed out of the car, noting that her clothes seemed a hair loose, hanging from her in a slightly unflattering way rather than their usual fit. 'That's strange. Better get some food in me,' she thought.

The wind kept blowing her hair across her face as she crossed the packed parking lot towards the building. It seemed impossibly long, tangling and blowing wildly despite her best efforts. Once safely inside, she smoothed the hair back down and froze. It wasn't just her imagination. The hair she'd worn at shoulder-length for several years was easily a full foot longer, stretching well past her shoulders towards her mid back. She hadn't worn it that long since college.

'What is going on with me?'

A grumbling stomach pulled her from her thoughts. Entering the food court, Kathleen breathed a deep sigh of nostalgic contentment. Several memories of time spent with friends in this very spot came rushing back to her and she smiled, making her way past a stall selling greasy pizza she had once enjoyed but that hadn't seemed appetizing in years. As she approached, however, she surprised herself by stopping and ordering a large slice of their signature five cheese pizza.

Carrying her purchase—and a large quantity of napkins—to the only table not already occupied, she took a seat and stared at the hot, greasy mess on her plate. It looked positively delicious. Forgetting her plan to clean the thing up before eating it, she threw all restraint out the window and devoured it, grease and all. It was a horrible, irresponsible display of indulgence, but she didn't care. She hadn't tasted anything so good in ages. Richard had always made her feel terrible about herself if she didn't strictly control her weight or if she strayed too far from what he deemed a "proper diet."

Some grease escaped her lips as she chewed, running down her chin to drip onto her designer blouse. She didn't care. She felt alive and she loved it.

A small pack of college students passed near her table, several of them looking her way and grinning. With grease still glistening on her chin, Kathleen made eye contact with one of the guys. He held her eyes confidently, a smug sort of smirk on his face, and then he winked and turned away with his friends.

Kathleen's cheeks grew warm with embarrassment. She was acting strangely; impulsive and unrefined like a teenager. She shook her head and grabbed a napkin to make herself properly presentable again. She dabbed at her shirt, but it was hopeless. It was a fine silk blouse, probably ruined. 'That's just great. Good going, Kathleen.'

She finished her pizza slowly, hoping to let that group of kids get really far away before she stood to dispose of the evidence. Painfully aware of the large blot on her blouse, she was about to just turn for the safety of her car when she spotted a clothing store just off the food court. A nice, respectable outlet store. She could find something in her usual prim style there.

Her eyes slid sideways to the store next to it. Geared towards a much younger customer, she'd only find sexy, stylish clothing favored by high school and college age women. Despite the incident with the pizza, Kathleen felt a drive to continue to explore this strange burst of youthful enthusiasm.

She needed a new shirt, that much was obvious, but was she really feeling that daring?