Page 93 of Perfect Imperfections

Dr. Mitchell let her talk through everything that had been going on lately. They’d discussed her feelings around Sullivan’s refusal of help, his declaration that he was wrong for her and how it hurt her, how it made her dark voice cry out in glee. Telling her it was right. She ruined everything. All the bad things in life were her fault.

But it wasn’t true. She knew it deep down. They’d discussed how his actions made her feel and the reality of the situation. After a two-hour session, she left feeling much better, stronger, able to cope. She’d be eating instant noodles for a month just to cover the cost of the session, but it was a sacrifice she had to make. Hopefully, one day, mental healthcare would be more accessible and affordable. For now, she was just grateful her employer covered partial costs.

She’d been trying to keep busy this past week without the company of Sullivan and Charlotte. A quick call to her landlord revealed the apartment next door was indeed available for rent. She’d called her brother and given him all the information. In two weeks, she’d be living next door to her big brother. They hadn’t been this close since he left home after high school, and she couldn’t wait. It was a small bit of happiness in the dreariness that was her life at the moment.

“Awwwrk! Hello, Doll-face.”

Bill squawked just as the employee door opened.

“Hey yourself, Bill. Ugh! I am so glad it’s Friday,” Cam said, as she came into the back room carrying a trash bag filled with droppings from the toucan enclosure she’d been cleaning. “This week has just draaaaaagged by. Ya know?”

“Yeah.”

Did she ever. Since Sullivan left her apartment without so much as a backward glance Monday night, the minutes had felt like hours. Normally the week went by in a flash—caring for animals was busy work—but the past few nights Ellie had come home to her apartment, scrounged up some dinner and sat in front of her television catching up on nature documentaries. Just a short time ago, that would have been her norm. But the past few months had been packed with date nights, movie nights, puzzle nights. Wonderful, amazing nights filled with laughter, company, and love.

Her life before had been nice, but lonely. With Sullivan, she’d found that missing thing, the boom that made every day—even the bad ones—brighter. How long before she got that again? If ever?

“Hey, I have an idea.” Cam came over to help her put the clean buckets on their shelf. “How about we go out tonight? Toppers started doing karaoke on Friday nights. We can belt out some old school Gloria Gaynor. I think I Will Survive is a requirement in situations like this.”

This being Sullivan breaking up with her. She understood what her friend was doing, trying to get her out to the local bar for a night of drinks and fun. The crowds and karaoke sounded awful—Ellie had the voice of a shrieking barn owl—but spending time with her friend instead of another lonely night sitting in her empty apartment sounded like just what she needed.

“I’ll go, but I’m not singing.”

Cam stuck one ruby lip out in a pout.

She pointed a finger at her bestie. “I’m pretty sure every DJ ever has banned that song from their book. It’s way overdone.”

Cam shrugged. “Okay, we’ll go emo then. My Chemical Romance?”

Chuckling, she shook her head. “I’ll need a lot of vodka before I go anywhere near a mic.”

“That can totally be arranged.”

She hoped not. For the sake of everyone’s ears at the bar tonight.

“Awwwwk, hello Doll-face!”

Ellie turned her head at Bill’s greeting to see the employee door opening again. The bird would make a great alarm system. A smile curled her lips as Naya, one of Sunlight Zoo’s chief security personnel, popped her head in. The cheerful woman with a light brown complexion and glossy dark hair—pulled back into a tight bun per security regulations—smiled as she glanced around the room.

“Hi Bill. Hey Cam, Ellie. Uh, Ellie, you have a couple of visitors. I told them I’d check to see if you were busy or not. I know it’s close to quitting time, so I wasn’t sure.”

Wondering who would come to visit her since everyone she hung out with was either here or not currently speaking to her, she held her hands up and shrugged.

“We’re pretty much done for the day. Show them on back.”

Naya’s smile widened. She glanced over her shoulder, motioning someone into the room.

“Ellie!”

Her heart stopped as the sweetest little angel with bouncing blonde pigtails ran into the room, arms stretched out wide. Reaching down, she grasped Charlotte as the girl collided into her. Tears filled her eyes as tiny arms squeezed tightly around her neck. It became slightly difficult to breathe, but she didn’t care. She’d gladly give all the air in her lungs just to hold Charlotte again. She’d missed the little girl so much.

“Charlotte, what are you doing here?”

“We came to see you.”

At the deep, familiar voice, Ellie glanced up to see Sullivan standing a few feet away, a blue gift bag clutched tightly in his left hand. Right, Naya had said a couple of people meaning more than one. Charlotte and Sullivan. The two people she’d wanted to see most in the world. The two people she’d been afraid she’d never get to see again. Why were they here? What was going on? More bad news? Oh, she hoped not. She hoped it was something good.

“Sullivan…hi.”

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