Page 124 of Butterfly Effect

I’m sorry, girl. What do you need?

Me

Nothing, wanted to say it somewhere.

Indi

Want me to come over? I can bring India House.

Me

No, thanks. I’m taking a bath.

Indi

Well, let me know if you change your mind. I’m a text away.

Since uni, Indi knew to give me the space to sort out any complicated emotions, but it was much easier to pretend. Pretend that the anger washed away instead of being too tired to harbor it, while internally holding a candle to it, letting it burn and burn within until it got too much.

It’s been hours, I think. I’ve lost all sense of time. The hot water has been refreshed four times. And gone cold since.

I’m not even sure if it’s still the same day or sometime past midnight.

The skin on my fingertips separates from the layers underneath.

Cracking wood follows a thud. Uneven stomping traipses through my condo. Door after door is opened and slammed shut.

I’m defenseless against any sort of violent burglar. Maybe if I hide under the surface of the water, they’ll take whatever they want and leave.

My nose reaches the water just as Wade throws the washroom door open, nearly tearing it off its hinges. Wearing a dark suit and tie, no less.

“What the fuck, Gabe?”

Where’d he come from?

“You stood me up?” He unbuttons the perspiration-soaked collar and loosens the knot of his tie.

Oops.

I don’t respond.

Softblubsfrom my fingers splashing the surface of the cold bath water fill the silence.

“I’ve been losing my shit, Gabe.”

A vein bulges on his forehead. More of them snake down the sinews of his neck.

“Called you at least thirty times, texted you even more—without answer. I scoured the city—thinking you were dead in a ditch somewhere. And you? You’re here—at home—leisurely taking a…a…” His hands fly around, searching for the word.

“Bath,” I provide.

A sarcastic laugh of disbelief comes out. “Bath. Your friends were practically no help, by the way. Telling me not to fucking disturbmyfucking girlfriend. Actually, it was only one. I don’t even know any of your friends besides Indi. What is she, your only friend?”

“Yep.”

Salt, meet wound. But I’m too numb for it to burn. I let him keep ranting. I deserve nothing less.

“What’s the point of getting attached?” My knees curl to my chest, seeking warmth but finding none. “People always leave.”

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