Page 149 of Echoes of Us

I thought about the class I had now—not an exam, but a final review. “It’s about Noah, right? He told you I ran into him at the health center?”

“He doesn’t know that I’m talking to you, but yeah, it’s about that.”

I glanced towards the building and back to her. “Yeah, I’ve got time.”

She gave me a tight-lipped smile before we started walking. I could feel my heart in my throat as I braced myself for whatever she was about to tell me. I knew it wasn’t nothing.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

BEFORE

Iwoke up in the dark, the room silent except for the distant hum of the city outside. I reached out, expecting to feel Noah beside me, but his side of the bed was cold. Sitting up, I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the grogginess. I glanced towards the bathroom, but the lights were out, casting long shadows across the floor. My watch read two in the morning.

The door to the living room was ajar, and a soft glow spilled through the crack. I got up, pushed the door open, and saw Noah sitting cross-legged in his boxers, bathed in the blue light of the TV screen. He was engrossed in his video game, the controller moving rapidly in his hands. His hair was tousled, and there was a focused intensity in his eyes.

“Hey, Atty. What are you doing up?” he asked cheerfully, barely glancing at me before returning his attention to the game.

“I came to ask you the same thing.” I stifled a yawn. “It’s two in the morning, Noah.”

“I know, I couldn’t sleep.” He didn’t take his eyes off the screen. “I didn’t want to bother you. I’ll go to bed as soon as I finish this level, okay?” His tone was casual, as if this were perfectly normal. “If you miss me, you can sleep on my lap,” he added with a playful grin.

“No, thanks. Don’t take too long. You’re going to be wrecked tomorrow. Or today, I guess.”

“Sure thing, babe. I’ll be right in. Go back to bed,” he said absently, his fingers moving swiftly over the controller.

I watched him for a moment longer, the light from the TV flickering across his face, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes.

I went back to the room and into the bathroom. This was the fifth night in a row Noah had complained about not sleeping well. So far, I had found him reading on the couch, smoking weed on the balcony, and playing video games. He had been drinking too many energy drinks; that’s probably what had him so wired. I tried to talk him out of them, but he just waved me off. At night, I could count four or five in the trash can. I had no idea if he had more during the day.

I stared at my reflection, my eyes drawn to Noah’s pill bottle on the counter. I opened it and counted the pills: ten. That didn’t seem right. He should have had fewer than that. Maybe I wasn’t tracking properly. The numbers swam in my head.

I went back to bed, the sheets cool against my skin. I lay there, listening to the faint sounds of the game from the other room before drifting off black to sleep.

Noah’s footsteps padded softly on the carpet, waking me up. He tucked himself next to me, his body warm against mine. I checked my watch again.

It was almost five in the morning.

He was fast asleep when I left for my run. When I returned to the apartment, I expected him to still be in bed, but music was blasting through the space, a familiar rhythm. Noah was out on the balcony, smoking again, his silhouette etched against the morning light. I knocked on the window. Noah turned to me with a smile, his eyes lighting up at the sight of me.

“I thought you’d still be asleep.” I stepped out to join him.

He took another drag and flicked the butt into the trash. Walking over, he hugged me, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“I’m all sweaty,” I complained.

“I know. I’ve already told you I like that.” He kissed the side of my neck. “Salty,” he added with a laugh when I pushed him back.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Atty. You know I haven’t been having the best time, but it’s better when you’re around. It sucks you have to leave for the day.”

I hugged him again, burying my face in his hair, inhaling his familiar scent. “Have you been taking your pills?” I asked quietly. I had done the math, and the pills weren’t adding up.

“I missed one yesterday, but yeah, I’ve been taking them.”

I closed my eyes, relieved. He was missing two days, but that wasn’t so bad. At least he was being honest. “Don’t forget to take it. I’m heading for the shower.”

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