Page 167 of The Liar's Reckoning
Even my landlord was hesitant to rent to me. I have to pay him in cash.
Before I start taking an inventory of my apartment to determine what I can sell, I shoot Lilah a text.
Me
Katia let me go. She’s closing the agency.
Lilah
Wtf???!!!
Me
Some new law apparently.
Lilah
Oh my god. Come over.
Me
Can’t. I’m about to get really drunk.
Lilah
I can help you with that. Come over.
Me
Not to be a dick, but am I being paid for this visit?
Lilah
I’m asking as a friend. But I’ll pay for a ride.
Me
It’s too weird. I’m sorry.
Lilah
Then let’s please not make it weird. I’ll come to you. Does thatwork better?
I guess it does. Yeah.
Me
Okay
I text her my address and try to make the apartment presentable. I can’t remember the last time I had anyone over here. Maybe never. No one comes to mind, and since I’ve been here for months, I admit the realization makes me feel sorry for myself as I collect a few pieces of laundry and put a bowl in the sink to wash.
I make up my bed, then mix a drink while I wait, scrolling through Netflix to find something to binge and distract me from my troubles once Lilah leaves. Troubles is a nice way of putting it. It’s something my mom would say. She’d also suggest the Netflix binge, but she’d frown at the tequila and recommend rocky road instead.
I sigh, slouching back into the couch, remembering her. Nearly my entire life she struggled with her weight. Yo-yoing between obesity and morbid obesity. Ironic then, that at the hour of her death, she wasn’t much more than a waif, subsisting on tube feedings because she could no longer breathe and eat at the same time. It was around the time of her diagnosis of heart failure that I realized no one should have to die like that, and I became a personal trainer.
Through that work, dealing with injuries and mobility limitations of my clients inspired an interest in physical therapy, but even if I could have afforded to take some classes over the last several years, I’m not sure when I would have found the time. And now I’m thirty.
My drink is empty. While I’m making another, Lilah shows up.
