Page 61 of Capacity
“You have someone, Knight. Realize that. Not too many of us have people who get it and who are willing to walk the walk with us. I’d give anything to have someone in my corner.Anyone. Doesn’t even have to be romantic.”
“You know I’m here for you, T.”
“I know. I’m glad you’re my friend. I wish I had more like you. I don’t want you to take for granted the people you have in your corner.”
“I’m gonna call Lumi,” I told him honestly. “She’s been avoiding me like the plague at work. She put in leave for next month and I approved it on the computer because I knew she didn’t want to talk to me.” A dry, mirthless chuckle dropped heavily from my lips like rocks.
“Make it right. Lumi might not be the driving force of your journey to sobriety but she’s the one who’s going to keep you straight.”
“You help me out a lot too, man.”
“Oh, I know that. I’m the shit. You might have to promote me to best friend.” He shrugged his shoulders and chuckled before leveling a frown at my hand. “You uh, might need stitches. That shit is still bleeding.”
“I know. I hadn’t planned to go to the hospital today but here I am.”
I could have called Lumi and asked her to take care of me but who’s to say she’d even speak to me?
Like he could read my thoughts, T said, “Call Lumi.”
“I can’t,” I blurted.
“I know it’s hard but you have to swallow your pride, Knight.” He strolled into the living room and I looked at my phone on the counter. I was bleeding pretty badly and I knew Lumi always had a well-stocked nurse’s kit. It wasn’t just a normal first-aid kit. She had everything in there.
With a groan, I picked up the phone and scrolled to Lumi’s name. The anticipation of hearing her voice made it hard to breathe.
The other line rang once.
Twice.
Three and then four times.
Nothing.
I hung up when the call went to voicemail.
“She didn’t answer,” I told T, sitting beside him on the couch. “What I wouldn’t give for even a fucking beer right now.”
“Sparkling water.”
My brows bunched together. “Sparkling water?” I almost laughed.
“Yeah man, I’ve been drinking them lately and they help curb the beer craving.”
“Okay, I’ll try it out when I go to the store. Got any tips for curbing the whiskey craving?”
“Nah, not yet. When I find something I’ll let you know.” He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. I knew he wasn’t going to leave me until he was sure I’d snapped out of it and was firmly back on the wagon. I was grateful for the support.
After a while, he asked me why I hadn’t called Lumi back. I didn’t have an answer for him. I only knew that when she didn’t pick up the phone, I felt like shit. I didn’t want to feel the swift sting of rejection again.
“Stop being a little bitch and call her back. You can’t sit here and bleed to death.”
“I’m not bleeding to death, asshole. It’s slowed down some.” I looked at the gauze I’d wrapped around my fingers, frowning at the deep crimson leaking through.
“Either keep calling Lumi or take your ass to the hospital.”
I rolled my eyes and called Lumi again. Of course, she didn’t fucking answer. I called three times and on the last ring of the last call, she picked up.
“Knight, what do you want?” She sounded exasperated like seeing my name pop up on her phone stressed her out.
