Page 78 of Aftersome
She went to close the door but with my reflexes still being like they were when I was younger, I stopped it with the quick jab of my foot.
“Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out,” I demanded on a heavy breath. If I had to beg on my knees, I would, but I didn’t think my ego could handle the rejection.
Not from her.
“Please, just move your foot,” she implored, now turning more desperate. “Today is not a good day and I don’t have the energy to deal with you.”
“Maybe I want to be someone you can deal with on days like these.”
I couldn’t believe I was admitting that, but there was no way I could take it back now.
I had no desire to anyway.
“You don’t even know what you’re saying, Mal.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.” Placing both palms onto the door, I slowly dropped my head in between my outstretched hands. “And I won’t take it back either because I know that’s going to be the next thing coming out of your mouth.”
I could hear every breath and sigh that she let out. I was driving her mad to the point she began pushing on the door again.
“Jesus, can’t you take a hint already?” She shoved harder, but my foot wasn’t letting up. “You can’t just barge your way back into my life and act as if you have a right to be here on this day. On this fucking day, Mal.”
Jesus, I was losing her.
I was losing this battle as her temper seemed to have toppled over.
“Wren…” I warned, but she wasn’t done yet.
“You want to be here for me, now? Right now?” she shouted. “Where were you the past ten years, huh? Where were you when I could barely sleep at night? Or when I couldn't even leave the house without crying? Where were you?”
Before I knew it, she was swinging the door open and throwing her fists at my chest.
“You have no right to be here.” She seethed through her teeth as she continued to pound her frustrations out on my chest.
And for a couple minutes, I had let her. The pain she was distributing on the outside of my chest was nothing compared to the torture she was creating on the inside.
“Of all days. Of all the fucking days, Mal!”
Pink hair was flying in every direction and her frantic motions made it difficult to see her. Her shouts were now turning into sobs as her hands seemed to lose the motivation and strength.
“Doe…” I went to reach for her hands but she quickly reeled away from me on a heavy scoff.
“Oh, so I’m Doe now?”
She brushed back the hair that was in her eyes and nothing could have prepared me for what I had seen. Her whole face wasclouded in immense sadness. Swollen, puffy eyes and cheeks so raw from tears, they looked sore to the touch.
Hours she had been crying in this room.
Hours she had been in pain.
It nearly ripped me apart to see her like this. And right now, I was only making this worse.
“You always are.” I took a hesitant step inside her room as she watched my every move.
“I hate that stupid nickname, just as much as I hate seeing your stupid face right now,” she grumbled through her tears.
I didn’t take it personally. Instead, I took another hesitant step toward her.
“I know you do.”
