Page 34 of Aftermath
My eyes felt heavy to where I had trouble reading the small print on some of the documents on the wall. I moved to the other side of the table behind me and pulled out a chair.
My hand rubbed my forehead, a distant headache forming. The caffeine from the coffee wasn’t kicking in fast enough.
I leaned my elbows on the table, my head falling into my hands. My eyes hung heavy, and I tried to keep them open, but each blink got slower and slower.
I knew the signs.
Riddled with anxiety over Lenore coming by and my cognitive functionality barely intact, sleep deprivation crept in before I even realized.
I blinked again, forcing my eyes back open.
My eyes closed shut slowly once more, but this time, they didn’t open again.
* * *
BANG.BANG.BANG.
The rapping of a fist against the front door jolted me awake. I picked my head up off the table, seeing the wall of leads I’d carefully hung, and then turned toward the entry.
Another round of pounding came, and I stood quickly.
The door was only a few paces away, and my hand hesitated over the doorknob. I pulled it open before I could come to my senses and stop myself.
Lenore stood outside in her blue sundress, clutching her laptop. Her gaze met mine, and I watched her avert her eyes. I froze, unsure what to say first.
“Are you going to let me in?” she muttered as she pushed by me.
I suppose I have to now.
“The dining room,” I said and pointed toward the left, but she ignored me and found it anyway.She placed her laptop on the table and turned to me, placing her hands on her hips.
This was a mistake.
Her brows furrowed, and I had that feeling wash over me that I’d missed something. Had I left her this angry? Maybe I never should have asked her to come; it was far too expectant. What kind of person just invited a complete stranger to their place without even knowing them?
“I think I saw a printer upstairs. Let me grab it,” I said.
“You don’t even know if you have a printer?” she said, her eyes widening.
“I do. There is definitely one upstairs, just-” I paused, watching her nostrils flare. “Let me just get it.”
My voice trailed off before I turned and hurried up to the office space. I found the printer I knew sat on the wooden desk in the corner and grabbed it. Only a few seconds passed before I was once again downstairs. I rounded the corner, but Lenore was gone.
“Len?” I called out and set the printer on the table.
She already left?
I heard shuffling in the kitchen and followed it. Lenore stood at the counter, making another pot of coffee. The smell of the morning’s pot had faded, but already, the new batch filled the room. I inhaled deeply, letting the scent ground me.
Deep breaths. You can get through this and then be free of her.
I caused the problem myself, impulsively inviting her here. Already, I could see what a mistake it had been.
“The printer’s ready,” I offered.
She nodded without turning to face me.
“I’ll just-”
