Page 43 of A Smile Full of Lies
StrayDog777
If your power got cut off, how are you hooked up to Wi-Fi and able to talk to me right now? Are you on free wifi somewhere? Are you safe? Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?
GraveyardGirl93
I’m safe. My neighbor showed up. He saw everything — saw me standing in the middle of a dark house with no food and no power — and he kind of lost it. The guy was furious with me for struggling so long and not thinking to ask him for help. He packed me up, dragged me across the yard to his house, and basically decided for me that I live here now until I get my shit together. I feel like I’m taking advantage of him somehow.
StrayDog777
Sounds like your neighbor cares about you more than you realize. Yeah, he came in hot, but packing you up and dragging you across the yard? I’m glad he chose to step in like that. I probably would have done the same thing if I was in his shoes.
GraveyardGirl93
But he was SO MAD at me for not telling him I was in over my head.
StrayDog777
I don’t think he was mad AT YOU. I think he was mad at the situation you were in. He refused to watch you crash and burn. You’re not taking advantage of him, I promise. He chose to take care of you.
GraveyardGirl93
I didn’t ask him to do that. I wouldn’t have. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer. And now I feel like I’m a burden, even though he’s the one forcing all this. I don’t know what to do.
I expected immediate typing bubbles, but they didn’t come. For a second I thought maybe I’d scared him off with the whole messy rant, but then the typing bubbles finally came, and his reply lit up the screen.
StrayDog777
That’s… a hell of a day, sweetheart. No wonder you feel like you’re spiraling. But listen: it doesn’t sound like you forced any of this. It sounds like your neighbor saw what was happening and made a choice to step in and give you a safe place to land.
GraveyardGirl93
But what if he regrets it? What if I really am using him?
StrayDog777
If he thought you were using him, you’d already know. Trust me. Some people just step up when they care. Don’t let guilt convince you otherwise.
The words blurred as my eyes stung. I chewed on my bottom lip.
GraveyardGirl93
I think I’m just… scared to let myself rely on him. And besides that, I don’t think straight when I’m around him.
StrayDog777
What do you mean? Not thinking straight how?
GraveyardGirl93
Ugh, this feels so gross to say out loud, but… I’ve always been attracted to him, ever since the first time we met. BUT when we met, I was dating his best friend. And I feel disgusting even admitting this because I never cheated — not once — but I thought about it. I didn’t do anything, I swear, but I thought about it more than I should have. And I’ve hated myself for that ever since.
StrayDog777
And now? Are you still with your neighbor’s best friend?
GraveyardGirl93
No. He dumped me four years ago.
