Page 19 of Retribution

I’m met with the bland looking home screen as I now lose all sense of composure. My hand shakes on the mouse, the sickness feeling rising in the back of my throat. I act like I have the confidence to be snooping, I most definitely do not.

Where do I even start with things like this?

After trying to rationalize, I realize I’m not the person to be doing this.

So, I call the only person who should be doing this.

Britney.

No more than twenty minutes later, she’s at my door.

“Where is he? That cheating scumbag has so much to answer for!” She growls, storming into the apartment with her blonde hair tied into a neat bun, gym bag over her shoulder.

I was skeptical to call her, considering what she’s going through right now with her sister, Allie.

I couldn’t believe the news when she told me, my heart ached for their entire family. Especially little Willow, she danced her heart and soul at the weekend and went home to find out her mom had been in a terrible car accident. I’d felt selfish, knowing I’ve been so concerned with my own worries, that now seem incomparable.

But, Britney insisted that she needed something to take her mind away from it all.

After all, we have been best friends since kindergarten.

“Gosh, you look a wreck, darling.” She grabs my face in between her small hands as I pout.

I look up at Britney, so pristine.

You would never be able to tell this girl was going through anything, she was the epitome of being ‘put together’. I lean into her and rest my head against her stomach. She pats my head like a dog as I heave a deep sigh. This was about as comforting as she gets, but I’ll take it.

“Now, let’s do this!” She peels me off her and grabs a dining chair, scooting it up beside me.

I move out of the way of the computer screen and allow her full control. My leg bounces up and down with anxiety as the sounds of the mouse clicking haunts my ears. I zone out completely, wrapped in the thoughts of happier times.

“God, Scott. Just wave your arm a bit more obviously, that’s the fourth cab that we’ve missed!”

“Listen, little lady, I’m trying, okay? See, I told you I wasn’t cut out for city life,” he retaliates. I huff and push him aside. I wave my arm frantically towards a passing by cab that pulls to the side in front of us.

I turn back with a smirk to see Scott shaking his head at me.

“Look, you’re gorgeous, that’s clearly an advantage!” he jokes. I roll my eyes as we jump in the cab.

The snow outside makes it incredibly difficult to navigate our way around the city, road signs are coated, and the pathways don’t feel safe enough to walk on.

Back in Atlanta, it’s rare we have snow, and when we do, it’s minimal. It’s partially why I wanted to visit New York in the winter season, and I wanted to see the Rockefeller tree.

We get as close as we can to the Empire State Building. Scott slips the driver a few extra dollars as a tip. I exit the cab, the wind whistling around us hard.

I pull my coat around me tighter, as I feel my breath become harsh in the cold air, misting in front of me.

I look up at the building in front of us, it’s barely visible above the height of a traffic light.

I press my lips in a tight line.

Maybe winter isn’t the best time to be a tourist in New York.

Scott grabs my gloved hand, pulling me towards the entrance of the Empire State Building.

After a short elevator ride to the floor one-hundred-and-two, we make our way outside to see the view.

It’s crowded still, despite the weather. It’s also even more ridiculously cold, and I thought downstairs was bad.

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