breath and wait for the news to reach my heart. “Can you tell Liz I love her?”
“Of course.” He smiles. I can’t see his mouth but his eyes squint with it. “It’s funny, she was making me nuts all week. It was so bad I almost called you, but I know you’re just settling in. She was sleeping in the bed when it happened. Scared the devil out of me. I’m glad it was me and her, and not you there. That’s not something a sister should suffer through.”
“She’s lucky to have you. If you need me, I’m here. And keep me posted when you hear something.”
“I know. Thanks, Lil.” He offers a wave.
I hate this. I turn and walk back to the car. It’s weird leaving and not being allowed to see my sister. This plague sucks. I’m so cold I can’t feel anything. And Helen isn’t warm enough when we drive away.
I drive back home, heart beating too fast and worry not yet subsided though I know she’s fine.
I’m exhausted with stress when I get home, but at least Shawnee is waiting for me. I don’t want to be alone right now.
“Lil.” Rod’s eyes light up when he sees me step off the elevator onto my floor where he sits randomly in the hallway. It’s been nearly two months since I left and I have managed to avoid him. He gets up from the floor with more effort than he should. He’s drunk.
“Why are you here?” I ask, wondering how he knew where I lived but then recall the separation papers. They have my address on them.
“Because you left and I miss you, and I know I fucked up. I’ve ended things with Elaine. It’s over.”
“Fifteen years too late, buddy. And she just moved in with you. So I don’t know who you think you’re fooling with this lie.” I don’t walk anywhere near him. He probably has Covid and he’s one of those unkillable roach people who don’t have symptoms but, similar to Typhoid Mary, he’s leaving a wake of bodies.
My phone vibrates, drawing my stare. It’s a message from Shawnee, an SOS to not come home. Rod is outside the door. The elevator probably delayed the arrival of this crucial text.
“Elaine’s at her mom’s. She isn’t at our house.” He says it defensively. As if I’m wrong.
“Okay, well I don’t care,” I state flatly and put my phone away. “I don’t love you. I don’t even hate you anymore.” It’s a truth I didn’t know until this moment. “You’ve been having an affair for our entire relationship. You’re a liar and a cheater and a fake friend. You’ve broken Brent’s heart. And I don’t care what you do.”
“Lil!” He rushes toward me but I step back, closer to the elevator. “Just give me a second chance. You don’t know how much I miss you. I need you. My life has been empty since you left.”
“Go home. Sign the separation papers. Leave me alone.” That’s all I have to say.
His eyes narrow and a cold cruelty washes over him. It’s the same face that scared me in the bathroom the day I moved out. “You have to listen to my side!” he screams and I make a run for it.
I don’t bother with the elevator and instead take the stairs. I’m sprinting down the second set when I hear the door burst open behind me.
“Why are you running? I just want you to stop and listen!” he yells over the sound of his heavy feet on the stairs. My heart races and I’m pushing it as hard as I can. “You’re being ridiculous!”
I’m not sure why I’m running or why that cold look in his eyes scared me, but I’m taking the advice of whatever survival instinct inside me told me to run.
My heartbeat is so rapid I think I’m having a heart attack when I burst through the doors to the foyer and run for the front doors. Outside, where there are people on the sidewalks and a man in the courtyard, I stop and turn, waiting for him to come.
It takes Rod a long time to get out the doors. He’s angry and red-faced like he’s also having a heart attack.
“Stay back,” I say loudly, gasping for air.
“No! You listen to my side. You’ve assumed so many things,” he rages and storms for me.
“Stay back!” I shout, holding my hand out to emphasize that I mean this.
But he disregards me and continues to march forward.
“Is