Parfait

31: Aloe

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was expecting tears slipping from my eyes and customers feeling awkward as ever but that wasn't the case. Sure, at first I voluntarily washed the dishes and mopped the floor to avoid talking to anyone. But, when even more people came in, my focus was on them and their orders, as well as suggesting other flavours when the Lovely Lavender tub was empty.

Now that the last customers for the day are leaving, however, my mind is free to go back to Alex and Olivia and the ache in my heart returns. I don't even know what hurts more. The look on their faces when I told them I knew? Olivia outing me to Alex? The unsettling feeling we'll never be like before?

I stand still, focusing on the empty lavender ice cream tub. Even though relating to an object isn't something I ever thought I would do, right now this tub looks exactly how I feel. It's empty and cold and alone. Just like me. Who am I without the people I hold closest to my heart?

Kal saunters to me, his lips a straight line as he wraps his arms around me. Instead of pushing him away and yelling at him for infecting me with his germs, I let my body relax against his. My jaw finds its place on his shoulder and I breathe in the familiar scent of aloe and cucumber.

"It's going to be alright," he whispers.

I don't reply. Now I really know what it's like to lose the people you love. Kal has known for a while now and all I did was spew reminders that this storm will pass and everything will be like nothing ever happened. I didn't put myself in his shoes, ask him how he was.

Maybe I am selfish after all.

"I'm sorry, Kal."

"What for?"

On one side I want to pull away and talk to him, but I'm way too comfy in his arms to move. "For not being there for you, when you had that fight with Alex."

I picture him crying alone that day, since it's unlikely he told Christopher or his parents. What he did was wrong but he suffered enough about it. As much as I wanted to be there for Alex, I knew he'd have Olivia. Kal had no one.

I feel his arms tighten the slightest around me, and wrap my own around his torso. My eyes sting again and I'm grateful he can't see them.

"It's fine. I told you to leave."

I pull away and put my hands in my pockets. "I didn't exactly try to stay."

Kal smiles for a moment. "You were there when I needed it more." His eyes wander around the place before focusing back on me. "So, shall we get going? Do you want to walk with me? I could call Christopher if not."

I shake my head. "No, I'd rather walk."

He pats my shoulder and we both rush to turn the lights off and lock all the doors. When we're done and walking to our homes, I can't help but thank God Parfait is far enough away from the rest of the busier shops. My energy is too low to deal with any more people now, and I don't wish to be seen as I currently look like, which I'm sure isn't a pretty sight.