With You

Five

CLAIRE:

Getting up from my bed this morning proved to be an extremely difficult task. I laid in bed close to an hour trying to reason with myself. When reasoning didn't work, I had to bribe myself instead, promising myself that if I'll get through the day relatively well, then later tonight, I'll be clicking the place the order button on the shopping cart that's been waiting for me since last night. I couldn't help it, I'm a stress shopper.

I knew today was going to go way outside of my carefully laid out routine. Since school was starting in a few days, Dr. C wanted us to try a different schedule. I had been consistently seeing her on Tuesday at 11 for a while. Now, however, since my new schedule won't be able to accommodate that anymore, she suggested that we have a trial run for an afternoon session. Honestly, I was worried. The coffee shop must be busier at that time. That's why we meet at 11. The time was carefully chosen for a reason. And since I had officially met Sam earlier this week, Elly suggested that the 3 of us should spend some time together so I can get used to him being around. I made the decision that this year I'll be less difficult so I quickly agreed but knowing that he'd be over soon, dread once again took over me. I didn't know how long he'd be staying for or what we would end up doing. Never before did we have a stranger over our house. The whole situation just felt bizarre.

The only ray of hope I had for today was the fact that it will be my last yoga class. I will finally be able to continue with my one - to - one sessions in the comfort of my own home. Just thinking that brought me some relief, even if it was temporary.

Finally forcing myself out of the bed, I made my way downstairs. Entering the kitchen a grunt of disbelief escaped my lips; the coffee pot was empty. Picking up the empty pot I stormed out of the kitchen looking for the culprit. It had always been a house rule: you finish it, you make a fresh pot. No excuses. Walking around the empty house, I was getting more and more annoyed. This person was really making it difficult for me to confront them.

Checking the living room again and finding it empty, I finally made my way back upstairs. Elly was probably in his room. I knew it had to be him. I just knew it. He had never been a heavy coffee drinker but he did occasionally have his coffee flavored milk, as I liked to call it, since it was more milk than coffee.

Finally hearing noises coming from down the hall,  I picked up my pace and barged into his room. I jumped in front of the TV and pointed in disbelief to the empty pot. I finally took my gaze off the coffee pot and directed what I thought was my best glare in the direction of the sofa. I expected my brother to be staring back at me but instead of seeing him alone, someone was sitting next to him.

I actually jumped back, yelped in shock, and almost dropped the coffee pot as my butt finally hit the floor. I knew the fall was going to leave a bruise.

We never had a stranger upstairs before. Pushing my hair out of my face I tried to get up, but miserably failed. Finally looking back to the sofa I saw my brother looking between me and my empty coffee pot. Turning from him, I finally realized that it was Sam sitting next to him. His face looked less puffy than the last time I saw him and the bruises looked more ugly yellow than purple.

Suddenly Elly smacked Sam across his chest, "you took the last of the coffee and didn't make a fresh pot?!", he yelled in disbelief. Sam just silently sat there, probably judging both of us and honestly I couldn't blame him.

Turning back to me, "are you okay?", he asked, trying to hold in his laughter. "Or to be more precise, is your butt okay?"

Giving him another glare I extended my arm so he could help me up.

"I didn't know I was suppose to make a fresh pot," Sam finally spoke.

Avoiding his gaze, I stumbled up on my feet. "You know that's going to leave a bruise right?" Elly said. I simply nodded my head, and made my way out of the room quietly grumbling and rubbing the spot on my butt that felt the biggest impact from the fall.