Lilies And Smoke

CHAPTER TEN: Late nights

Anita spends most of the night with Bill clutched in her arms, his whine piercing her ears, but she puts up with it. She didn't hear a sound since the wardrobe erupted, not a creek, not a thump, not a word. Her eyes were tired, blood shot and sore. When she felt her heavy eyes drifting, she snaps them open and shakes her head. Crying silently to herself as she keeps Bill close to her. She realises it was early in the morning, as she hears the birds on the tree outside her window chirp loudly. She blinks, is it really morning already? She thinks to herself in disbelief.

She sits there for another half an hour, Bill drifting off to sleep in her arms as she hears his light snore. She cradles him closer, running her fingers through his fur. "I love you Bill" she whispers, her voice sore from crying all night. She debates getting out of bed to get a cup of coffee, but she was too frightened. Her head began to pulse, the throbbing sensation of a migraine sketching its way throughout her head. She begins to sway, her head falling to her chest and shoots straight up again as she fights to stay awake. Her head falls to her shoulder and rolls to her chest. She begins to pass out, slouching forward as she does so. She caves in, letting herself drift into unconsciousness.

. . . . .

Her phone buzzes on her bedside table, Anita moans ignoring it. The buzzing seizes and her head lolls to the side, waking as she realises that Bill has not left her side despite falling asleep. She didn't know what time it was, but her phone begins to vibrate again. Who's that, she groans internally to herself. She flops her arm out and hits the tip of her fingers at the side of the table. She huffs, pushing herself to edge closer towards it as she finds her phone. She answers the call, pressing the mobile against her left ear as she whispers tiredly, "what's up?".

"What no hello?" she hears Janice tease at the other end of the phone, her voice piercing Anita's ears. Anita tries to swallow; her mouth dry as was her tongue "hi Jan" she draws out. Janice huffs at the other end of the phone, "that's no way to greet your best friend, what's up?". Anita could feel her body relaxing, as if it was getting ready to go back to sleep "I'm just super tired the- ".

"Anita, I'm sorry about yesterday. Something has come up, I'm so sorry I know you need to talk but it's kind of important. I promise I will tell you when I see you" Janice interrupts, sounding rather nervous on the phone. Anita sits up, "are you ok? Is it Robert?". Anita guesses right, as Janice remains silent on the other end of the line.

"Jan don't make the mistakes I made. Don't take him back, please" Anita pleads, concerned for her friend.

"I'm sorry Anita, but- but I have to go. Work and all" she emit a fake short laugh, "I'll talk to you about it when I see you, I just need time to think about it. I promise I'll tell you everything, just don't worry ok?". Anita swallows hard, her mind distant "alright, but you need to talk to me about it, I'm worried about you". Anita hears Janice faintly whisper, "I know, I love you sis. I'll come around soon" and with that Janice hangs up the phone. Anita lies down on her bed and lets out a loud sigh. I can't believe she's talking to him again, even after what he did to her, she thinks to herself in disbelief. Shaking her head, she turns over and tries to fall back to sleep. She doesn't succeed at this at first, as she couldn't get the situation off her mind, but it did distract her from the incident the night before. After what seems like forever, she manages to fall asleep and does not wake up until later in the evening when she hears a loud knock on her front door.

She grunts and begrudgingly gets out of bed, rubbing her eyes as she hears another rhythmic knock at the door. She gets out of bed and walks towards her dresser draws besides the left of the bedroom door, she pulls open the top draw and feels around for her clingy dressing gown and throws it on around her. Tying the belt, she huffs and makes her way towards the stairs, stomping down as she does so. She walks straight on, confident in her direction as she finds the front door. She unlocks the chain on her front door and swings it open.