PUPPY

CHAPTER 11

I just have to slide the knife across my wrists and wait for all the life to pour out of me. I was about to pull the knife when the front door rang. I ignored it and took a deep breath of air. I was ready to end everything, but the ringing didn't stop.

With the knife still in my hand, I made my way to the front door.

"Laura?" I said after I opened the door.

I hid the knife behind my back. She walked right in. "Hey girl, you didn't reply to my texts, and I

didn't want us to be like this," she said as she started taking her coat off.

Somehow, she managed to see the knife and asked: "Sweetheart, what in Buddha's name are you gonna' do with that big knife?"

I quickly thought of a lie: "Making dinner. Wanna join?"

At first, she looked confused at me, but then she shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, girl." She started walking into the kitchen. I let out a loud sigh of relief.

Thank god she didn't think further about what I was about to do.

"So, what are we making?"

Fuck!

I quickly opened the fridge and saw a sad-looking lettuce, a weird-looking piece of chicken and heavy cream. I looked back at Laura and said: "We're gonna' have some chicken with heavy cream, a salad and, and pasta." We both grabbed some kitchen tools and started making dinner. I seized the chicken, and she took the lettuce.

"Amalia, I just wanted to say sorry," she said with a heavy heart.

I didn't want to even look at her.

"I know that your pride won't let you admit it, but I know that deep down you know I'm right." I still

ignored her. She looked at me trying to find a way to express herself.

"I know that lately, I haven't been a good friend. I always thought that you're perfect just the way you are. I know that you'll think that that's the basic reply, but I mean it. Amalia, there is nothing that you have to change about yourself. Your body is healthy, and your mind is in a good place. That's all that it matters. Appearance is something that fades, but your beautiful personality doesn't. I want you to

know that when I say this, I mean it. I mean it with my whole being."

"Okay-"

"Oh, dear Buddha, here we go again-"

I threw a piece of lettuce at her face and said: "Okay, I understand you. That's what I wanted to say, but you can't shut up for one moment. And I'm sorry too."

She put her hand behind her ear and said in a granny voice: "I didn't hear you, child. Speak louder."

"I'm sorry too!! Geez!"

We laughed it off. I feel better now. We didn't discuss anything major, but I somehow felt relieved. I still want to get wasted so that I don't hear the swarm of words inside my head.

After a moment of peaceful silence, I said: "What keeps you busy lately?"

She stopped stirring the heavy cream and took a deep breath of air. "They kicked my mother out of the nursing home, and she came to my place. And a week later, my half-brother broke up with his girlfriend and he's crashing on my couch. My mom needs a nurse to take care of her, cuz' she has Alzheimer's. Plus, we can't take care of her on our own. And we don't have the money to pay for it."

I placed my hand on her shoulder and compassionately said: "If you need my help, I'm here for you. I can lend you some money and maybe-"

She stopped me mid-sentence and said: "We'll manage. Thank you."