Can't Let You Go

Chapter 13

On Friday, a courier delivers a sticker laden envelope, which I immediately know is from Zayan. Inside are eight ten dollar bills and a letter expressing his love and regrets that he doesn't have more to send. I text him.

{Got your $ thanks babe}
{It brings me that much closer to being able to buy a ticket home or cover living expenses for a couple of weeks if Liam kicks me out}
{I love you}

He doesn't answer me. It's only ten on Thursday night in Alaris, but on weeknights, there's an even chance he is either already asleep or he's out where it's too loud to hear the text notification on his phone.

I go back about my chores and am finishing up cooking when Liam returns home. By buying Korean vegetable side dishes from the grocery store, I just need to make rice and a protein at lunch. We chat as we eat, as though our lives were normal. Liam is just about to leave when my phone rings. The police officer on the other end of the line informs me that I need to come into the station to speak with her. We set a time and I hang up.

"Do you think this means they've made a decision about my case?"

"Probably."

I can feel my eyes sting as tears try to form, but I blink them away. "I'm scared," I confess.

"Don't be. I think if they had decided to arrest you, they would come here to do it."

"Maybe." I want to take solace in his words. "But they also don't like to create a public spectacle. It would be better if I came into the station on my own. Wouldn't it?"

"Don't let yourself think like that. I'll come with you."

"No. Please, I don't want you there. This all has been humiliating enough. I'd really rather you not see me be arrested."

"I don't think that's what will happen, but I'll let you go alone if it's what you want."

"Thank you. Go on back to work. I'll call you one way or another."

"Fine." He kisses me on the forehead and leaves the apartment.

It's an unexpected show of affection, but I don't have the liberty to linger on the implications.

When the time is right, I head to the station in a cab, fighting the creeping panic I feel in my stomach all the way. I nearly collapse from relief when I find out she only needs me to make a formal statement regarding the photos of the person at the ATM. I call Liam as I'm leaving to tell him the news.

"They have to make their decision next week. She said they would call me and let me know. Liam... I couldn't get any feeling off her one way or the other. I have no idea what's going to happen."

"Tally, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm sure they will see it that way, too. I don't want you to keep stressing about this. I'll bring home dinner and we'll go out to do something fun this weekend. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good," I say brightly without really meaning it. I doubt anything will take my mind off my predicament, but he seems to be happy about that plan.

During dinner, I want to avoid conversation, so I turn on the TV. We sit silently and continue watching shows for a couple of hours after we eat. Liam gets down on the floor and does his exercises. When he's finished and in the shower, I go to my room to change into pajamas. My finger is on the light switch when I notice that the room isn't totally dark. There's a nightlight plugged into one of the outlets.

A small smile forms on my lips as I think about Liam's kindness towards me. I don't know what I've done in my life to deserve the abandonment and harsh treatment I've experienced at the hands of my family and Bethany, but I also don't know what I've done to deserve a friend like Liam. I will be thankful and indebted for the rest of my life.

Having successfully dodged talking about anything last night means I have no idea what Liam's idea of "something fun" is and he's not around when I wake up.

"I've got the weekend all planned out." He startles me as I emerge from the bathroom post shower. "Well, maybe not down to the last detail, but I've decided where we're going." He sets a small book on the coffee slash dining table as he sits down.