Daniel would be safe now. He would be staying in the hospital for the next few days for surveillance which was fine by me as long as it wasn't Maxine doing the surveillance.
Lydia and I had been told by the police to move somewhere safe for the time being. With my mother opting to live with the grandparents in the next town, the idea of leaving my friends while a murderer was clearly targeting us seemed out of the question. I wanted to stay, to be near the people who provided me comfort. Maxine brought forward a solution. An awkward one, but at least it was something.
Maxine had offered the spare room for Lydia and me to share, and her parents were on board with the arrangement. Her support is welcome but it didn't feel right. Or comfy. It made me sick really. As I entered Maxine's house, I felt a strange rush of nostalgia followed by the sickness of being somewhere unfamiliar. I hadn't been here in months. There was the porch where just last year we were doing our homework. There was the tree we would race to climb on when we were 12. But where was the friend I had spent that time with? I didn't see her in Maxine's eyes anymore.
The guest room, where Lydia and I would be staying, was located just across the hallway from Maxine's bedroom. As we settled in, I noticed how thoughtfully the room was set up for us. Two beds were placed side by side, with a small desk and a couple of chairs nearby.
We unpacked our belongings almost robotically. The silence between us spoke volumes, the weight of our emotions shared in our glances and subtle gestures. I didn't want to talk much.
As we settled into our new temporary home, Maxine appeared at the door, a sheepishly soft smile on her face. "Hey, how are you both holding up?"
I looked up from arranging my clothes. "We're managing. Thanks for letting us stay here."
Maxine stepped further into the room, her expression filled with empathy. I hated it. "Of course, you know I'm here for you guys. And if you need anything, just let me know."
Lydia squinted at her. She didn't say anything, but the look on her face spoke volumes, as though telling her to think before she spoke.
Maxine looked uncomfortable. "Well, I should go see if my mom needs help setting things up for when everyone else gets here."
As Maxine left our room, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Piece of work isn't she?" Lydia asked. I found her eyes and she smiled. "I know you miss her. It is pretty obvious you know."
"Miss is one way to put it I suppose. Not that it would fix things just by missing her quietly."
"Or you could fix things by sending out new best friend applications," Lydia joked. I poked her side as she laughed. "I'm being serious I'd be more than happy to fill in for her."
It felt strange to smile even slightly. "I'm glad you feel that way. I do need you."
Lydia paused at that but decided not to add to it and finished unpacking her things. Having unpacked fully myself, I plopped myself onto the bed and closed my eyes. They were feeling really heavy, and it wasn't even evening. And yet, sleep was pulling me into its hold. Maybe I'd see him, my father, if I closed my eyes. One last time, alive, before the funeral. I let myself fall asleep again.
･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.
As the evening light dimmed and the house settled into a quiet rhythm, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Alaine was already asleep next to me, her breathing steady and calm. I felt an unusual pang of embarrassment in a situation that lacked any need for it.
