Changing Seasons

Eighteen

****

Krist had been in a dead sleep when he'd woken up to Nina's elbow cracking him in the nose. It was three months after they'd lost the baby, he'd spent the night and was dead asleep, coming down off a week-long dope binge.

"Fuck!" Krist yelled, bringing his hands to his nose. Blood dripped.

Nina was enraged, she came at him again, "Karla?!" She shouted through clenched teeth, "You slept with Karla?!"

Krist grabbed her fists, holding them at her sides, "What the fuck! You're fucking tripping."

She began to sob, "I read your messages on Facebook. All of them. How?" Nina crumpled to the floor, wailing into her hands.

His body felt weak. She knew and there was no denying it. There was a knock on Nina's bedroom door. Marisol. "Oh my god," she rushed to her sister's side, "What happened?"

Krist was trying to clean his blood up, he couldn't say anything, instead he left. He was a coward.

Nina texted him a few nights later, "I'm moving to Nebraska to live with my aunt and uncle. I can't forgive you or her for what you both did to me. You are disgusting, Krist, I will never forgive you."

As far as Krist knew, she hadn't ever forgiven him. That was why he was not allowed to go to family functions at Marisol's because he had done Nina so horribly wrong. Krist knew no act could change what he did to her, no words that would fix it. He had to carry that guilt with him, it was what he deserved.

****

He watched Atira sleeping at his side. Would have hurt her the way he had Nina? He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, his face buried in her neck and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Krist awoke to Atira studying his face, a smile playing upon her lips, "Good morning," she murmured, "I can't believe I'm here with you."

He brushed the hair out of her eyes, "I can't believe it either," he pulled her in, holding her tightly, she buried her face into his chest. "You want to get some breakfast? I gotta run to the bank and then we can eat somewhere."

"Sure, that sounds great," she murmured.

Krist sat up, "Ugh, I'm supposed to work tonight. I need to text my boss that I won't be in, tonight or tomorrow."

Atira hugged him from behind, "Ah crap, I didn't realize you had to work, are you going to be in trouble?"

"No, I've legit only called in once since I've been there," he told her, "It's cool."

"I feel bad," she told him.

"For real, don't. I'd rather be with you than at work anyway," he kissed her softly.

"Is it ok if I use your shower?" She asked,

Krist nodded, leading her to the bathroom to show her where the towels and hygiene items were kept. He was tempted to ask her if she wanted him to join her but decided not to be a complete sex pest.

He returned to his bedroom, texting Gerald, the club owner, that he would not be in that weekend due to unseen circumstances. Gerald wanted to know if everything was fine, Krist assured him it was just something unexpected. He dressed for the day, selecting a plain white shirt, loose fitting black button down shirt with matching black Dickies. He made the bed, texted Marisol to see if she needed anything for his weekend stay and then went to the balcony.

It was a chilly morning, gray clouds hung low, a light drizzle coating everything. A few barges were drifting down the Columbia, he could see traffic was flowing well, not the madhouse he'd expected on a Black Friday. He called his mom to chat with Rocco, asking if he was behaving himself and if he was excited to see his Tia and sister.