Apricity [a-PRIS-i-tee]: The warmth of the sun in winter
Briar Elizabeth Maddox
Became a social outcast over the summer and now her used-to-be friends treat her no better than the dirt under their shoes. But no matter what she's been through, she'...
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I'm exhausted by the time I get home from my day-long shift. However, the tips that I took home made the long hours worth it.
It isn't until after my shower when I'm all ready to sink into my sheets that I notice my phone going off. I have a few messages from Myles and three missed calls from Val.
Just then, my phone goes off with another call from Val. Her message scared every bit of exhaustion from my body.
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Roman's front door wasn't even closed all the way. I already knew he wasn't the careless type. That was my first very obvious sign that he was in bad shape.
I announce myself as I step inside his house. It's eerily quiet and dark inside. I call out again but I get no response from Roman. I make my down the hall and stop outside his bedroom door.
I try knocking on his door. Seconds pass by and no answer. Not even a hint of someone on the other side. But I know he's there. His car was parked outside.
"Roman? It's Briar," I try through the door. After a few more seconds of no response, I turn the knob and open the door, slowly pushing it open.
Roman is sitting on his bed. His lamp is shattered on the floor at the opposite side of the room. Nothing else in here seemed to be out of order.
He sits there, bouncing his knee up and down with his hands tightly clasped in his lap. His hair is disheveled, telling me he's been running his hands through it. He doesn't look up when I enter the room. It's like he didn't even know I was there.
"Roman," I try again. My voice is barely louder than a whisper. I step closer. He slowly drags his eyes up to meet my gaze.
"What?" His one word response was accompanied with an empty expression. He kept his knee bouncing and his hands in a tight hold.
"Val told me what happened and... I just wanted to see if-"
"Go away, Briar." He puts his head back down, looking away from me.
His words give me pause. I'm not sure what I was expecting from him or what reaction I would get from him in being here.
I swallow and try again. "Roman, I don't want to leave you alone like this. I'm here to help."
"There is no helping this. You can't. Now go away."
I don't know what to say. But I still didn't want to leave him like this. He was hurting and I knew he was just trying to push me away. I take a step closer, just one step is all I take before he shoots up from the bed.
"I mean it Briar," his voice rises. "I don't want you here. I don't care that you're trying to help, I'm telling you, you can't. So just go away."
