These Are the Days

Seven - Paper Bag

The library was unusually empty. Normally there would be six or seven students sprinkled throughout the two-story building, but today, you and Abby were the only unlucky souls stuck in the library.

The last time you had seen Abby, she was arguing with her boyfriend in the middle of traffic, tears running down her rosy cheeks and a string of curses leaving her mouth. She had successfully avoided everyone in your little friend group the entire week. That was until she remembered that she had tutoring. Now, Abby sits across from you with her free hand resting on her bouncing leg.

Your forehead creases in concern. You had seen Abby do nervous ticks before but never to this extent. She was chewing her lip raw and if she bounced her leg any more then it was surely going to fall off.

You two had been studying for a long time. Maybe it was time to pack up and head home but then you weighed the options in your head. This was something to keep Abby occupied but at the same time, It was also doing nothing for her racing mind.

"Abby, are you okay?"

She looks up at you, almost as if you had asked her to kill the President of the United States. "What do you think?" she snapped in a tone that made your heart feel like a dozen knives were stabbing it.

You can tell immediately that she's sorry by the way her nostrils flare and she stares at you with wide eyes. She's taken aback by her tone just as much as you are.

"Sorry," she huffs. "It's just that everybody has been asking me that stupid question. I don't know how I feel right now."

The librarian narrows her drooping eyes at the two of you and makes her way over. Without the front desk blocking the view of her lover half, the librarian is hilariously short. She saunters over to your table and places her hands on her hip. She speaks in a high-pitched voice that resembles a dolphin.

"I have had to shush you ladies over three times. I think it's best if you two leave and continue your shouting else where."

You pack up your things as fast as you can and head for the door. The cool autumn breeze greets you as you exit through the back door of the library. Mountains of multi-colored leaves block the sidewalk as you walk.

Your bike is still missing, as well as the posters that you put up all around town. People have been tearing down your 'missing bike' posters in droves. Someone must like your bike to keep it this long. So, you walk down the sidewalk with your perfectly functioning legs, kicking rocks and anything that comes in your way.

Then, as you walk, your mind drifts off to Abby. Despite everything she seems to be taking it pretty well. If this were you, you would break up with Owen and never show up to school ever again. But this isn't up to you. This is between Owen, Abby, and Mel.

There's a certain look in Abby's eyes that you're familiar with. The look in her eyes that says "I'm not giving up on this." She wore it during your first tutoring session and continues to wear it. You just know that deep down, she's conflicted. On one hand, Owen cheated on her and got that person pregnant. On the other, they've been dating for so long and she isn't ready to get rid of that.

All you want to do is help her but she isn't letting anyone in. She can't go through this alone or else she might do or say something she'll regret.

Like every night, you make it home to a quiet house. You drop your backpack by the front door and drag yourself to the couch. You flop facedown and groan as your joints rejoice in being able to rest. You're too lazy to reach for the remote on the coffee table so you lay down on the couch, basking in the essence of being home alone.

You're awoken by the doorbell ringing a few hours later. You must have fallen asleep. You get up from the couch, drag your feet to the door, and open it without a care. You should have looked through the peephole first to make sure there weren't ten burglars on the other side of the door, but you're glad you didn't. Abby stands there with a blank expression and two fast food bags. You step aside, letting her in.