Even though it felt like she'd been in that house for a long time, when she looked at the clock, it was only a little past 8 PM. The car slowed down as she saw the houses and the wide sky. It was as if she'd returned to the normal world of humans.
The bright lights of the roadside shops caught her attention, and she decided to stop, hoping that something cold to drink might help. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw cans of alcoholic beverages in the fridge, reminding her of another thing that Mae Kru Bulan despised.
Normally, Lieutenant Peem wasn't one to enjoy such drinks unless it was a social gathering with friends, an official celebration, or some important event that required drinking. But this only made her more frustrated because she found herself thinking about that woman again.
Lieutenant Peem decided to open the fridge and grab a can of beer, thinking that maybe a bit of intoxication could help clear her mind for a while. She knew she shouldn't drink while planning to drive, so she decided to head to the police station first.
Click!
Her sharp eyes stared at the building in front of her as she raised the cold beer can to her lips. One hand gripped the steering wheel while her eyes looked at her phone on her lap. She knew that if she called her mother now, the person on the other end would be extremely worried. The things she was dealing with and what had happened to her brother were already heavy enough for the woman she loved most in her life.
A deep sigh escaped her lips, loud enough to hear her own dry breath. She downed the beer in her hand, but it didn't make her drunk; it just lightened her head a bit.
"Oh, is that you, Lieutenant Peem?"
An officer greeted her and stood up as she walked into the police station, even though it was past working hours.
"I was just looking for a place to rest for a bit,"
She replied.
"Why here? Why don't you go home?"
"Is there a hotel around here?"
"No, only in the city."
"That's the answer. I'm homeless."
"I don't get it..."
The officer looked at her in confusion but didn't press further as the lieutenant walked past the reception area.
While she was trying to manage her emotions quickly, she saw a bag of food on her desk.
She hadn't eaten again today, and the food inside was probably spoiled by now since it'd been sitting there since morning.
She sighed again before sitting down at her desk. The air conditioning wasn't on because it wasn't working hours, and it was a shared office space. Turning on the AC just for herself wouldn't be appropriate. She took off her shirt to use as a pillow, trying to nap on the desk. It was uncomfortable, stuffy, and hot, with no breeze at all.
Looking at her arm, she saw dried blood she hadn't cleaned yet. Frustrated, she couldn't sleep. If she were in the bustling city, finding a room would be easy. Here, it was the opposite. She tried hard not to let her city habits affect her work, but it was tough.
Click.
"Here she is, Mae Kru,"
The officer who'd greeted her earlier opened the door to show Mae Kru Bulan where she was before returning to his post.
Lieutenant Peem sat up straight, put her shirt back on, and tried to look composed. Mae Kru Bulan approached her, leaning down.
"What are you doing here?"
