Food for the Heart

Unexpectedly Sweet

The sunlight pours through the window, and the bed is still soft, but all I can focus on is my splitting headache. The last time I had one of these I pulled an all-nighter studying for a Calculus exam. I need my sleep. My body does all sorts of weird things when I'm deprived.

I press my temples and smile. Emily would be proud if she saw me last night. I bet she wouldn't believe it. I'm usually hidden in a corner by myself, but last night was a different side of me—it was anything but watching life from the sidelines.

I chuckle, remembering Elpida dancing a traditional Greek dance on the table, her skirt hiked to her knees, showcasing her stockings, and Nikos trying to teach me the steps. Then I groan and rub my head again. I have sympathy for that group of over-celebrated seniors. I can only imagine what dances Elpida had them doing.

"I like big butts and—"

I hurry to answer my phone. "Ow, loud noises," I grumble. "Morning, Em."

"Hey Mia."

It's not Emily, it's a voice that makes my stomach flip.

"Ryan?"

"How are you?" He asks casually, like we're back together and he actually cares to hear the answer.

"Why are you calling?"

"I've been thinking," he mumbles. "Maybe I was too rash. We should talk."

"We should've talked before you moved in with your secretary."

He sucks in a breath. Ryan's not used to me standing up for myself—neither am I, actually. I like it.

I hold my head with one hand, the phone in the other. "Is there anything else?"

"Listen Mia—"

My stomach sloshes, threatening to throw up the shrimp from last night. Those were the exact words he used when he told me he was leaving, Listen Mia, things have changed...

I stumble out of bed, make my way down the hall to the bathroom, and sit on the floor next to the toilet.

"She lost her lease," he continues, "and since my name is on the apartment—"

I don't know what he's saying. I'm a mess, trying to hold in tears and my stomach contents, because for some reason his voice is making me nauseous.

"—I'm going to need you to move out by the end of the month."

"Oh," is what I say, but what I want to say is way too complicated. Instead, I drop the phone, and make my way downstairs.

Elpida takes one look at me and gets up from her seat at the table. "What is it, Mia? What saddens you?"

Whatever resolve I have left breaks. Tears stream down my face, my body shakes uncontrollably, I gulp in air like I'm drowning. I lost the man I'd imagined spending my life with and now I'm losing my home.

It's obvious by her tense posture that she feels uncomfortable with my crying. I ignore it and wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her shoulder, and letting it all come out.

She pats my back. "There, there."

"Ryan's...taking...my apartment," I choke out between sobs.

She shuffles us over to the sink, and fills a glass with water. "Drink."

I clutch it in my shaky hands, trying to stop the tears long enough to take a sip.