Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Four

'Oh god,' Ecie said wiping her face. 'I'm sorry guys. This shouldn't be happening here.'

'Are you okay?' Markus asked concerned.

'I'm fine,' Ecie replied as more tears stormed down her face. 'I'll be okay.'

'Are you sure?' Owen asked. 'You don't look it.'

Joey hit Owen on the arm. 'You are so smart.'

'I'm going to go back to our room,' Ecie said getting up hurriedly. 'I'm sorry.'

'Do you want me to come with you?' Esme asked.

'No, no,' Ecie replied trying to wipe her face. 'I'll be okay. Just carry on without me and I'll see you later.'

'I don't think she should have come,' Sara said when Ecie had left. 'She's definitely still emotional about what happened.'

'I think you would be too,' Joey said looking at Sara. 'She was in hospital for four months. She could have died.'

'I know and I'm not being disrespectful,' Sara said. 'I'm just saying that maybe this is all a bit much for her. The slightest thing can trigger it off.'

'She'll be fine,' Esme said. 'We should just leave her for now.'

'Oh god, no,' Ecie sobbed as she reached the suite door. She looked through her bag for the room card then tipped its contents out onto the floor and knelt down. She pushed some hair back from her face as she wiped it with her arm and continued looking. 'Why is this happening? Oh god.'

'Excuse me,' a voice said from behind.

Ecie turned tearstained, and looked up a clean shaven young man with shoulder length brown hair and hazel eyes. Ecie tucked some hair behind her ear.

'I think you dropped this,' he said passing Ecie the room card. 'I saw it fall from your bag in the lobby.'

'Thank you,' Ecie sniffed.

'I'm Landon,' he said holding out his hand.

Ecie looked at his hand then started crying again.

'I'm sorry,' Landon said taking his hand back. 'I didn't mean...'

'It's fine,' Ecie said wiping her face. 'This happens.'

'Are you okay?'

Ecie nodded her head then a moment later shook it. 'Not really.'

'Do you want to talk about it?'

Ecie stared at Landon.

'I promise I won't kidnap and kill you,' Landon said smiling friendly at Ecie. 'Is that okay?'

Ecie nodded. 'Okay.'

Landon put his arm around Ecie as they walked back down the corridor.