He has broad shoulders. I mean, I guess I never approached him, but I would have thought I would at least take in his basic size. Maybe it’s because I was only looking at how skinny he was.
He’s gotten stronger and gained a good amount of weight, and I swear he looks ten times better than he did. He seems to recognize me, because he grins and waves.
I offer a weak, wavering smile. It falters as he approaches me. At his side, my eyes level at his shoulders. I am not saying I’m the tallest girl ever, but I’m not short, either.
“Hi, uh, what was it? Gabriel?” I say quietly, pretending I do not have his name permanently etched into my memory because of how long and hard I cried over his and other hungry people’s welfare. It appears that he is perfectly healthy now, and I think that I’ve wasted my tears, but I still feel bad for never offering him food. Not that I had much myself.
“Astrid.” He says. I hear the period in his voice. “I know you from school.”
I try too look baffled, pretending that I wasn’t painfully aware of the presence of his skin-and-bones frame. I wonder how he gained weight so fast. Maybe the government decided that when you are in the Well-Off Borough, you can’t look bad, can’t let the other Rich people, the ones who were raised Rich, find out about how awful the other Boroughs are doing.
I look up into his eyes.
“I don’t love you!” I accidently blurt, then slap a hand over my mouth. He looks at me for a moment, head cocked, and laughs.
“I don’t love you, either.” He responds, still chuckling and flashing an irritating smile. I remind myself that this means nothing. I don’t know him, I don’t know him, I do not know him, this is not the most awkward situation I have ever been in…
I stare at my toes, grappling for small talk. I grab at the words in my head but they won’t come to me.
“I’m going upstairs…?” Is what pops out of my mouth.
He looks… disappointed. But it only flickers across his face, so it could have been anything. I make my lips smile and trot up the stairs. I decide I will explore.
There are two bedrooms. I think this is a bit skimpy.
One is gigantic with a king sized bed centered against the back wall of the room. It has a canopy that seems to float above the wooden supports. The floor has designs that move, all blue and white and brown. Those colors are the theme of the room. A dark wood dresser sits at the right wall and has a mirror whose edges harbor moving designs as well. The lights draw in color on the ceiling.
The other bedroom is in the attic. The room itself is very small, but everything in there looks like it’s made of air and water. The bed is like a bubble with blue liquid for a mattress, but when I try to sit on it I don’t sink in. And the view is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. It overlooks a lake and part of a forest, and you can watch the sunlight dance on the water. I decide I am sleeping in this room.
Sitting on the bed, I lean against the wall. The notecard calls to me from my pocket, signals for me to open it. I listen to the whispers, and this time I finish.
Title: Rich
Address: 442 Willow Lane, Well-Off Borough
Spouse: Gabriel Mecham
Children: 2
Occupation: Actress
