Don't Stop

A Restart

I got ready for work, remembering the events of last night. Katie had a huge hangover, which made me reconsider leaving to Panera, calling in sick.

"Hey Dave, I know I've taken so many days off, but my friend is really sick." I complained to him on the phone.

"Naomi!" he warned, "You have no more days left, you need to get to work."

Katie was crying on the sofa, her head throbbing with all the pain.

"Look, I'll come in late then, but I need to be here." I stalled, filling a glass of cold water for Katie.  Dave hung up, not bothering to convince me to come in. I sighed, walking to Katie with the cup in my hand.

"Could I have two Aleves?" Katie complained, stretching her hand towards the glass.

"Sure. Let me go check." I sympathized, wandering to the medicine cabinet. I looked around, realizing we didn’t have any. I turned to Katie and shook my head, "Looks like we don't have any painkillers. " she groaned and pushed her face into the pillow cushions. "I'll go get some." I mumbled grabbing my car keys. I stayed in my hollister sweats and off-the-shoulder chiffon t-shirt, slipping on my flip flops to head to CVS. I pulled into the nearly full parking lot. Grabbing my purse, I opened the car door and headed into the store. I went into health section, figuring the medicine would be there. I passed Heath. Heath.

"Fuck. My. Life." I whispered, I always had  great timing. He hadn't noticed me, and continued browsing the condom section. I walked by quickly and went into the aisle with the many brands of painkillers, I picked the Aleve before taking a different path to the cashier. I wanted to push through the long line, but to no avail, he saw me.

"Can we talk?" Heath began, but I stayed in the line, head forward. "Look, I did...something...I'm not proud of. Can we talk about it? Can I have your forgiveness?"

As much as I wanted to make excuses for him, I didn't. I was in the same pain, and I had handled myself differently. I was almost ready to pay, while Heath held onto my arm.

"Please, talk to me about this. I was drunk, I-" I cut him off.

"Look," I said sharply, "don't give me bullshit excuses. Also, don't expect another child. We are done Heath!" He didn't care that I was speaking loudly, he nodded, walking out the line and to the back of the store. He stood there though, watching me intently, when he snapped out of his thought he mouthed, "I'm sorry." I whipped around, placing the medicine on the counter, paying for it.

I left the store hurriedly, knowing I had left Katie for nearly thirty minutes. As I opened the door, I saw Lucius.

"Hey," I said awkwardly, "What are you doing here?" I looked to Katie, who was frowning.

"I actually came by to see you." He confessed, sitting down beside Katie on the couch. He looked at her, she sighed and looked away from him. "Dan said to not come back." he said bluntly, pushing his dreads from his face.

"What? I said I'd be in late" I exclaimed, dropping the bag on the ground.

"Hey! I need those!" Katie jumped up, picking up the pills.

"Katie, did you hear that? I've been fired! How am I supposed to do anything with the little savings I have?" I pressed, running my hands through my hair nervously.

"If you want, I can-" Lucius began, but I cut him off.

"No, I'm fine! I'll just find another job." I blurted, walking upstairs to my room. I sat on the bed, tugging the community college letter from underneath my pillow. I still needed those two hours, from Heath. I decided I'd head over to his house, with Katie, to collect my bags and get the signature.