When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 4

Neither one spoke for minutes at a time. Monique watched Barry, waiting for some kind of movement. She had dared to take him back to her house just to show him how much she really trusted him. He had been apprehensive but she kept telling him it was not a big deal. Honestly, she was still feeling quite uneasy herself bringing him into her house. Barry sat on the couch with his legs crossed and elbow resting on his knee. His chin was placed on the back of his hand, his expression calm but contemplating.

Whatever it was, he had been thinking about it since they got there. He had said he didn't want to talk about it but she had seen something in his eyes back at the cafe. Something was bothering him and she really wanted to know why so she waited patiently for him to decide to speak...or not. Barry eventually opened his eyes and sat back into the couch. At the expectant look in Monique's eyes he smiled. "It's not fair to expect you to tell me everything about your life and not share mine. I'm sorry Mo'."

"I just want to know, you know, some basic things. You don't have to tell me anything personal," she said.

Barry sighed and sat forward with his elbows on his knees. "Well, I'm a designer- I have sketch books full of my own designs," he said, looking rather proud of himself.

Monique was beaming after hearing the new information. "Will I ever get to see them?"

"Mm, maybe. Maybe one day," he replied with a smile. "We'll see." He sat back and crossed his legs. "Um, my day job actually has nothing to do with that. I work at the zoo as a manager."

Again, Monique was beaming. "You get to work around all those beautiful animals." He shrugged. "Aw, you don't like it?"

He tapped thoughtfully at his bottom lip. "I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I'm just glad we've been able to do it for as long as we have."

"We?" Monique was looking expectant again.

"Me and a friend of mine," Barry said with a smile. "We had been looking for work for a while and happened to find the opening at the zoo."

Monique nodded slowly as her expression turned contemplative. There was something that came to mind that she was curious about but decided it was too personal a question to ask so soon. Barry was about to continue when Monique's phone rang. Her curious expression changed to one of dread as she looked at the caller ID. Terrence. She looked at Barry as if asking him if she should answer or not.

He nodded and pat the couch next to him. She ran over and sat next to him, pulling her legs up onto the couch. She answered and put it on speaker. "Hey," she answered, her voice a little shaken.

"Hey, baby, I got your message. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, nothing's wrong," she said. Even she wouldn't believe that with the way she sounded at the moment. "Are you on break?"

"I am but I can get some time to come see you if there's anything wrong," he said sternly. "Tell me what's going on Mo'."

"He got angry," Barry whispered.

"What was that?"

"I, um..." she looked at Barry who shook his head. She was on her own. "You remember this morning over lunch when you asked me about who I was texting?"

Barry looked like he was going to say something but put a hand over his mouth and just watched the tragedy unfold.

"I wasn't talking to a coworker it was a friend of mine." The words just rushed out and she closed her eyes as if bracing for a slap.

"Oh, Mo', I thought something had happened to you. I was worried." He sounded tired. "I'm glad you're making friends on your own. Why didn't you just tell me?"