Me Too

41

I drove over to Cameron's house when I finished at Bellami. I've got a lot going for me now, I am proud of what I have taken on and how much I am about to put out. I'm making something of my life. Ryan told me that was never posdible, once we were engaged, he started picking events off my schedule one by one- by the time we would have been married, I'd be his house wife, I'd be his slave. That is not my life. I am fixing what he thought he could destroy of me.

I open the creaking wood gate and follow the grey stone path through the arches of greenery. His house has always been this enchanting. It feels as if you're walking into a forest full of magic and tranquility.

Yet, disappointment strikes quickly.

"Bridget! Come here!" Cameron yelled with his hands cupped. The little girl ran from a tall, beautiful, tan woman. Finally the adult chasing Bridget gives up, waves her off and rests. With her hands on her hips and looked up at the clouds to take a breath. She doesn't look like she is exhausted from running, she is overwhelmed by something else. I approach Sofia, and with less than a second leeway before I can grab her hand, she meets my eye. Immediately, she slightly turns away from me, about to walk away. I call out to her.

She looked to the masonry and hung her head. "Hey."

"Hi. How was your meeting?" I ask. I take that it did not go well, she is visibly hanging on with the last of her patience. Everything in me wanted to hug her, kiss her, remind her that things will be okay, but she won't even look at me. I shouldn't assume she wants to be touched. What if she is trying to ask for it and I'm just standing here? No. If she wanted to be held, she'd come towards me. Is that fair? She has to approach me to be hugged? That doesn't seem right.

She cleared her voice, biting her lip. "Um, well, it was good."

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened." She cranes her neck to look up with furrowed eyebrows. "It was okay, just long. I am just tired."

"Oh, you just seem a little off. That's all," I say.

Sofia shrugs. "I'm fine. You know when I am lying, I'm not. I'm alright."

She is fine. I look around. "Okay, well, what's been happening here?"

"Well," Sofia sighed, "we've gotten nothing productive done. I've been here for probably forty five minutes and so far, I'm not sure Cameron has gotten anything viable."

"How much is there left to do?"

She put her hand on her hip, breathing. "A lot. We're just finishing up on everything."

"Is there anything we can do?" I ask.

Sofia looks to Cameron. Her beautiful eyes follow the teenager around the hard as she unpacks a box of wires. "I might spend the night here. Help him edit things and keep him company. He's really on the edge today. I won't be surprised if he crumbles tonight. I can literally feel his stress."

I feel something from her, but I dismiss it as her empathy. She's always been a fixer, she will help anyone. But that can hurt her just as much as help the other person. I used to be the most empathetic person, and then Ryan took advantage of it. I disconnect now, I can't help people, I can't make them feel the happiness I feel. I only make things worse. Yet, I still try to be useful. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No," she mumbled as he looks our way and waves, "I can handle it. But I am going to stay. He shouldn't be alone."

I wave back at Cameron and he gives up with the cord. Bridget takes his attention, bickering with him, pulling his ear. He left her fuming, and he came towards me. "Hey. I didn't know you were coming, Dove."