Broken: Emily's Story

21

The walk to the local mall was fairly short. Turns out Eric lives in the middle of everything. Also turns out me and malls don't mix.

Two steps in, I wanted to leave. There were way too many people in this place. But I didn't want to walk back alone. So I just stayed really close to Eric.

We stopped in a music store. Eric went to the rock section. Not many people were over there, which helped me calm down a bit. I caught the names of a couple bands I listened to before Ellie died. Including one that had been my absolute favourite. I pick up one of the CDs and look at the back. This had been my favourite album by them. It had my favourite song. It seemed to talk to me.

I set the CD down as the song played through my head. Not long after I set it down, Eric picked it up and put it on the stack he had. I stare at him. He really did not seem the type. That band was more metal than rock. And he so did not seem the metal type.

He goes over to the music player section and looks around. He picks up a small purple music player. He picks a pair of black headphones and goes to the little checkout counter in the front. He buys it all and leaves, me close behind him.

I swear the mall got more crowded while we were in there. People kept rushing around and at one point I almost lost Eric. In a panic, I looked around and once I found him I pushed through the crowd to him. Without thinking, I grab his hand so I don't lose him.

He looks at me when I do that. I try to pull away, but he holds my hand tighter and I stop. And so we walk like that. He glances at me occasionally with a strange look on his face that I can't quite figure out what it is.

We go to an area that has a lot of mini restaurants. A food court, I think?

Chinese, burgers, or burritos? He asks, the first words he's spoken since we got to the mall. I look at him with a question mark face.

Have you ever eaten out? He asks. I shake my head. He sighs and says, Fine, burgers.

I feel bad. Maybe I should've stayed at his house. He must've seen that on my face because he smiles at me and says, I'm sorry, my friend has been a pain lately. He thinks I'm being ridiculous hanging out with you and it's pissing me off.

I smile weakly at him. We order food and sit at a table as far from the crowd as we can get. I just pick at fries he got. There's an awkward silence as we eat.

Until some kid shouts Eric's name from across the room.