The River Speaks

Chapter Forty: Losing Balance

Chapter Forty: Losing Balance

Aiden stops his old mustang in the parking lot of my apartment complex.
"I'll walk you up." He offers. He had left his car at the airport so he offered to take my home. We spent the time in Kentucky messing around, having snowball fights with my cousins, and riding the horses around the property.
Now though, we have to be here to responsibility, and I can't even begin to think about how I'm going to deal with my apartment.
Aiden's roommate from college is in town so he and Reese and their friend Andrew were going to go hang out today.
Aiden invited me to go but I know he probably wants to be alone with his guy friends, so I told him I would stay at home.
The fact that he didn't' try to beg me to come was just proof that he really wants to hang out with his friends alone.
That's fine. It really doesn't bother me. I'm not going to be that controlling girlfriend. It makes me happy that he has friends.
"Lily." Aiden waves his hand in front of my face.
"Sorry." I smile.
"I'll walk you up." He says.
I think of my apartment and visibly cringe.
"No thanks. I'll see you later."
"Lily, I'm walking you up." He says.
"Aiden, really, I'm fine-"
He gets out of his car and gets my bags from the trunk.
He's going to flip out.
"You're acting weird." He says as we walk inside. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want to come with me to see Andrew and Reese? I'm getting Tucker from Reese."
Tucker is Aiden's dog. The first time we went to Kentucky while everything with Eliot was happening, Aiden had Reese take Tucker. Reese kept him until now because there was some creepy neighbor he had and Tucker is protective. I don't know. All I know is the dog is mean but he loves Aiden so Aiden won't get rid of him.
I get it. I wouldn't get rid of him either.
"I'm fine." I say to Aiden. "I'll just stay home, you have fun with your friends."
"Are you sure?" He asks.
Hit the button for my floor on the elevator and turn to him, kissing his lips.
"I'm sure."
The elevator opens on my floor and I walk down to my door.
"Okay, bye." I say to him.
"Lily, what are you hiding?" He narrows his eyes at me.
"Nothing Aiden, I'm just tired-"
"You slept on the plane."
"-and I'm on my period-"
"We had sex this morning. No you're not."
He sets my bags down and digs the key to my apartment from his pocket, unlocking the door.
He opens it, and his jaw drops.
The coffee table is flipped over, the couch is sideways across the living room. There's a blanket on the floor behind the couch. There's glass covering the kitchen, and I mean all over the floor partially into the living room.
"Oh my god." He says. "Somebody broke in. I'm calling the police."
"Nobody broke in." I sigh, walking into my apartment.
"What are you talking about?" He asks.
"Aiden, I did this." I say. I grab my bags and drag them into my apartment.
He takes his key out of the door and shuts it behind us.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean...I did this. It's not a big deal-"
"Lily, your place is trashed."
"I know but it's okay."
"Why did you do this?" He asks.
I shrug.
"I got bored."
"Lily." He says seriously. He gently grabs my arm and turns me so I'm facing him. "What happened? Please be honest with me."
I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I found your key." I whisper. "And...I went a little crazy."
He doesn't say anything, he just looks around.
"I'll tell Andrew and Reese I'm not coming. I'll help you clean up-"
I put my hand on his bicep.
"Aiden, this is my mess. This is my breakdown, okay? I had a breakdown because of what I did. Not because of you. This is not your job. Go out with your friends. I'll be fine."
"I'm not comfortable with that." He says.
"Lovebug, I want you to go spend time with your friends. I'm fine."
"I'm coming back tonight." He says seriously.
"That's fine."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"I'm positive." I say. I walk him to the door. "Thank you for driving me home, but I'm okay."
"Alright. I love you."
"I love you, too."
He kisses me and then I open the door.
He steps out into the hall and kisses me again, sighs, and then leaves.
When he's out of sight, I shut the door and lock it.
First things first, I need to go get more dishes. I broke all my cups, plates, and bowls.
I sigh as I get the keys to my truck.
This is going to be a long day.

*****

With the new dishes in boxes on my bed, I take the garbage bag out of my trash can and dig around for some gloves.
I don't have any, so I'm going to have to pick up this glass bare handed.
I start with the big pieces, carefully dropping them into the trash.
Squatting, I lean for a piece that's half of my plates, but I lose my balance.
My wrist slices across a large piece of one of my cups and I yelp, ripping my arm away.
I have a cut going from two inches below my wrist on my forearm all the way to my elbow on the inside.
Blood is gushing from my hand and I stand up, stumbling slightly.
Well shit. This isn't good.
I grab a dish towel from my drawer and put it on my arm, and then I wrap it in duct tape.
I wipe some of the blood off my hand and see blood on my jeans.
That stain better come out.
Decided I only have limited time until it's in my clothing permanently, i go into my bedroom and change from my current jeans to another pair and from my white tank top to a black t-shirt. I pull a jacket on over my arms since it's cold outside, and then I grab the keys for my truck, my purse, and my phone and leave my apartment.
I lock the door and walk down to the elevator.
I'm already bleeding out of my dish towel.
I take the elevator down to my truck and get in, starting the engine.
I put it in reverse and drive out of the complex.
The hospital is about ten minutes away, so I start the drive there.
The closer we get, the more light headed I feel.
I park as close to the emergency room as I can get and walk across the parking lot.
I probably should call somebody to tell them I'm going to the emergency room, but Aiden is with his friends.
I wander in the emergency room doors and up to the counter.
"Hi, how can I help you?"
I remove my coat and hold out my right arm.
"I had a little accident."

*****