Losing Light

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Hey Rey, whaddya want for dinner?"

I shrug, and continue to wash yesterday's dishes. Jacqueline wasn't crazy about washing them. She'd do the bills, vacuum the apartment, and work at the smoothie place, but she left dishwashing to me. I didn't mind. I kind of liked it.

"Is Thai food okay?"

A plate slips out of my hand as I'm drying it and smashes to pieces on the floor. One of the pieces had found its way into my palm. Blood arises from the wound.

Jacqueline runs into the kitchen quickly. Her short blond hair is messy. "Oh my god, are you okay?" She rambles and takes my hand into both of her own. Her palms are soft and lulling.

"I'm fine, Jackie. Really." I tell her but she doesn't listen. She slowly grips the dish piece with one of her hands and takes it out quickly.

"Did that hurt?" She asks, leather-brown eyes wide.

"No. I'm okay, Jackie."

"Hold on, I'm gonna get a bandage. And that uh, the injury spray thing."

I giggle. "The injury spray?"

She laughs. "Well, you are injured! Hold on, lemme get it." Jacqueline rushes into the bathroom cabinet for the supplies. For my "injury".

My roommate comes back into the kitchen with the supplies, stumbling on the leg of a chair. We both chuckle at her clumsiness. She walks gingerly towards me and takes my hand, spraying it on my injury. With gentle hands, she carefully places the bandage over it.

"There." Jackie whispers. Our foreheads are almost touching. "All better." Her breath hitches.

Violet.

I back away a little, and clear my throat awkwardly. "Thanks, Jacqueline. Um, I'd better clean this mess."

"R-right. Erm, I'll go back to doing the bills. Unless...you need help?"

"Nah, it's okay, I can handle it. I was a waitress, I did this from time to time." I usher my clumsy roommate to the small living room in view of the kitchen. The bills and her pen were neatly organized on the coffee table. I remember Violet always left an "organized" mess. At least she knew what she was doing. Jackie was more professional than Vi ever was.

It's been miserable without her. Ever since she was incarcerated (a word that had been taught to me from Violet's huge vocabulary), things have been almost impossible to handle. I was so used to tackling the world with her. Her mother wouldn't even talk to me (not that she did much before). I called Sean, but he told me his mother had prohibited from seeing me, and that he would be seeing Violet for the last time soon. I wanted to see her too, but I had to think about our future. It was a huge strain on our engagement.

I wanted to be strong for her, but unfortunately, I wasn't very strong without her. The town was small, and word got around quick about Violet and her brother's bully. I got a lot of talk behind my back and in front of my face at work. I was worried about losing my new job. Violet had gotten me a job as a secretary at a law office (barely. She was friends with one of the partners). It was a pretty good job, but I could barely pay the bills.

When she went to jail, I decided I had to get a roommate to help with the rent. Fortunately, Jackie came to me. She was good friend, a bit awkward but helpful. She slept in Violet's old office, while I slept in a bed with a crevice.

I look at her hunched over the bills. She was very cute, I suppose. Feminine but boyish with her little gestures and the way she walked. But my heart is Violet's. And Violet is in prison. It's almost funny. My heart is in prison.

"So...Thai food?" Jackie spoke suddenly as I dry the last dish. I try to hide my face from her as I nod. Violet loved Thai food.