Unexpected Encounters [B.H.M.]

35

The next few days were tough. Tougher than I had expected, and tougher than I was prepared for. As if my personal problems weren't enough already, no. My colleague Carol apparently hadn't been able to keep what had happened to herself and by the time Friday rolled around the amount of curious looks and hushed conversations when I walked through the school had increased a lot more than I had wanted, a lot more than I could handle. Normally I would probably have been fine, I could have blocked it all out, but at the moment it really got to me and I hated it.

By the time I got home from work on Friday, I was done with people, I was tired of being judged on top of everything else that was going on this day. I was looking forward to hiding on my couch, under a blanket, and not having to see anyone for a few days. It would only get worse after the weekend, I was sure of that, but hopefully I would be feeling a little better by then so I would be able to handle it better. Hopefully.

I didn't even cook Friday night, it was a bit like I was paralysed. Every time I thought I had found the energy to get up and get some food, it disappeared just as quickly when my mind wandered back to the inevitable and I slumped back on the couch, pulled the blanket a little tighter around myself and tried to hold back the tears by focussing what was on TV. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. It wasn't a good evening, but I knew it had to be done and soon it would be back to normal. Or at least somewhat normal.

I didn't go to sleep in my bed that night either. Sometimes there were times when the bed wasn't comfortable, when it made you feel antsy and anxious lying in that spot, those were the nights when I either placed my pillow on the other side of the bed or slept on the couch. And on that Friday, the couch it was. It might sound like I didn't sleep well, but I actually did because I was just so exhausted from everything.

When I woke up on Saturday, I didn't feel much better yet. That would take a few more days. But it was looking up a little, so after I ate a little something for breakfast I decided to treat myself to a bath and taking-care-of-myself day. By the time I was done, I looked great and I felt a little bit better about myself too. So much that I could get myself to prepare something for dinner. That had been a rarity these past days, I had rarely eaten more than just one meal a day.

However, before I could return to my spot on the couch and enjoy what I had cooked, my phone rang. I debated answering it while walking into the hallway, but subconsciously I seemed to have decided on answering it because I picked it up before I realised that I did. "Hello?" I replied quietly, hoping that whoever it would be on the other end would be kind to me.

"Hey..."

Brian. That made me smile. It had been much too long since I had heard his voice. I missed Brian. But that smile wasn't a truly happy one, because he sounded just like I felt. "Hi you..."

"I'm sorry I'm calling... I know you said you didn't want to be disturbed for the rest of the week, but I -"

"I never said I don't want to be disturbed," I interrupted him. "I'm sorry if it sounded that way. You know you're always welcome to call me."

He was quiet for a moment. "Okay. Thank you."

That was all he said, so I spoke up again. "So... why are you calling? Did something happen?"

I could hear him take a deep breath. "I... I miss you... it's been a lonely week, Frida."

It broke my heart hearing that. "I know... I'm sorry.." I really was. He was relying on me to support him so much and I just let him down. I didn't really want to leave the house, but a big part of me wanted to see him and cheer him up a little. "Do you want me to come over?"

He took a few moments before he answered. "Would you have the time for that?"

"Of course, Brian. I always have time for you, you know that," I assured him. Maybe it would be good. It would give me a purpose.