Little Rooms

Chapter 13

I dreamt that my bed was floating in a pool. The night sky was brilliant with white stars so close I could touch them. As magical as this was, I wanted to get over to the edge of the pool, but had nothing to swim with and if I put my hands in the pool, the sharks would get me. So I floated, my heart bleeding because there was nothing I could do.

A tinkling sound drifted into the dream, and I assumed it was the row of windchimes on a stand that lined the pool, but there was a flash behind them of something moving.

"Who is it? Who's there?" I called.

It took forever to pull my body from its paralyzed state into the real world. The room was quiet, except for the wind rustling the tree outside my open window. How many times had I woken up to see nothing? But in the moonlight, I saw a square shadow on the sill.

The silver box was placed exactly at the middle of the window. No paper or ribbon. I scooped the cold cardboard into my hand and turned on the light.

A yellow piece of paper popped out of the box.

Nicole,

I was stupid and I took something of yours. I did it because I wanted a part of you with me, just in case you didn't want me to come back ever again. Here it is. I'm sorry.

Love Isaiah

The word was there. It jumped above everything, into my eyes and down to my heart, where a place had been made for it long ago. The warm chill that swept over my body was too good to give up, but I had to know what was underneath the bit of cotton in the box.

Everything that swooned in my heart froze as I pulled a silver chain into the air, followed by my grandmother's pendant.

I twirled the necklace, wondering not only how I should deal with its reappearance, but the fact that Isaiah had probably watched me sleeping and did nothing more than return it. He'd admitted his guilt, but not to my face. After days without seeing him, it was like a token of repentance, a symbol of guilt, and a sign that he wasn't coming back.

"I don't want this. I want you," I said to the air, huddling on the bed with the pendant wrapped around my fingers. The cool metal had warmed to my touch, and I resented having it near me.

Throwing things was never allowed in my household, let alone throwing something of great value. But when the pendant hit the wall, smacked the stucco and thudded to the floor, I felt my shoulders drop and the tears flow down my cheeks. I wanted Isaiah to come and kiss the tears away.

#

Joe snuck up behind me during lunch, back to his usual hands-on approach. I tightened my muscles and stepped away from his grasp.

"Haven't seen your little buddy around," he said, snaking his arm around my waist. "Come on, Nicole. We're gonna be dancing cheek to cheek before you know it. Why not get used to it now?'

"Cause I don't plan on getting used to it ever, Joe."

"So, where'd he go?"

"Who?"

"Your special ed... err, special guy?"

"None of your business," I said, trying to take a bite of my sandwich without further finger interference.

Joe sat down and placed his hands on my legs.

"Don't mind me."

"I do mind, Joe. Why are you always doing this?"

Jessica had been sitting across the table, watching the Joe show play out.

"Because he looooooves you!" she giggled, gnawing on celery and kicking her legs around.