Obscurity

Chapter 41: Waiting

Alma

Clutching my arms to my chest, I sit here and think about the ramifications of reporting my doctor's own son to him. I can only hope he's a stand-up kind of guy and will do the right thing. Somehow, deep down, I don't feel like this will be the case. Dread washes over me. I don't even want to leave the safety of this room.

Sierra snaps her fingers in my face, "Did you hear me?"

I look at her, shaking my dreadful thoughts from my mind. "What?"

She lets out a dramatic sigh. "I said, you need to pull yourself together and walk through today without looking like you're waiting for the other shoe to fall."

I look at her, trying to make sense of what she just said. I guess she assumes I don't know what she means.

"You look like a dog that pissed on the floor and you're awaiting the inevitable slipper from your owner." She chuckles, proud of her analogy.

"I don't want to go out there today." I nod toward to the door. My hands are trembling and my palms are sweaty.

"Well, that'll look odd, don't you think?"

"I guess."

"Get yourself together, we'll go together." She offers.

She's a pretty helpful room mate, friend. But anger starts to roil in my gut when I think about how if she'd just told me this a little sooner, I wouldn't even be in this mess. I would've kept my mouth shut, like I was doing already. I should have stuck to my guns and kept my lips sealed.

"Sierra, why didn't you tell me this sooner?" I ask, my eyes beginning to water.

She shrugs, "I guess I thought you'd be out of here by now and it wouldn't even be an issue." She explains her thought process as she brushes her hair.

With that, I just sit there and stare at the window sill. Sitting on this bed, I can't see out the window. It's too high up on the wall.

I have absolutely no will or want to leave this room. I wonder how long it would take before they sent someone to make me leave my room. At this point, I'm willing to take my chances and crawl back into bed and ignore the entire day.

Cindy will be back tomorrow. I'll come out when she's on duty.

"Come on, Alma. Get yourself together so we can go eat. You have to eat."

I nod. Walking to the bathroom I pause in the doorway and look at her, she's sitting on her bed now, waiting for me to get ready.

"Thanks for being here, Sierra." I say to her as I go to brush my teeth.

We walk down to the day room side by side. She's walking her normal snail's pace, and I'm feeling like crawling out of my skin while I try to keep her same pace. I want to shoot like a rocket to the day room and quickly finish my food and rush back to my room. I don't want to meander.

She looks over to me, "Calm the hell down, Alma. You look like you want to sprint down the hallway. That'll attract more attention than taking your time. For crying out loud, chill out." Sierra scolds me as she realizes I want to speed up and speed through this day.

I take in a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before I let it out. It's the only way I know to calm myself. So, I try it. After a couple of deep breaths I feel a little better. That's until we round the corner to the day room.

At our usual table, Spencer sits, arms crossed, as though he's waiting for us to arrive. I shake my head. I'm not sitting with him.

Sierra elbows me in the side to get my attention. "Oh! Look who is sitting at our table! Yes!" Sierra rejoices at the sight.

I, on the other hand, would love to drive a fork into his eye. I'm not going to catch a break today, am I?

We shuffle over to the table and take our seats. I deliberately sit as far away from Spencer as I can. Sierra engages him in pointless banter. It occurs to me; she's pretty good at that. I laugh inwardly.

"What's so funny?" Spencer says to me, ignoring something Sierra just said.

"Nothing." I say defensively as I turn halfway in my seat to avoid any engagement with him.

"You laughed. All be it, silently. But you laughed just now." He points out. His and Sierra's eyes are on me. I feel like I'm being put on the spot.

"I didn't laugh. And it would do you good to keep your eyes off women's chests or whatever you were looking at that made you draw your incorrect conclusion that I laughed." I quickly explain.

"Oh, that's how it's going to be then?" he pretends to be crushed.

I don't respond. I just watch the day room for any signs of breakfast or Chris arriving. Neither are currently present. I breathe a sigh of relief even though I know it isn't going to be long before Chris graces us with his presence. His demonic presence. I smile at the thought of getting him an exorcism.

Sierra keeps with the conversation of no importance behind me with Spencer. I ignore them. I'm absolutely certain there is nothing interesting about whatever it is they are talking about.

If I'm being completely honest, Sierra's more or less a cat in heat and Spencer... I don't know what his motives are in the whole situation. He's probably just having fun leading her on. And I couldn't care less. The sooner I complete this program or whatever they call it here, the sooner I'll be home with Penny. Poor Penny. I keep hoping she's still alive and okay. Hope. It's all I have.

The breakfast cart's wheels squeal as the food service guy pushes the cart off the elevator. Thank goodness. I can't wait to get breakfast over with. I fully intend on climbing back into bed to wait the day out after this.

Waiting for breakfast trays. Waiting to get back to my room. Waiting to get my release papers. All I do is wait in this place.