I didn't remember dreaming but I knew I had. I woke up feeling like I'd run thirty miles; drenched in sweat and fighting to draw in air with raw, ragged breaths. I sat up on the couch and rubbed my face. What time was it? Why was I in the living room? Why did I feel a malicious black cloud looming over me like some sort of comic strip character? And then it all came back, crashing like waves over my head. Holy shit, Kimber was here. And she wanted something. I felt the fear shower me like ice cold rain as I recalled pieces of the night before. We were going back.
Kimber's bag was next to the door and she was sitting at the table reading one of Seth's look-how-smart-I-am philosophy books. As I sat up I slid the evidence of my addiction under the couch with my foot, praying she hadn't already seen it.
"Morning, Sam," Kimber smiled, without looking up from the book.
"Why in the fuck are you so chipper. You remember where we're going right?"
"Yes." She put the book down and looked over at me, beaming. "I've just missed you so much."
It was a genuine statement and my mouth twitched into a little smile at her words. Goddamn it, I was happy to see her, too. Buried underneath all the fear and numbing pain was a glowing euphoria. I had never been happier than when I was with Kimber and Kyle. And one of them had actually come back from the void of the past.
I stood up. "Just let me shower and pack and then we can get on the road...that is, if you're still planning on going."
"Yes, I am," she said. "Are you?"
"Yeah, it appears that I am." I had run out of arguments.
Seth had already left for the day so I locked the apartment as we headed down to Kimber's car - a 10-year-old Mazda sedan. She took my bag and threw it into the backseat next to hers and then climbed in.
"So, eight hours, huh?" I asked as she started the engine.
"Yep. But I can probably do it in seven."
"Fuck me, don't rush on my account."
Kimber pulled her sunglasses down and pulled out of the apartment complex. I looked back and wondered if I'd ever see it's crumbling, graffiti-covered walls again. Or if I even wanted to.
*
"Stop staring at me."
"What?"
"You're not as sly as you think you are," Kimber muttered.
"Sorry, it's just...I never thought I'd see you again."
"Neither did I." She sighed.
"You look good. Pretty. You know, like healthy." I stumbled all over my compliment.
Kimber raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, I think."
I laughed nervously. "You know what I mean. You look like you've done well from yourself the last ten years."
Kimber frowned and remained quiet for a minute as if debating whether to tell me something. "I never told anyone where I came from." She said finally. "My mom said she had family in Anaheim but I couldn't find them. Everyone thought I was just a runaway. Cops picked me up almost immediately and put me in a halfway house. Sorry about your car, by the way. They impounded it. I don't suppose you ever got it back."
