Painting

Chapter 37

Trigger warning: Self harm

(One year ago)

My parents are gone, again. Traveling, they will come back. They are flying to Florida and staying for two weeks. I'll probably go relax, in the loft upstairs. The owner of the building is nice, he lets me go there to write and have a moment of peace. No one rents it or buys it. I will probably buy it, one day.

I take my lap top and a cup of tea. I climb the stairs and unlock the door with a spare key. I sit on the ground and put the lap top on a chair, the previous owner left. I open it and click on the file. I'm writing poetry. My life gives me all the inspiration, I need. My parents are gone and I don't have any real friends. The ones, I have are more people I hang out with, when they don't have anything to do. I have this guy in my life though, I think he cares about me. I care about him. Back in high school, he would always walk with me after class. Well, he would follow me and when I would be close to my house, he would brush his hand on my shoulder. I think he wanted to reassure me. I was really stressed out, the streets are really dark at night. His presence is comforting.

I hear my phone ringing. Speaking of him, he is calling me.

-Hi Teddy!

-June?

His voice is trembling.

-Yes, it's me, what's going on? How are you?

-It's bad.

-What is it?

-I tried to... To... Do something and now it's bleeding everywhere. I don't know what to do.

-Call 9-1-1.

-I can't.

-Why?

-They will tell my parents.

-Maybe it's time you talk to them.

I hear him burst in tears.

-Apply pressure, I'm coming.

I hang up. I go back in the apartment. I take my parents car keys. I don't have my license, yet, but it's an emergency. I run to the underground parking. Unlock the doors, go in and take a deep breath. I start the engine. I go backward. I drive to his house. Cut off the engine. Leave the car in the drive way. I open the door and run to the bathroom.

Teddy is siting down crying. I open up the cabinet and I search for a first aid kit. Find one. I take some bandages and tend to his wound.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

-You don't have to, but can you help me clean up? I don't want my parents to think that I murdered someone.

-Of course.

-Use cold water.

-Why?

-Trust me, to clean up blood, you need to use cold water.

-How would you know?

I lift up my right eyebrow.

-It has to do with the fact that I'm a woman.

-I didn't think about it, sorry.

-It's alright.

At the end, the bathroom is clean and Teddy is better, that's the most important thing. He offers me a glass of water. He takes two. He hugs me. I wrap my arms around him.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

-Again you don't have to, but do you want to sleep here?

-I don't mind. I just need to go lock the doors of the car.

-Absolutely.

I walk out of the house and lock the doors. I open up my phone. A new message. My parents just landed. I put it back in my left pocket. I walk back in the house and climb the stairs. I stop in the middle. Teddy is in his room, changing. He's got his back turned on me. Large shoulders. He turns to face me. I hide behind the wall.

-Do you want to borrow one of my shirts?

-Yes, please.

-Well, come here.

I climb the rest of the stairs. He is still shirtless. He must be working out a little bit, if not, there's no justice in this world. He hands me a black t-shirt.

-Here, I was going to put it on, but I realized that I can't sleep with a shirt on, so yeah.

-Thanks.

I walk to the bathroom and take my jeans off. I realize that there is blood on my shirt. I put some water and some soap in the sink. I put my shirt in it. I will leave it, over night. I take my bra off and put the black t-shirt on. I smell it. I like it. I walk out.

-You can have my bed.

-What?

-It's fine, I'll just sleep on the floor with an inflatable mattress. That, I have to inflate.

-Or we could share the bed.

-I don't want to make you uncomfortable, you've already done so much.

-It's alright, I take the left side.

I lay down and he turns off the light. He puts the covers over us. Teddy takes my hand.

-Can I hug you again?

-If you want to.

He wraps his arms around me and I wrap mine around him.

That night, Teddy was so grateful and I was so happy, he was still alive.