“I left breakfast on the kitchen counter, okay, Karlie dear?”
Her mother was looking at her, lying on the couch with her eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling.
“Alright,” she mumbled.
Her mother sighed before leaving. She had awoken early in the morning like she always did to go to work and found Karlie lying on the couch. She looked like she had not slept all night.
Karlie continued to lay there for a while, until felt her stomach growl and she decided to get up. She grabbed the plate of eggs and headed back to the couch, plopping down and eating the food lifelessly, when suddenly the door opened.
It was Toni.
“Hi, Toni,” said Karlie, and she continued eating. She wanted to maintain her composure.
“Hey, Karlie. I see you got food. You cook it yourself or –
“My mother made it for me before she left,” Karlie responded in between one of her bites.
“How are you feeling?” asked Toni, “You look surprisingly well.”
“I feel like I want to die,” said Karlie calmly.
Toni sat down on the next to Karlie and said, “Oh my goodness, please don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth.” She was trying to remain nonchalant but knew she could not keep up the façade forever.
“But why, Karlie? Why? Taylor?”
“Yes!” snapped Karlie.
Toni took a deep breath before speaking.
“Okay,” she said, trying to smile, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Karlie was about to let all emotions run free as Toni prepared herself for the worst, prepared to be hurt because she wanted to hear how much Karlie loved her and not Taylor – but she knew that would never happen – no chance any longer.
-----------
Taylor was eating breakfast at the table with her parents silently. She was determined to not show them how much she was hurting.
“Taylor, your father and I are going out of town today to do some last minute sightseeing. Do you want to come with us?” asked her mother.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
She gave them a small smile.
“Okay, dear. You look tired. You should get some rest and then start cleaning up your room and packing,” said her father.
“Wait, what?”
“Oh, honey, you forgot again!” laughed her mother, “We’re leaving in 3 days. The summer break is ending! Time to get back to New York.”
Taylor nearly dropped her spoon as she looked up in shock.
“What’s wrong, Taylor?” asked her father.
She smiled weakly and replied, “Nothing, just surprised that it’s so soon.”
“Oh, good,” said her mother, “3 days should be enough, right? Even for you.”
Her parents chuckled.
“Yeah, I hope so,” she said as her voice trailed off.
After breakfast she excused herself and went into her room to cry where no one could see, hoping, praying, wishing that 3 days were indeed long enough.
