The instant he answered, the instant I heard his, “Hello,” and my mind calmed, I knew why.
“Fallyn?” he said when I didn’t say anything. “Are you there? Are you all right?”
“No.” I couldn’t lie to him. “But I’m so glad you answered. I wasn’t sure if you would.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because Elliot…”
His laugh was rough. “The number of times I’ve said that in my life. Tell me what happened.”
“Get him to tell you.”
“He’s not answering me. Besides, I’d rather hear from you about what has you so sad.”
I sank onto my floor, because even sitting on the couch had bad memories associated with it. “I couldn’t stay there anymore, and I won’t be talking to him again. He has to tell you why. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You don’t have to apologize for anything, but I am going to miss you.” Link was so sweet. So sincere.
“This was always going to end with me going home.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Now I wanted to cry again, for completely different reasons. There was a knot in my chest that I couldn’t breathe past. “I have to go.”
“Wait. Can I call you later tonight? When I’m done with work?”
No. He couldn’t. It would hurt too much. But I couldn’t refuse him. “I’d like that.”
Hanging up ached. Everything ached. It shouldn’t. None of this should impact me the way it was. But that didn’t change the way I felt.
26/
link
It hurt to have Fallyn leave, though she was right—the week was always going to end with her going home.
When Elliot finally answered me, his reply was short, but at least it was a reply.I’m fine. I need time.
What happened with Fallyn? Possibly not the way for me to make sure he stayedfine, but I needed answers.
Nothing.
Fury snaked inside me at Elliot’s brush-off, and if he was here, even if he was on the phone, I’d demand an answer. My,tell me, wouldn’t carry much weight via text, but I sent it anyway.
Those three little irritating dots appeared and vanished, over and over, for several minutes. His reply wasDid they tell you they suspended me? For fucking you. Don’t let the same thing happen to you.
Not what I asked. I glared at my screen and waited for his response.
There wasn’t one.Fuck.
I doubted this would be a repeat of all those years ago, but the parallels between then and now, the threat of Elliot losing what he loved, were too similar. Since he wasn’t being forthcoming with me, I needed outside help. I called Mrs. Riaand tried to be as non-alarmist as I could, while also reinforcing it was important, when I asked her to keep a closer eye on Elliot than normal.
She muttered something about how she’d murder him if he hurt himself, and assured me she would watch over him.
When I got home from work that night, it was late and my brain might as well have been the consistency of oatmeal.
I needed to step away from my world in a way I hadn’t needed in a long time, and the only thing I could think wasFallyn.I wanted to hear her. See her. Pretend our lives weren’t falling apart.