31 The Message (1/2)

A mess of a girl was sitting in front of me, wet to the bones, crouching in a corner with a cigarette at her lips, greedily breathing it in and breathing out a faint smokey release. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen, not sure if from the choking smoke enveloping her or from repeatedly wiping at the tears spilling at the corners. Her hair was plastered to her neck, contrasting with the white bluish skin tone. I could tell she was feeling cold from the faint trembling of her hands.

At first, I thought she was just an illusion, but as I moved closer, she became real. She looked up at me at first with indifference, until her eyes widened in understanding.

”Are you suicidal?” I angrily asked although I had a feeling she was not aware of me or anything outside her own thoughts...

”Gray? What are you doing here?” She asked as her eyes widened even more, when her lips formed the question. She reached a hand to my bandaged fist to validate my presence.

”We need to talk.” She blurted and then hesitated when I said nothing more. The white t-shirt which was probably loose before it became stuck to her small body showing off just enough to make one tempted. As much as I admired the view, I knew it wasn't that warm out with the storm raging, it was actually quite chilly, and a lengthy discussion will cause us both to catch a cold.

Seeing that she kept on hesitating, I took the lead.

”I understand, but we need to get to another place, a dry one. It's cold and we're both soaked.” I tried to rationalize and nudged her towards my car.

I always felt like I was the one who had to take the initiative, and somehow that made me feel like the bad guy. Can't totally say that I wasn't though. Not once had I lost my senses when we were together, although I am a man with responsibilities towards my personal life and my company, I ignored them and simply took what I craved for. At least I had enough control to stop before we got too far.

”Where are we going?” She asked as I opened the door to my car for her.

”Well, we can go to your place, or to mine.”

”My place is kinda... Just not the best choice...” She continued looking up at the figure moving in the window to what was probably her place. ”Your place is probably not a good idea either, I don't want to bother anyone.”

I knew she was talking about Melanie.

”Don't worry, there's no one to bother,” I replied and started the car. ”Seatbelt!” I ordered while she stared at me incredulously.

Twenty minutes later I was pulling up to the house and firmly holding her arm guiding her, I lead her towards the now empty house.

”I really don't think this is okay.” She tried to struggle out of my grip but I wouldn't have it.

I opened the door to the light hallway and nudged her in. She just stood in the hallway, looking around with a scared expression, like waiting for something, or someone to just pop out at her.

”Like I said, there's no one to bother because no one is here.” I reaffirmed my earlier statement.

”Where's, umm...”

”Melanie? My wife?” I asked trying to observe her reaction. She had her head down but I could see her lower lip being picked at nervously, causing it to redden.

”She…” I was not sure what I should say. She left me, I left her, we split up with both our consent. I was not clear on the status of I and Melanie's relationship yet. We were still husband and wife in the eyes of the law, but we were not living together for a couple of days now, although it seemed more for some reason.

”Is it because of me?” She asked, her lower lip now slightly bleeding and the rims of her eyes were turning pinkish along with the tip of her nose. She was trying not to cry but she did a poor job of holding it in.

”No.” Came the automatic response but we both knew it that it was not completely true. ”Before anything else let's get changed out of these clothes. You can take a shower in the bath over there, I'll bring you something to change into.” I showed her to the bathroom on the first floor.

”That's fine, I don't need one, I can just dry my hair and change clothes.”

”As you want. The hairdryer is in the bathroom, along with clean towels. I'll change as well and make some hot coffee for us.”

”I'd rather have some tea if that's not too much.”