Ache by David Rogers

Author:David Rogers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783755356
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

6

I’m ushered up to Rick and Alice’s apartment and when I enter I notice my clutter has been arranged on top of my bag and my bag has been left in front of where I’ve been sleeping. Rick sits at the dining table as Alice vacuums the floor of their bedroom.

‘Hey,’ I say. ‘What a day. What a hangover. Excuse me for last night. I got a bit carried away, I think.’

‘Yeah, we need to talk about that.’

He looks pained. I already know what’s coming. My bag and my things, piled up the way they are, say it all.

‘Mate, this place is a bit too small for the three of us, so we were wondering if –’

A surge of anger rattles through me and I counter immediately with, ‘Oh yeah, Rick, I’ll go. I know you don’t really want me here, after all.’

‘Wait a minute, would you? Let me explain before you go off on one. It’s not what you think. Ali has a friend who’s going travelling for a few months and he wants to rent out his apartment.’

‘Yeah, Rick, I’m sure isolation is exactly what I need at the moment.’

‘Having an apartment to yourself in Paris would be awesome though, surely?’

I stare at him.

‘Look, I’m really sorry, but it’s … it’s not strictly my decision, if you know what I mean …’

As if on cue, Alice prods the other side of the door to their room with the head of the vacuum cleaner.

‘It’s nothing against you or anything,’ he tells me, but I still don’t believe him.

I search for more words but I’ve been deflated by my host’s animosity (no matter how subdued) and see no point in speaking further. Besides, I don’t have much of a case I could put forward.

I’ve been insufferable to be around, that much is true.

Rick drinks from his glass as I attempt to think about the next logical step I could take. I can’t help feeling upset that they could only stand three night’s worth of my company.

I think to myself: This is what it’s like to be alone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.