One Desperate Life by D.J. Maughan

Author:D.J. Maughan [Maughan, D.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Louise

I sat on the bench, scanning the park, when I saw with delight my new friend Mary Tuberville walking toward me. It had been a week since we had met, and I’d been here every day since, hoping I’d run into her. Each day I’d left disappointed, but it certainly helped convince the doctor I was doing all he told me.

When she reached me, she slumped down on the bench like someone had taken out her knees. Within seconds, she took off her shoes and leaned back, resting both arms on the back of the bench.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, you know?”

A nervous flutter rippled through me, and I wondered what she knew. Her eyes remained shut as her head rested on the bench, her face aimed at the sky. She opened an eye, checking to see if I was listening.

“You haven’t screamed at anyone since you first got here. You’ve been boring, and I don’t like it.”

I chuckled, and she opened her eyes and looked at me.

“I’m serious. I’m so bored. Life’s more exciting when you yell at someone. I’m not asking you to physically fight. Maybe just a shouting match or two. Preferably in a public forum.”

Suddenly, my feet felt claustrophobic in my shoes as I watched her toes run along the grass. I joined her, removing my sandals and letting my soles brush the cool grass. She opened her eyes wide and sat up, pulling her legs under herself.

“I think you’ve grown since the last time I saw you. What are you feeding that child?”

I know she didn’t mean it as an insult, but that morning, as I looked at myself in the mirror, I cried. Weight had always been an issue for me, as my mother had constantly reminded me. But looking in the mirror and seeing the roundness of my belly, the widening of my hips, it was hard, and now having a virtual stranger point it out…

“Nice to see you, too,” I said sarcastically. Doing my best to fight back.

She curled a smile. “Thank you.”

She pushed my arm, the behavior reminding me of my sister. Tears came to my eyes. She saw it and frowned.

“Hey…I didn’t mean it. I was just having some fun.”

I turned away, unable to stop the tears. She put a hand on my back.

“Hey, what’s wrong? What is it?”

I remained turned away from her, tears streaming down my face, her hand resting on my back. After a minute, I pulled myself together and wiped the tears from my eyes. I took a few big breaths, then turned back to look at her.

“I’m sorry. I’m not even sure why I’m crying. My emotions are all over the place.”

She looked at me with concern but said nothing, patting my shoulder. I forced a smile, and she didn’t return it but removed her hand. She went back to resting her arms on the top of the bench while I sat with my hands in my lap, looking at the dirt path in front of us.

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