Chapter 8: Lonely days


    Today was one of those days where I couldn’t get out of bed, even though I had to go to work. I could


    go days without eating and I still wouldn’t get out of my bed. My phone could be going off and I would


    just let it ring.


    It was like one of my “moods.” How I felt when I first got diagnosed with depression. I didn’t want to


    speak with anyone; I just stayed home and felt like ending it. One moment I was fine, happy even, and


    the next I was ready to give up.


    My siblings all have a key to my house. Usually they’de andfort me but I just wanted to be


    alone. I know I could lose my job if I kept doing this. I just couldn’t help it. It wasn’t my fault. My boss


    supposedly understands, but who says she won’t find someone more capable?


    I don’t have to take certain pills anymore. I got better. Antidepressants just made me feel…artificial, but


    they did help me in a weird twisted way.


    I can’t stay in bed today. Not again.


    I picked up my phone and called Liam, my best friend.


    “Hey, what’s up?” he asked, answering the phone. “Don’t you have work right now?”


    “I need you right now.”


    The line went quiet for a few seconds. “I’ll be there in a few.” Then he hung up.


    I checked my phone and saw the many messagesing from all my siblings, my parents, and from


    Eli. Ever since our first date two weeks ago, everything had been going perfectly. We went out on a few


    dates. Got breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon. He would bring me flowers sometimes, too.


    But a man like him makes me question everything. He had everything I wanted in a man, but he did


    everything almost perfectly. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.


    I heard a knock on my door.


    I really didn’t want to get up, but I needed him right now. I’ll just answer Elijah’s textster, when I’m in


    a better mindset.


    I opened the door, revealing a smiling Liam. He grinned and hugged me. He’s always so warm and


    “You stink,” he teased. I scowled.


    “I know. I’m gonna go take a shower.”


    “Alright.” He nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll just try to do some work here or something.”


    Without telling him anything else, I left him to go take a shower. I don’t exactly know how long I’ve been


    in the shower. All I know is that I was running out of warm water and Liam was beating on my door,


    telling me toe out.


    I shut shower and wrapped my towel around my body. Before he could bang on the door again, I


    yanked the door open and gave him a stern look.


    “Why are you banging on the door so hard?”


    “Because!” he shouted in disbelief. “You’ve been in there for an hour and a half!”


    I rolled my eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. I’ve only been in here for like twenty minutes.”


    “No,” he said, grabbing his phone to show me the time. “See?”


    I scratched the back of my neck when I realized I have indeed been in the bathroom for over an hour.


    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”


    He chuckled. “It’s fine. Anyway, your phone has been going off for a while now. Some guy named


    Elijah.”


    I nodded my head. “I’ll answer him once I change.”


    “I’ll leave you so you can change now. And don’t take over an hour!”


    Iughed as he walked away, grinning. In my room, I put on some in ck baggy clothes. I began


    slightly tidying up my room until my phone went off again. It was a text from Elijah.


    Elijah: Are you okay?


    Elijah: Why are you not answering my calls or texts?


    Elijah: I hope I didn’t do anything wrong.


    Elijah: Do you want to hang outter?


    Elijah: Please answer


    Elijah: What happened?


    Elijah: Do you want space?


    Elijah: Do you want me toe over?


    Elijah: Please answer.


    The texts were all scattered out and sent at different times. I sighed and quickly sent him a message.


    Sorry, Elijah, for not answering your texts or calls. I’m just kind of sick. Sorry if I worried you. Tell


    Jasmine I said hi since I wasn’t able to see her today.


    I didn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, I left the room and went to my living room where everything


    looked more clean and organized. I saw Liam sitting on the couch, sitting with his leg on the coffee


    table and aptop on hisp. When he sees me walk in the room, he closed theptop.


    “You like how I cleaned the ce? ‘Cause I sure do.” A proud smile was on his face.


    I nodded. “Yeah, it looks way nicer. Thanks.”


    “I ordered pizza,” he informed me. “It’ll be here in a few minutes. I also ordered sushi since I was sort of


    feeling it. We can watch a movie and talk,” he suggested. I agreed with the idea and we began


    searching for a movie to watch. Once we picked out the movie, someone knocked on the door and


    Liam went to pay for the food.


    We watched the random movie we picked out, my headid on his shoulder as we watched. Along the


    way, we finished eating the food he ordered. Liam eventually paused the movie so we could have a talk


    about my mental state. He was worried, obviously, but I told him I was fine and I just needed a break,


    some time to rx. We resumed the movie until we heard another knock on the door.


    I frowned since, well, we didn’t invite anyone else. So who could it be?


    Liam offered to go open the door whilst I stayed sitting on the couch. I was stunned when I heard Elijah


    speaking to Liam.


    Shit, I thought, I hope he doesn’t get the wrong idea.


    I quickly went to the door to see Liam with a stern look on his face while Elijah had a blithe face on.


    “I’ll take it from here, Liam,” I told my brother. He nodded and walked away.


    “Sorry I came here unexpectedly. I just thought I’d bring soup since you said you were sick. I texted, but


    I guess you didn’t see the texts,” he informed me genuinely. My heart did a little jump as I saw he was,


    in fact, holding a small pot with soup. He’s just too perfect.


    “I am sick, just not the sick you’re thinking of,” I said, chuckling. “Come inside.”


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    He looked hesitant but nodded and entered the ce with me. We went to the kitchen together.


    “What kind of soup is this?” I decided to ask.


    He smiled proudly. “My mama taught me how to make it. It’s just vegetables with chicken. I hope you


    enjoy it.”


    “I’m sure I will,” I answered while keeping eye contact with him. We stared at each other for a while,


    slowlying closer and closer. We were about to kiss when Liam interrupted us - and I just know he


    did it on purpose. I’ll definitely get him back for that.


    Elijah and I pulled away, blushing. He red at Liam who looked amused.


    “Sorry for the interruption, folks, but I have to go, Aisha. Something came up. I could stay if you want,


    but I don’t think you want me to.”


    I red at him harder. “Get out, Liam.”


    He quickly pouted. “Okay…bye, sweetheart!”


    I knew he was just doing that to piss Elijah off, but Eli didn’t really react. He just had a nk face on.


    “Bye, Liam. Text me when you get home.”


    “I will.”


    He gave me onest hug before walking out of the ce, closing the door on his way out.


    “Sorry for him,” I apologized to Eli. “That’s just how he is.”


    “It’s okay.”


    I grabbed the soup and began heating it up on the stove. Then, I left the kitchen to go to the couch. Eli


    followed and we both sat down on the couch and began watching a new movie.


    I liked the silence. It felt nice.