It had made all the papers. I hadn’t even left my house for a week after I’d been released from the hospital. I hadn’t wanted people to stare at me. I’d figured that after ten days, people had moved on to the next big story and had forgotten all about me.
When I did venture out, I still felt like everyone was staring at me. I knew they weren’t, but I couldn’t convince myself otherwise.
If it weren’t for Morgan, I might have become a shut-in.
Let me rephrase that. If it weren’t for Morgan’s mother, I might have been perfectly content to stay in my home forever. She came to me, held me while I cried, and helped me pick the pieces up.
Without her, I wouldn’t have been lying in his arms and feeling the peace that had just washed over me.
“I’m just a phone call away, princess. If you need me, I’ll rush to your side.” His other hand touched my arm, gently rubbing it as my body was flush to his.
“It’ll be okay.” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or me. “I’m tougher than this. Damn,” I mumbled.
“You’re one of the toughest women I know. Remember that. You can do anything you want.”
“Even quit?” I asked, glancing up at him.
“Quit if you want, princess. Don’t do something you don’t want to anymore.”
I chewed my lip, wondering if I’d have the guts to quit and never look back without regret. “Easy for you to say,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“See how today goes. You may have an easier time saying those words than you think. If you can’t handle it today, then don’t go back. Life’s too damn short to be unhappy.”
“I have a meeting with my boss at eleven. I’ll see how I feel then.”
Months ago, I would’ve said that nothing in the world could make me quit, but that had changed. Looking into the face of death had made me reevaluate my life. No longer did I find joy in my work—instead, I found peace in life’s simple moments.
“You call and I’ll be there, babe.”
“I know you will,” I whispered, wrapping my arm around him and squeezing him. “I love you, Morgan.”
“Princess,” he whispered, dragging my face to his. As he stared down at me, he smiled. “I love you too, Race. More than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything in the entire world.”
I reached up and gave him a kiss.
Best Monday ever.
Worst Monday ever.
When the elevator doors opened, this morning, it sounded like everything in the office stopped. It was like being in a movie. As I walked by, every person turned to face me, papers fluttered to the floor, and people whispered to each other.
I knew that it wasn’t really happening, but it felt that way to me. I felt every eye on me as I walked toward my office door. People nodded, giving me a sad smile as if they felt sorry for me. I held my head up high, refusing to play the role of the victim as I marched toward my office.
“Hi, Cara,” I said as I stopped at her desk. “Please give me a few moments to myself.”
“So glad to see you, Ms. True,” she replied as she nodded. “You take all the time you need, honey.”
I turned on my heel and walked into my office, closing the door quietly behind me. My back collapsed against the door as I used it to hold myself up.
I couldn’t do this.
I didn’t want to do this.
I hated it here.
The last time I had been in this room, Natasha was with me. Even though she was dead, her words and actions haunted me.
I didn’t want to bethatgirl.
