“I’m gonna eat my breakfast,” he said defensively.
He could feel his animal shaking his head, but Bowie could easily reason with himself that eating should be his priority when the note was right there on the counter, telling him to do just that.
He continued in the same vein, going to shower and add cream to his elbow, which was a nasty shade of purple, as were the marks on his neck. Seeing them brought a fresh bout of tears, making his eyes red and swollen by the time he headed into the bedroom to dress. He wasn’t one to feel sorry for himself, or not this bad and not in a long time. Bowie was feeling very much out of sorts by the time he was ready to leave for work. Except he couldn’t make himself step outside of his apartment.
Ring Kari.
It was the fifth time his animal had reiterated what Bowie should do. He searched his contacts and looked at Kari’s number for the longest time before he gave in, when he really couldn’t justify taking another day off.
Three rings and Kari answered, “Hey, how are we this morning, Babycakes?”
Flustered at how Kari addressed him, it took way longer for Bowie to get his lips working. “I’m fine,” he croaked. He coughedto clear his throat while trying to ask if Kari would come and walk him to his car. “Would… can… oh dear…” he trailed off.
“It’s alright Bowie, just take a minute and gather your thoughts.” It helped that Kari didn’t sound annoyed.
“Could you come and get me… not get me… but like walk me to my car… Rex… you see—”
“Of course. I’m just heading out of the house now. I’ll be with you in about fifteen minutes. When I arrive, I’ll message. Then you can let those in reception know I’m allowed to come up.”
Bowie nodded, then realized Kari couldn’t see him, which he was glad of when he blushed at his own silliness. “Will do.”
“See you soon.”
Bowie slipped the cell into his trouser pocket, going to collect his things for work and to tuck away the notes with his bears.
“You look after those Boo-Boo, okay,” he murmured, closing the closet, his jacket clutched in his hand, not thinking about what he was doing.
No, thinking was overrated.
Minutes later, he paced by his front door after ringing down to advise he had a visitor, giving Kari’s name and then texting Kari to explain. Bowie didn’t want to delay Kari further when he was already coming out of his way just to walk Bowie to his car. Kari’s lack of questions didn’t come across as odd, what did was how Kari was acting.
Kari is always nice.Yes, he was. Then why did this feel different somehow?
Rex would never inconvenience himself for Bowie.
Stop thinking about the loser. And stop comparing him to Kari. There is no comparison.
Bowie took a few minutes to consider that before he agreed. Rex had been nice in the beginning, hadn’t he?
It was hard to say when he could feel the dull ache in his elbow every time he moved it and knew what was under the shirt he’dpicked to hide the marks on his neck. The recollection of soaking his pants he shut away at the shudder of fear that came with it. It wanted to creep from his sub-conscious, along with the nasty comments Rex had thrown at him.
The doorbell rang and he had the door open before it stopped.
Kari gave him a startled look before a soft smile spread like sunshine, brightening his eyes. “All ready for D—me. Shall we get going?”
At the quick correction, Bowie got the impression Kari was about to say something else, only he couldn’t think what. “Okay.”
Kari stepped aside, and Bowie peeked out, breathing easier at the empty corridor.
“Bowie, what’s wrong? What are you checking for?”
Bowie dipped his eyes to the carpet and didn’t know how to answer when it would point out what a fool he’d been.If what’s happened already didn’t do that!
A fingertip stroked the tip of his chin. “Look at me, Babycakes. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
It was easier to do as he was told when he really wanted to believe that, even when he knew the truth.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
