Page 546 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

vomit splashing the brick.

Hot in my throat.

Violent.

Burning.

The side door bursts open.

“Allison—”

His hands catch my waist.

I jerk away from him so fast

my shoulder hits the wall.

He backs off.

“Okay,” he exhales. “Okay.”

Both hands up, he breathes hard.

That’s when I finally look at him.

His face is shut down.

His eyes are gone.

Blood drips from his knuckles.

Like he tried to beat my confession away from him. “I—uh—I’m shocked, okay? You got me standing here fuckin'—shit⁠—

“I didn’t plan for this.

“I didn't expect⁠—”

He drags a hand over his mouth. “Allison, I never thought you’d say those words.”

I stand petrified in front of him,

waiting for him to say anything more.

I wait long enough for the cold to numb me,

for my teeth to start chattering,

for the cold, hard truth to ice over.

But nothing more ever comes.

My voice slips out weak and broken⁠—

“You don’t love me, do you?”

I feel stupid for asking,

to keep the hurt hurting.