Page 48 of Kaine

“Jade.” I call out to her, hoping to jar her out of it.

She doesn’t respond.

And then I know. It’s this place This is where she was attacked. What is she even doing here?

I push myself up from the bench and come up behind her.

“Why are you here? This... can’t be easy for you.”

“It’s not. But I can’t go through the front door either,” she says with a shrug.

“I know.”

“Ironic thing is, I’ve found you now. And I’ve thanked you. But they still won’t leave me alone.”

“I can make them.” I’ll do anything for you.

“No, I told you. You don’t ever have to do anything for me anymore. Goodbye, Kaine.”

She says her last words, staring straight ahead as she walks past the wall where she was attacked, and into the building.

I follow her but as I reach the door, I hear a click.

It’s locked.

She really did mean for it to be goodbye.

What’ve I done? What have I fucking done?

I watch through the door as she walks away, never turning back.

I make my way back through the side alley to the front entrance, punching my hand through the row of trash cans as I go, leaving them dented and lying on their sides, littering the narrow walkway with empty bottles and day-old newspaper.