Page 3 (1/1)
After cleaning the floors, I take one last look at where Bennett is staying, not knowing if I’ll ever get the gu piece of me wants to ‘Suck it up, buttercup’ and deal with the repercussions, even if those are hiht to do so It would suck The wounds would probably rip right open again just like all those years ago, but ive the two of us so what I’ to do tomorrow
3
SHADOW
Shila’s head is stuck in a cloud, not realistically but figuratively I watched her while she orking without gettin’ too close to her, but I saw the way she left, eyes red fro not to cry I didn’t knohich one was the case, though her shoulders weren’t held in defeat If anything, it was more that she had some kind of epiphany When she left The Breezeway, it wasn’t in a car or even takin’ the bus She walked, after a day where she was on her goddamn feet all day, and now Shila is walkin’ ho on her is that she has no idea I’rab her without her realizing what’s going on
It’s only when she stops to cross the street that she checks her surroundings
“Shila” I rev up the engine onher attention
“Bennett” I can barely hear her over my exhaust but see her mouth a name I haven’t heard in more years than I can count, soft, subtle, and bitter-fuckin-sweet I nodher to co the pros and cons of being aroundbut muddy fuckin’ waters
“Butterfly,” Iup on her co to me Her lips quiver That’s also when sheto hold traffic up in case it actually comes to that in this small-as-fuck town I wheel ine off, practicallyher halfway
“Oh God,” is what Shila says I cli into the interior of rab my pack of smokes, and put one in my mouth
“You goin’ to stay in place, or are you coarette
“You kept it?” Shila e loud and clear
“Kept everythin’ you ever gaveher more information than I probably should have The arette betweenShila where I want her This way, she can’t leave ain
“Bennett” Her handson for dear life One of arette then pull it out ofsure I don’t blow my smoke near her face or burn her with any stray ash
“Thinkin’ we need to talk, Shila” My eyes take her in, cataloguing every daer than ever, those bourbon-colored eyes, light broith flecks of honey, lips that are full and a deep red, a body that was that of a teenager has now developed into a wo’
“Yeah, our last one didn’t go that well” She pauses mid-sentence I don’t try to rush her, not because I don’t want to but because this shit is gonna take tiet fixed on the side of the road “I’ht I was protecting you Clearly, it didn’t work, noto tear us apart, and they did just that Watching you leave that day, it tore at my soul”
“Butterfly, don’t blaoin’ with me Fuckin’ sucked the way shit played out I hate admittin’ it now, but it was probably for the best you let rowin’ up to do Fucked around a lot in jobs, did a stint in jail, and if it weren’t for my brothers, who knohat I’d end up in” Shila starts to take a step away, but ain’t no way I’ that shit happen