50: Unintentional Harm

Lizzie cast her luminous eyes down and turned around, preparing to stride towards her apartment.

"Lizzie." Jacob emerged from around a corner, his face a portrait of desolation. New stubble sprouted from his face, his usually crisp shirt now crumpled and reeking of alcohol.

"What happened to you?" Lizzie was taken aback. Jacob, always immaculate, was now a disheveled shadow of his former self, a sight she hadn't fathomed.

"I—I'm fine." Jacob tried to steady his swaying body, belching. "And you? Are you okay? I've been worried about you. You went to the Kolo's this morning, didn't you? Did anyone from the Kolo family give you a hard time?" He had been camping out under her apartment since leaving the bar in the wee hours, watching until daybreak as Bruno's Cayenne sped out of the garage. He had waited, downing can after can of beer, until Lizzie finally returned.

Lizzie shook her head. "No, they understood."

"Good, that's good." Jacob let out a bitter smile, his head nodding nonstop.

"