EIGHT

“Alexa, we’re here”.

I blinked a couple of times as Calan’s voice gently brought me out of my reverie. I couldn’t believe that I had for a moment spaced out while leaning against him like this, I couldn’t believe that I had let myself lean against him in the first place. Saying nothing, I pulled myself together and sat upright, I realized that the door was already being held open for me so I climbed out with as much grace as I could.

I had just been discharged from the hospital so it was natural that I was completely exhausted and weakened, my joints were stiff and I found it hard to move quickly. I felt my knees crack and pop with every step I took, it reminded me of sitting in by the fire place on a cold night; listening to the licks, the pops and the cracks.

Once again, I wrapped my arms around myself in a feeble attempt to keep out the cold and emptiness. And I was almost at the front steps of the entrance of the house when the house helps begun filing out; it seemed almost