“Complications”

Abby woke up, stretched and slowly rolled out of bed. She was still wearing one of Alex’s white button-down shirts, smiled to herself as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. It still held his scent on it, even after she’d slept in it, and somehow that had made her feel safe, as though he were there with her – surrounding her.

She hurried to take a shower, pulled on the jeans she’d been wearing but decided her blouse needed a good washing before she wore it again, so she rummaged through Alex’s clothes and decided he wouldn’t mind if she just borrowed one of his shirts. He was getting out of the hospital in a couple more days and she had promised to give him a ride home. She could hardly wait to see him again and thank him for his generosity at letting her stay in his room here at the boarding house.

As she ran a brush through her wet hair, smiling to herself in the mirror, there was a sudden knock on the door. Abby jumped, dropping the brush into the sink. She froze for a moment, wondering who could be knocking on the door and whether or not she should answer it. When another knock sounded, she turned around and tiptoed over to the door, took a deep breath, then opened the door a crack.

Colin was standing there in front of her, a suitcase in his hand.

“G’day,” he said, smiling at her. “Ross told me you were here.”

She just looked at him, her face expressionless.

“Um... can I come in, then?” he asked.

She opened the door wide, stepped aside to allow him to walk in past her. Once he was inside, she closed the door and leaned her back against the door, her arms crossed in front of her. “Planning on moving in?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow and motioning towards the suitcase still clutched in his hand.

“Oh...um... no,” he chuckled, nervously, setting the suitcase down beside him. “I...um... thought you might be needed some things from your house. Hope you don’t mind, the sheriff let me in.”

She looked blankly at him a moment, then nodded, “Thanks. That all then?”

“Abby... look, I know you’re mad at me...”

“You bet I am!” she scoffed.

“And you have every right to be. I was a fool and I’m sorry. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do or what to think right now, Colin. Maybe someday you and I can be friends again, but for now... I just don’t think I want to see you for a while.”

Colin nodded, “Fair enough,” he told her, a grim look on his face. “So, you and Alex...?”

“Me and Alex what?” she asked.

“Well, you’re staying here in his room... I just thought that maybe you two were... I don’t know...”

“The man answered his phone when I called for help,” she replied, sarcastically. “And he was kind enough to let me stay here while he’s in the hospital since all the other rooms are filled. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“He... um...he said he’s getting out in a couple days. If you’d like... I mean, it would be no bother, I have that big house.... and my sister and brother-in-law are staying there, too... there’s always room for one more.”

“Thanks but no thanks,” she replied, “Sounds like you already have a house full.”

“You...you aren’t going back to that...house then, are you?”

“No Colin, I’m not. I don’t know where I’m going but I know it’s not there and it’s not with you. Now, if you don’t mind, I was just about to head out to visit Alex.” She opened the door, motioning for Colin to leave.

He nodded, grabbed his crutches and walked slowly past her and out the door, then stopped and turned back to face her, “Abby... if you change your mind... or you just want to talk...”

“Yeah,” she said, flatly, “I know where you’ll be. Too bad you weren’t there when it counted, though.”

He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek but she moved away.

“Well then... I guess this is good bye... again.”

“Thanks for bringing my things over, but yes, this is goodbye,” she told him, closing the door as he stood there.

Abby leaned her back against the door, let out the deep breath as well as the tears she’d been holding in. She stood there a few minutes, then walked back into the bathroom, cleaned her face and reapplied her make-up, then headed out to meet Alex – wondering to herself how her life got so utterly complicated.