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“No, no, I’m grand,” I muttered, feeling like I needed to be anywhere but here. The woman was throwing me off-kilter, which was an impressive feat considering my life was already on its axis. “Listen, I appreciate the offer of breakfast, but I need to get going.”
“Why don’t you sit down, love, and have a cup of tea first?” she coaxed as she walked over to the marble island and pulled out a stool for me to sit on. “I’ll drop you back into town myself afterward.”
I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
I felt wary and on edge.
This woman? I didn’t know this woman. Couldn’t figure out her angle.
“I have places to be.”
“Not on an empty stomach.”
“My girlfriend’s waiting for me.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you having a bite to eat first.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Humor me, love.”
I pulled at the sleeves of her son’s hoodie that I was wearing and mentally tried to take her measure. “Fine, I’ll, ah, have a cup of tea…please.”
Her eyes lit up. “Good lad yourself.”
“And if it’s not too much trouble, could I, ah… Well, do you maybe…” Blowing out a breath, I reached up and scratched my jaw before forcing out the words that made me hate myself worse than I already did. “Have anything for pain?”
“For your face, love?”
No, for my heart. “Yeah.” I nodded. “I, ah, I left my meds at home.”
“I’ll poke something out for you from the medicine cupboard,” she replied, moving for a cupboard in the far corner of the kitchen. “Are you allergic to anything?”
“No,” I replied, forcing myself to not move an inch. “I can take anything.”
“Let’s see… There’s some ibuprofen here.”
Fuck.
“Yeah.” Shivering, I released a despondent sigh and nodded wearily. “That’ll be grand, thanks.”
“Oh, hold the phone…” Still rummaging around, she retrieved a white plastic pill tray. “There’s a few Solpadol left over from Johnny’s surgery in December.”
Bingo.
A sudden rush of relief washed over me, and I couldn’t stop my feet from moving toward her. “That’s great. That’s what I’m on from the hospital.”
“Here you are, love. I’ll get you a drink.”
“Thanks,” I replied, gratefully accepting the pills she dropped into the palm of my hand before taking the glass of water she offered me.
It wouldn’t do much, but it would take the edge off until I could get sorted.
Get sorted.
What a fucking joke.
You are a joke, asshole.
