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I roll on my side, trying to find sleep. Giving up, I go to get a glass of water from downstairs. I look at the pictures on the wall while finishing my glass before placing it upside down on the dish rack and heading back upstairs. Walking past my mother’s room, I stop. I stick my head inside, checking on her before seeing the empty spot beside her.

I open the door wider, and she sits up, hearing the door creak.

“Ada?”

I stand there for a second, getting ready to leave, when she pulls the blanket back, tapping the empty spot, and I rush over, climbing into bed with her. She tucks the blanket back around me before spooning me.

I get comfortable before finally falling asleep.

* * *

I wake up the next morning when my mother climbs out of bed.

“Go back to sleep. You don’t have to get up yet,” she says, and I roll, snuggling back under the blanket.

I can’t sleep, though, the bed feeling empty, reminding me of the times I was left cuffed to the bed while he came and went.

Getting up, I start getting ready for work, taking my time to do my make-up and hair. Getting dressed, I hear Maya and Taylor get up as she rushes around getting ready to do the school drop-off. The school drop-off I used to do.

Chucking my black slacks on and white button-up shirt and blazer, I look in the mirror. I look the part but definitely feel like an impostor. Sighing, I walk out, heading downstairs.

“Are you coming to work with me?” Taylor asks while pulling Maya’s hair into a ponytail.

“Yes, if that is alright. I need to get another car,” I tell her.

“You can have yours back. I have savings now to buy one.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s fine. I will just come to work with you,” I tell her.

I don’t really feel like leaving now, but knowing she is going will make me force myself to work.

We drop Maya to school before stopping at the café on the way to work to grab some coffee. Getting to the office, we go our separate ways, but I tell her I will be finishing at the same time as her so I can get a lift to and from work.

Catching the lift to the top floor, I find it eerily quiet, the curtains all closed. The entire floor is cold and empty. I make my way to my desk and start up the computer.

I don’t understand why they want me to work on the empty floor. Is it to make me want to go home? The silence up here is enough to drive anyone insane. Noticing the camera in the corner of the room blinking, I know they will be watching; the camera can be viewed from Eli’s phone or computer. Knowing that, I set myself up before making myself busy. I don’t want to give them any excuse to come back, thinking I am slacking off or not coping. I check the emails and deliveries around midday. I hear Cyrus’s phone ring that he gave me to use. Eli’s picture pops up on the screen. I reject the call before sending a message saying I will call back. Yet, he rings again, and I reject the call.

I have no intentions of going back or talking to them about anything other than work. I need to distance myself from them; that is the only thing I want. To be left alone, to pick up the pieces of what is left of my life. He ends up sending a text message.

Eli: Why aren’t you answering?

Me: Busy with work.

Eli: Ring me when you done.

I don’t bother replying to the last one, knowing I won’t be ringing him. Instead, I start going through the various files on my computer and sorting and scanning old documents in. By the time I am done, I look up and realize it is time to go home. Have eight hours really passed that quickly? I even worked through my lunch break without realizing it. Shrugging, I switch everything off, knowing Taylor will be waiting downstairs.

My phone rings; Eli is calling again. I mute it and ignore it vibrating in my hand.

Taylor is waiting downstairs for me, keys in hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize the time,” I tell her, and she puts her phone away and starts walking with me to the exit.

“Did mom grab Maya?”

“Yep, we just gotta grab dinner on the way home,” she says, looping her arm through mine as we walk to the car.

“How was your first day back? Must be lonely up there by yourself,” she says.