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“Hi, I’m Allie, Alex’s friend from school. Is he in?”
Her smile lights up her face, making her appear a little younger. “Come, get out of the rain, pet. Come on. It’s so lovely to meet one of my Alex’s friends.”
“Thank you. You must be Jessica?”
The second I step inside, I have to hold my breath. The house smells rusty and damp. It hits me in the face like a rubbish tip in the summer. I have to breathe through my mouth it’s so strong.
She leads me into a tiny living room, filled with knick-knacks and pictures. There’s two, two-seater sofas, the pea green colour faded and worn. In the middle of the room is a coffee table with burnt cup rings staining the top. There’s a shelving unit in the alcove—my grandparents had one just like it. It’s filled with more pictures, ornaments, and other bits and bobs.
I glance around again, taking in the old TV box that would need a crane to move. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one. The curtains are brown, with embroidered flowers on them.
The house is old, outdated, but you can see she’s tried her best to make it a home. It’s the cups of tea or coffee left on the coffee table, the newspapers stacked beside the sofa, and the smell of days old food that has surprised me. It’s like no one has cleaned for a few weeks, if not longer. She shouldn’t be living in this condition.
I’m so lost in a daze that I nearly miss her stumble. I grab under her elbow, steading her. “Are you okay?”
Her hands are shaking, her knees bent like she’s struggling to support herself. “I just need to sit down, pet. I’m not as young as I used to be.”
I help her into the nearest seat, one I think is hers, as the remote is on the arm and another cup of tea on the little side table next to it.
“Are you okay? Would you like me to get you something?”
She waves me off, shifting the cushion behind her to get comfortable. “I’m fine, pet. Now, take a seat. My boy has told me all about you. He said you work in the library together?”
I take a seat on the other sofa, cringing at the thought of what I might be sitting on. “We do. It’s actually why I’m here. Our supervisor, Tina, called me to say Alex walked out of work. We thought something had happened as he mentioned you’ve been sick?”
Her eyes seem to glass over for a second, before her attention turns to me. “Hello, pet, are you one of Alex’s friends?”
A little puzzled, I nod my head slowly. “Yes, do you know where he is?”
She lifts her cup of tea, drinking it, and I inwardly cringe. It looks hours old. “My Alex isn’t here. He’s at work. Do you work with him?”
“I do. Our supervisor said he walked out from his shift. We thought he would come home. He said you’ve been ill?”
She nods her head enthusiastically, and she looked so fragile I’m worried it’s not good for her brain. “He’s a good boy. Always taking care of me. He isn’t back from work yet, though.”
I grab my phone out of my front pocket, checking to see if I’ve had any missed calls from Tina, and hoping for one from CJ. I’m worried he still hasn’t called.
“Do you know when he’ll be back?” I ask.
“He’ll be back soon with my medication,” she tells me. I sigh, smiling. So that’s why he rushed out of work.
“That’s good. I’m sorry for interrupting your night.”
“It’s no bother,” she says, before leaning over and coughing. I rush over, bending down to rub her back.
“Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water?”
When she sits up, she’s pale, and it’s worrying. “Can you be a dear and grab me my pills? I’ve got a headache coming and they always make me feel better. And a glass of water would be lovely.”
“Where are your pills?” I ask softly, getting up.
She glances around the room for a second, like she’s searching for something. She frowns. “I’m not sure where I left them.”
This woman isn’t well, and as much as I admire Alex for taking care of her for all these years, she needs real medical care. She needs to be monitored all the time. She needs help.
“Are you okay with me going to find them?”
“Of course. Are you Allie?”
