Page 9 of No Cap

“I couldn’t let it go,” I continued to talk, tears threatening.

“Your phone’s still recording,” he said softly.

That’s when he let me go enough to allow me to stop it.

I did, then fisted it tightly. “I’m scared she’s going to try again.”

He patted my hair, his voice soft, and said, “Darlin’, if you’re that worried about her, you should be with her.”

I should.

“She promised me that she wouldn’t ever try again,” I said. “And she lives with her mom.”

“Good,” he said as he gently guided me through the elevator door. “I’m sorry I have to kick you out.”

I was sorry, too.

The place seemed really nice.

“Thank you for helping me get away from him,” I said as he guided me toward the door.

But he didn’t kick me out.

He walked me to my car in the alley.

Which was very thoughtful.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“I would hope that, if my sister had made it out of childhood, she would’ve had a friend like you,” he said. “Be careful on the way home, darlin’.”

And I was.

I drove home on autopilot. But the fury that had ignited my blood was gone. All that was left was a sense of helplessness.

When I got to my apartment, I parked in my usual spot next to the dumpster.

The homeless guy who usually stayed there next to it was gone, and I was sad that I’d missed him for the night.

He was a nice guy. Liked to make sure that I got to the front door all right.

When I got inside, I was annoyed to see that the elevator still wasn’t working, and there were now four lights out in the lobby instead of the usual three.

Tromping up the stairs in my uncomfortable high heels, I pulled out my phone and texted Keda’s mom, Denita.

Me:

How is she?

Denita replied instantly, saying that the last she checked, Keda was sleeping.

Tucking my phone under my arm, I dug the key out of my bra and unlocked my apartment.

My apartment door closed, and I felt suddenly sad.

So, because I loved music and dancing, I turned my phone onto Spotify and played my favorites playlist, then danced around the kitchen as I tried to scrounge up something to eat. The cupcake was just a snack.

To say that I was useless at dancing would be an understatement.