But I'm drunk. Not falling-down-drunk. Just fuzzy like my head is filled with cotton balls and I know enough to walk slowly and hold rails so I don't stumble in these shoes. These are Devil shoes and they're not easy sober, let alone like this.
I turn the lights on inside. It's so bright. He squints from the sudden flood assaulting his eyes.
Princess.
Happy New Year, Jakey.
Happy New Year, Bridget.
He only calls me by my name when he's irritated. God I miss him being irritated. I miss him being anything.
I'm not having anymore, if that's what you're worried about.
Good.
Unless he makes me.
Bridget-
Just don't. I just wanted to see you.
You shouldn't be over there.
I have bills to pay.
This isn't the girl I fell in love with.
I don't know if you noticed but things have changed.
You haven't changed.
Too bad about that.
No it isn't. They should be doing more to keep you safe.
They can't. I have obligations.
Sure they could. You don't have to be here.
This is where I belong.
No, you belong in a warm little house with someone you love, happy and content.
I had that once but things are different now. I walk unsteadily back to the door and flip the light off and leave without saying goodbye.
***
I see so little timeTheir plan worked really well. Someone made me a drink around four and then another around six and by nine I was a little bit a little lit, I'm afraid. We went to the Boathouse just before eleven, where we hung out in the kitchen, much to Caleb's dismay, for he had to go back and forth from us to the others. Loch kept looking at his watch, to the point of rudeness. Then abruptly at 11:53, he stood up, pulled me up with him, wished everyone who was in the kitchen a lovely New Year's and pulled me wordlessly back home before Caleb was even aware that we had left. Loch pulled me into the house, up the stairs and into our room where he closed and locked the door behind us, looked at his watch once more, and then said Happy New Year, Peanut. This year is going to be different. We're going to get some help and change everything and the Devil isn't invited and then he put his hands up to hold my face and he kissed me like he never seems to kiss me anymore.
My eyes are crossed, my hands are tied
All I wanna do is to breathe in
I was asleep under the quilts by twelve-thirty and then I didn't wake up until Ben came in (he has a key) around three I think. He kissed me on the shoulder and said Happy New Year Little Bee and I garbled something back and fell asleep mid-kiss and no one woke me until ten this morning with fruit and tea on a tray just for me.
So...Happy New Year.
So far my resolutions are no coffee and no Caleb. He's not going to be very happy. I had just gotten his approval for a less structured, less difficult time schematic. I would go see him if and when I wanted to. He fought me on it but ultimately decided it was the best way, because I would be there only when I wanted to be there. I was actually the only one who thought it was a good idea but while I was thinking up that idea I guess everyone else was thinking up this one.