33. Alex
THIRTY-THREE
Alex
R ays of sunlight warm my face, and I blink away the sleep from my eyes as I slowly come to. The faint scent of apricot is left behind on my sheets, and when I breathe it in memories from last night flood my brain. The sound of Opal’s voice, the taste of her mouth mixed with the rain, the feel of her soft skin against my fingertips.
She’s gone, I know it without having to get up and look around for her.
I reach over to grab my phone off the nightstand, anxiety swelling in my chest when I remember that I still don’t have any way to contact her. I know I told her I’d leave her alone if that’s what she wanted, but I have no idea how to do that now. Knowing she’s right down the street, sleeping peacefully in the same bed that I used to crawl into with her on so many nights, it’s going to kill me.
After willing myself to roll out of bed, the first thing I do is grab a beer from the fridge. I’m trying to quit, or at least cut back, but after years of heavy drinking and drug use, it’s not easy to find other ways to effectively cope with stress.
Dad is still asleep in his room when I peek behind his closed door, probably due to the heavily sedative pills his doctor prescribed.
I’m not sure what to do with myself. My whole body is buzzing with electricity, wishing for one more hit of my drug of choice, but she’s gone. What did I think would happen? She’d be sleeping peacefully in my arms when I woke up, as if I traveled back in time five years?
After attempting to watch some tv and check my social media apps, neither of which were enough to distract my restless mind, I walk outside to get some fresh air. My eyes flit to a bit of movement on the other side of the street, my heart skips a beat, assuming I’m going to find Opal walking down her driveway, possibly making her way back to me.
It isn’t her, though, it’s her grandmother.
The last time I saw her, she still had a few strands of brown in her hair. Now it’s completely gray, and cut very short. She slowly makes her way from her porch down the steps, wobbling as she goes, and then proceeds to walk down the short driveway to her mailbox.
After shutting the mailbox, she takes a step backward and it misses her footing, her arms reaching out to grab onto something that isn’t there. My heart swooshes and I spring into action. I rush across the street, running faster than I probably have since ninth grade PE class. Thankfully she manages to regain her balance before I can fully make my way over to her.
“You alright?” I call out to her, my hand covering my chest as I catch my breath.
She looks around, confusion visible in her eyes until they land on me. “Alex? Is that you?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Well I’ll be. A star has decided to grace us with his presence in Willow Grove.”
I chuckle awkwardly, tugging at the collar of my t-shirt. “I guess.”
“Opal didn’t tell me you were back in town. Does she know?”
I assume Opal wouldn’t want me to air out any of our dirty laundry to her grandma of all people, so I shake my head, keeping it vague.
“Well, alright then. Thanks for coming to help me.” She hobbles back up the driveway with as much difficulty as she had coming down.
“You sure you don’t need help getting back up the porch steps?”
Opal’s been dealing with this all on her own, for years now. I can’t imagine how hard that must be. A weird combination of guilt and adoration pour through my veins. She’s always been so gentle and loving towards everyone around her. It’s unbelievable that I’ve managed to push her to the point where she’s anything less than kind to me. Of course, I obviously deserve it.
“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” She gives me a warm grin.
I feel like I shouldn’t just leave her here. “Is Opal here?” I glance over at the little brick house, still in the exact same condition it was five years ago. Nothing has changed except that there aren’t as many flowers in the beds as there once was.
She squints her eyes at me like she’s wondering how much information she should divulge. I have no idea what all Opal has told her, but I can only assume she doesn’t have the highest opinion of me anymore. “She is. She’s still asleep.”
I wonder what time she wandered home, I hope she waited for the rain to stop at least.
“Gotcha. Well, I’m right across the street if you need me.”
“You’re back for good?”
I stuff my hands in my pockets, unsure how to answer. “I think so.”
She cocks her head and gives me a slight grimace. “I think you oughta figure it out before you come and see Opal, you understand young man?”
Shit. This woman has always intimidated me, and I can tell exactly where Opal gets her feisty streak from. I respect how much she cares about Opal though, she has every right to be wary of me.
“Yes ma’am,” I nod and try to fake a smile, but she doesn’t return it. “C-can you let Opal know I came by? I’d like to see her.”
She eyes me up and down again, and a slow smile creeps over her face. “Mhm, sure will, Alex.”