Exercise 2

I don't know where I plan to go. None of my "new and improved" friends are up. The old ones are off limits, aside from Mickey. But her crazy ass is gone. In mid-thought, as I gaze around, I catch something. Just underneath my window, something's caught on a nail. A small, ragged shred of black lace fluttered with every gust of Chicago wind.

    "What. The fuck." I whisper in fear to no one. Or at least I hope it's no one. I'm too scared to be surprised by my own voice or worry about who lurks near. Someone was in my room. Someone climbed up just as I climbed down. Someone made a struggling effort to get in, ripping a garment in the process. Someone tried to cover their tracks and shut the window. I'm finding it hard to breathe because I know exactly what that lace is from.

    This fear, and this anger have been experienced before. Never together though. She's not welcome here anymore. She knows that. She couldn't have been here because she knows that.

    "She knows." I choke out before my body folds to the ground and loud sobs shake down my spine. I'm spinning and collapsing and there's a ten ton weight on top of me. At least that's what it feels like. Before I can shut down completely a shadow falls over what's left of my sanity lain in the middle of the lawn.

"Lo?..."