Leah's Apology
Mister
I sat behind my desk, reviewing the footage from the day before. Our newest member was pushing herself faster than she was ready to go. Phoenix had attended the weekly get-together the night before, and I was a little worried about how she was faring. She went from happy to wasted in no time, and there had to be a reason. Jealousy was not enough of a reason to explain away what happened.
Every little thing that she said regarding her past made me concerned about whether or not she could handle being here. I was beginning to wonder if she knew how to express herself in an appropriate manner. The last thing we needed in our community was a loose cannon walking around. I hated thinking that about her, but we really didn’t know anything about her.
My computer beeped, and I switched the camera view I was looking at so that I was watching Phoenix sit up in her bed. She rubbed her eyes before groaning loudly. She pushed the covers off her body before pulling them back up to cover her breasts. Her eyes closed as she began to cry. I leaned back in my chair to watch her. I knew she would have a hangover, which was why Rosemary, our delivery girl, was told to leave her Tylenol and ginger ale on her porch.
I usually handle all the new members’ needs, but after last night, I did not think anyone should be going inside her home without her knowledge. Especially if she was still feeling the effects of the alcohol she consumed the night before. I pulled up the communication app that I used to speak to my members before typing a quick message and sending it to Phoenix.
“Take two Tylenol, eat, and have some ginger ale to settle your stomach. Everything you need is on your porch.”
She stood up, wrapping the blanket around her, before going to the front door to get the supplies that were left there for her. She carried the small basket into the kitchen, where she popped two of the Tylenol into her mouth. I tapped my fingers on the desk before picking up my phone. I quickly dialed her phone before sighing. I hated calling her into the community, but she was the only one that I trusted. Phoenix was fragile, and I didn’t want to hurt her more. That wasn’t what we did in the Garden of Eden.
“It’s about damn time you called me,” she said when she answered the call.
“Hello to you, too. Are you busy?” I asked.
“Never for you. What’s up?”
“I have a new member who could use your services,” I told her.
“Of course you do. Tell me about her.”
“Her name is Phoenix-”
“Fuck that! What’s her real name? Don’t play with me!”
“Leah Adams.”
“That’s pretty,” she mused. “So, what about Leah made you call me?”
“I have concerns. She got drunk last night and-”
“You called me because she got drunk? People get drunk. That’s not a reason to call a psychiatrist.”
“For fuck’s sake, can I finish a damn sentence?!” I snapped.
“Oh, now I see.”
“I don’t know what you think you see, but-”
“This isn’t about Leah.”
“Yes, it is. Leah-”
“Let me guess, she is another sheltered woman that you think you can rescue. Not every broken woman is your responsibility to save. I’m proud of you for trying to make people’s lives better, but when is it going to be enough? Ever since Dia-”
“THIS ISN’T ABOUT HER! THIS IS ABOUT LEAH!” I yelled.
“Keep believing that. I’ll be there tomorrow and let you know my thoughts after I speak with her.”
“Thank you. What time?”
“Around 4 PM. My last client is at 1 PM tomorrow,” she answered.
“Thank you, Ramira.”
“Thank me later.”
“I’m sure you’ll make sure I do.”
She sighed. “I wish you would realize that you can’t hide behind those walls you created forever.”
“Of course I can. That’s why I built them. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
When she hung up, I rolled my eyes as I replaced the phone in its cradle. I turned my attention back to my computer and was shocked to see that Phoenix was not at her house. I began to search through the other cameras, looking for her. Before I found her, my security system pinged, alerting me to someone entering my office building. I quickly switched to the camera that was on the ground floor of my building. Phoenix was walking hesitantly toward the elevators, where she paced back and forth.
“Hello?” She called out.
I didn’t respond to her, wanting to know what she would do when she was denied something. She walked around the ground for a little while before sinking down to the floor beside the elevator doors. She leaned her head back against the wall behind her.
“I’m sorry for last night. I didn’t mean to get so drunk. Please, believe me. It won’t happen again,” she said out loud.
I continued to watch her for another few hours while she apologized every few minutes, adding an entire new worry to her mental state. The scars on her back, along with the fact that she gave them to herself, weighed heavily on my mind. When she finally stood up, she pulled a small box out of her purse, placed it in front of the elevator, and walked out of the building. I locked the doors before going down to the lobby. I picked up the box, turning it over in my hands a few times before opening it. On the very top was a handwritten note. I took it out before placing the box under my arm so I could unfold the note. It was weird to see R.H.M. on the top layer, but I wasn’t going to not read it.
*‘R.H.M.,*
*I am not sure what all I said or did last night, but I do apologize. I hope that you can accept my apology. I didn’t give this to you last night like I intended to, but I still want you to have it. I made it for you. Please accept it, and I hope that you had a good day.*
*Leah’*
I pulled the canvas out of the box, smiling at the playful dolphins depicted on it. I brushed my hand over strands of yarn before sighing.
“Well, fuck.”
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