Stephen’s heart fell at the sight of Linda running away from him, a sight that he never thought that he’d ever have to see. He couldn’t describe the feeling, but it was like his inner most core was being pulled right out of him. Stuck to Linda, who got farther away from her as he stood there, dumbfounded, unable to move.
Then he snapped out of it, and his legs began to move almost on their own. Almost, because his mind was getting more clearer with every step he took, until he finally caught up with her.
She was panicking. She was going to hurt herself if she didn’t calm down, and then when she got home… he was certain that he’d never see her again. She’d disappear again, and he feared that she’d start to avoid him…
He couldn’t let it get to that. He refused.
He placed his hand on the moving wagon, gripping it so that she had to slow down until they both stopped. He wasn’t going to suddenly grab her, he knew better than that… But he wasn’t going to just let her get away either. He just had to ignore any people that were looking their way, some glaring at his back, knowing why they had parted ways… even if it was only half the story. This was a decision they had made together, and he’d take responsibility for it.
“Linda. Linda, look at me.” He said as he tried to catch her eyes, his voice steady, even if he didn’t feel as calm and collected as he usually did when he had to bring her back down to earth.
“If you don’t mind.. I’d like to join you.” He said, careful with what words he chose. “It’s nicer to go shopping with a friend than going alone. I know where the free-range eggs are, too. I’ll show you.”
God. He was praying in the back of his mind that she’d accept his company. He didn’t want her to think that this was the last time she’d see him. He didn’t want this to be the last time.
Linda’s chest was convulsing. She loved Stephen. She knew that. It was the only thing she knew. No, she knew more than that. She knew how to cook the perfect crispy bacon. She knew Kate Bush’s discography off by heart. She knew that she stopped having romantic feelings for Stephen
She choked, hacked, doubled over, her heart forcibly pushing its way out of her oesophagus, a laborious effort, and eventually slapping onto the floor, oozing from the ventricles that had snapped away from her body
Linda’s head snapped around, Stephen closer than he had been before. Her hands were still on the trolley, and her heart was still beating, too loud, in her chest. She had almost forgotten to breathe.
Stephen’s words took a while to sink in. It was like her heart wanted to protect itself so much, it momentarily pushed Stephen out of her memory entirely. Eventually, Linda let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
No one was looking at her but Stephen.
“I think,” Linda sighed, her grip on the trolley loosening, “that would be nice.” Still, her hands shook. “You know I can never find the free-range eggs.” She might still cry, but at least now, she could hold it off for later.
But, for whatever reason, Linda had thought that Stephen would never want to see her again. That his new lifestyle would somehow change him. That her Stephen was dead. But she could... still have Stephen.
romaincrisis
