After My Husband Left Me Alone with a Brain Injury I Stopped Waiting for Him to Come Back Chapter 02

After My Husband Left Me Alone with a Brain Injury I Stopped Waiting for Him to Come Back Chapter 02

By noon, my stomach had growled several times.

I opened the refrigerator.

Inside were food containers, milk, fruit, and a little cake Kevin had bought for me earlier.

I took out one of the meals and did what Kevin had taught me.

I put it in the microwave and pressed the red button.

Nothing happened.

I pressed it a few more times.

Still nothing.

I rang Kevin.

“Kevin, the button on the microwave is broken.”

“What button?”

“The one that makes the food hot.”

I heard Erin beside him.

“She’s making up another excuse.”

Kevin sighed.

“You don’t need to heat it. Just eat it.”

“But it’s cold.”

“You can eat it cold.”

“I want it warm.”

“Allison, you’re not a little kid anymore.”

I lowered my head and looked at my hands.

I knew I wasn’t a little kid.

Kevin had told me I needed to learn to do as he said.

So I opened the container and scooped up a spoonful.

There was no steam. The food was a little hard.

I’d only taken two bites when a kite suddenly drifted past the window.

It was red, with a long tail trailing behind it.

It flew so close that it almost brushed the glass.

I immediately put down my spoon and hurried to the window, pressing close to the glass.

The wind carried the kite higher.

I ran from the living room to the kitchen and back again, following the kite as it flew outside.

But I forgot I’d left the refrigerator door open.

White light spilled through the gap and across the floor.

I stood by the window watching the kite for a long time.

Then the wind swept it away, and it disappeared behind the building.

By the time I turned around, I’d already forgotten what I’d been doing.

That afternoon, the refrigerator made a few dull noises every now and then.

I thought that meant it was still working, so I left it alone.

That evening, I took out the milk.

The carton was slightly puffed up.

I pushed in the straw and took a big sip.

It tasted sour the moment it touched my tongue.

I scrunched up my face and spat it into the bin.

“It’s gone bad.”

I rang Kevin.

This time, the phone rang for a long while before he finally answered.

“Allison, what is it now?”

“The milk’s gone bad.”

“How could it have gone bad?”

“The carton’s all puffed up, and the milk tastes sour.”

Erin laughed on the other end.

“We’ve only been gone half a day, and she’s already making things up.”

“I’m not making it up.”

“Kevin, don’t go back. She knows you always give in eventually. That’s why she keeps making things up to get you to come back.”

I pressed the phone tightly to my ear.

“I’m not making trouble.”

Kevin lowered his voice.

“Allison, can’t you sort out one thing by yourself without ringing me? Erin hardly ever gets a chance to take the baby out and relax. Do you really have to keep ringing today of all days?”

“I’m hungry.”

“There’s food in the fridge.”

“The food is cold.”

“Then eat it cold.”

“Kevin, I’m scared.”

The other end went quiet for a few seconds.

I thought he was going to comfort me like he used to.

But all he said was, “If you’re scared, go to sleep.”

“When are you coming back?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“When is the day after tomorrow?”

“We’ll talk about it when I get back.”

“Can I come and find you?”

His voice turned sharp at once.

“No.”

His tone frightened me so much that I froze.

“Why?”

“If you dare go outside on your own, I’ll really leave you. I mean it.”

Erin spoke beside him.

“Kevin, stop wasting time on her. The baby’s getting sleepy.”

“Do you understand? Don’t ring again.”

The call ended.

I sat on the floor with my knees hugged to my chest.

The refrigerator door in the kitchen was still open.

Its white light fell across the meal I hadn’t finished.

I remembered Kevin telling me that all the food was inside.

So I crawled over and pushed the refrigerator door shut.

It didn’t close all the way.

But I thought it had.

That night, I had a dream.

I dreamed Kevin came home with a huge kite in his hands.

Erin stood beside him, holding the child’s hand.

Kevin said to me, “Allison, look. The kite is flying so high.”

I reached out to take it.

But the kite flew farther and farther away.

I couldn’t catch up.