Penny ascended the stairs to 4A. She was wearing her work uniform but had recently let her hair down. She had a handful of mail in her hand. As usual it was bills, bills, junk-mail, bills. She rolled her eyes in frustration as she reached the fourth floor landing.
Getting closer to 4B, Penny heard muffled commotion inside."Oh for Pete sake Leonard, it's Free Comic Book Day!" Penny felt uncomfortable being anywhere near that apartment after what she did at the bowling alley the day before. As the door opened, she was face to face with an irritated Sheldon. "Penny, please fix things with leonard so we can go to the comic book store. It is a nightmare when he's like this."
With no idea what to say or do, penny just stared into space. So many thoughts were running through her head. What used to be her telling herself the breakup was best for her and leonard, had turned to regret. Penny was jolted back to the present by the distant voice of Leonard. "Sheldon just go...please...Im not in the mood." Howard exited the apartment, passing Sheldon as he gave penny a disapproving stare."come on Sheldon, I'll take you. I have to go to my lab anyway." Forgetting to close the door, Sheldon and Howard descended the stairs as penny looked at the cracked door.
Though reluctant, Penny slowly opened the door. She was extra careful not to make a sound. If leonard heard her and came out shed be speechless. The first thing she noticed was the Xbox left on. Penny felt her stomach turn. Was this a failed attempt on leonards part, to take his mind off things? Looking in the direction of his room, Penny thought that maybe she could talk to him. Maybe they could at least be friends again. Penny made a dismissive shake with her head. There was no point in trying that. After what she did to him, after crushing his heart, there was no way he would ever consider her a friend.
But something told her to try, as she walked into the hallway. Stopping at the door to his room, she heard him talking to someone. Penny pressed her ear to against the door. Again she made sure not to make any noise."No. About the same as last year. Yes I'm still living with him. Yeah the experimental physicist." There was a twenty second pause before he let out a big sigh and continued. " No, we are not dating anymore." Penny closed her eyes, hearing the pain in Leonard's words. " It was my fault, I pushed her away." His voice was beginning to crack. "I just have never met anyone as beautiful and kinda as her. I fell hopelessly in love and thought that she..." Penny's lower lip was quivering, and tears escaped her eyes as she heard leonard falling to pieces. Getting his bearings, he continued."I appreciate you calling Dave, and sorry I'm such a mess." Penny assumed that leonard was off the phone since she hadn't heard anything for at least a minute. At this moment she hated herself. She had shattered the connection to her best friend.