069.00

I return home after a day of stocking books, placing them on shelves in a perfection array of alphabetical last names, and telling patrons where they could go to find specific books. In one hand was a 24 pack of Miller Lite, and my black leather purse in the other hand. I returned to my apartment a mess.

"Cassie!" I scream, my eyes thrown wide examining my kitchen. The cabinet doors off their hedges, plates smashed and scattered on the linoleum floor, a china set I had received after my mother's car accident, two years ago, that left me only with my father and his wife smashed in pieces. I dropped everything and rushed over, cradling a cups handle.

"How could you?" I cried at her as she entered the room. "You know this is all I have from her!"

The rest had been lost in a fire in my old apartment a year ago.

"I told you to hurry back soon," She said to excuse herself from her behavior.

"Get out!" I cried.

She knew how bad it was on me when my mother died, that was the only reason she told me she came back, to give me company.

"Lia, Lia, Lia. I'm sorry," She told me, hugging me.

"Get away from me!" I screamed. I was once more angered at her, and I was done. She was the reason there was a fire last year, and now this.

"Lia, please have a beer with me, you'll feel better. You always feel better after a beer," She told me holding up a beer.

I yanked the beer out of her hand, and cracked it open, taking a swig. She was right, the burning sensation it left made me forget my troubles. But I still didn't want her near me.

"Go away," I told her, taking the pack from her hand, and grabbing the Vodka out from the fridge. I headed to my bedroom, where I was welcomed to the sight of my blades organized by the frequency of use.

I layed on my bed, opening can after can, till there was a small pile near my closet floor.

I heard a small knock on the door, and Cassie whisper, "Lia, I'm sorry, please let me in."

I sighed, but forgave her. This was my fault, I should have stayed. I should have recognized the signs, she had acted the same way before the fire.

"The doors unlocked."

She opened it and sat beside me on the bed, opening her own can, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"See, it's all good. Everything's okay," She told me with a smile.

I felt a tear roll down my hollow cheeks. "I just wish you wouldn't be like this."

"Lia, I told you not to go. You can afford one day off. The library is closed tomorrow anyways. The hours were cut short," She told me, handing me one of the bottles of Vodka.

I took it, and sighed, "You're right."

"I always am," She smiled. "I just get so lonely, being left here, day after day."

"I'm sorry, but I have to go to work."

She handed me a eleventh can of beer.

"No you don't."

" I have to make a living some way."

"You could always just join me."

I looked at her, this isn't the first time she made this suggestion.

"Cassie, you know I can't just join you. I have family here, people who I'd hurt if I were to just leave."

"What about your mom? You'd get to see her, and you'd have me."

I thought for a second, she was right, I would be able to see my mom again.

"I don't have any way to do it," I told her, taking another sip.

She left my bedside, and opened a drawer, setting the orange bottle holding my pills on the desk, next to my blades.

"See Lia, look at what you have, alcohol, pills, and these beautiful blades. And, I'll be here the whole way."

I looked over at my collection, this would be easy and I won't be alone.

"Alright."