The next morning, I come close to calling in sick for work. I do feel sick. I drink two glasses of water but my throat feels insatiably dry and eyes still hurt from crying last night. Moira had tucked me in on the couch instead of moving me which had been kind but back ached from lying on the uncomfortable seat for hours. But no going in would be admitting defeat to myself – and to Lucille. I don't want to be that girl that lies in bed and cries all day. So I force myself out of bed and head to work.
The sea is grey and lifeless and, for some reason, this comforts me. I think it means he misses me as much as I miss him. It makes me feel better knowing that he is there, always there, even if he's not by my side. I want to linger by the water forever but Liza will kill me if I'm late for work so I turn away again.
"Morning, doll," Liza says when I walk into the kitchen. She seems happy despite Poseidon's absence. I wonder what he has told her of is he has manipulated the Mist to make her forget him.
"Good morning, Liza," I reply. "Morning, all."
"So I hear you sent my best fisherman running," Liza chuckles. "He called last night all desperate to go back to Greece, saying his brother needs him to come home. See what you did? Where am I going to get fish like that now?" She laughs again and I know she's joking. I laugh too to humour her but I probably don't do a very good job at lying because she looks at me sympathetically and squeezes my arm. I think that's about as far sympathy goes with Liza and I'm grateful for it.
"So you were that bad that ran away?" Lucille smirks from her workstation. She's chopping onions and the tears are making her mascara run. She looks a little crazy and it makes me smile in spite of myself.
"Well, actually –" I begin to say but I am cut off by Jean.
"So did Brad, would you believe it," Jean says to me. "He broke up with Lucille yesterday. Something about how she was acting like a bitch." I am surprised by the bitterness in Jean's voice. I had always thought that she worshipped Lucille.
"What did you just say?" Lucille says incredulously. She's holding her knife dangerously close to Jean's face.
"I said you were acting like a bitch," Jean replies nonchalantly, "You were all of yesterday and you are today. And you made it seem like I was the one that had a problem with Don dating Sally when it was you. You played me like a scapegoat. Just get over it, Lucille. Don didn't like you."
Lucille is looking at Jean with her mouth hanging open. Neither of us knows what to say. I feel happy for Jean that she's finally found her voice and happier still that she's using it to help me.
"If you think I'm driving you home today you're wrong," Lucille snaps.
"Whatever," Jean is says, rolling her eyes and tossing her hair in the most perfect imitation of Lucille, before walking away.
If looks could kill, Jean and I would both be dead. But thankfully they can't so we spent the rest of the day working together. It felt good to know I'm not alone in anything. I may have lost Poseidon but I have friend here. I will be okay.
Life goes on and for the first time, I am happy to go along with it.
