When he woke the apartment was darker than usual. The single grimy window glowed with a faint orange light, signaling the coming nightfall.
Nico stayed still, for a few moments his mind completely blank. Then, slowly but surely thoughts began to scatter through his brain like dead leaves in a brisk wind. He rubbed a hand over his eyes before sitting up and stretching, reaching his arms high above his head. He felt better rested than he had in months.
He stood and yawned before pushing open the door. He needed some fresh air.
A gust of frigid air met him as he shoved the door open. He shivered despite his heavy jacket. What was the deal with this weather?
He was about to turn around to return inside when he noticed a plastic bag nestled in the corner of his porch. He instantly recognized it as the bag of clothes he had bought earlier today. He cursed himself inwardly, remembering that he had forgotten to take the bag from Jason before he left. Jason must have dropped this off for him when he was sleeping.
Nico stooped to pick up the bag and stepped back inside, his insides feeling hollow.
He turned the plastic bag upside down on the bed and let the contents fall out. Jacket, sweater, jeans. All landing in a heap upon the dark comforter. A piece of paper fluttered out of the bag like a lost butterfly and he deftly grabbed it out of the air.
Nico knew what it was before he even saw the cramped handwriting covering the page. In some spots the ink had collected in large dots, as if Jason had been unsure what to say, his pen motionless on the paper.
Nico,
I know that you're still upset about what happened. And I don't blame you. But honestly, I'm trying to help you. That's all I've ever been trying to do. If I don't understand, it's your job to make me understand. You don't need to be alone anymore. Please stop pushing me away.
-Jason
PS: Good luck if you try to avoid me. I know where you live.
Nico reread the note three times before setting it aside, his feelings mixed. He knew Jason, and he was positive that Jason was being honest about trying to help him.
Some habits were hard to break away from, however. He had been living on his own for so long, he had forgotten what it was like to have other people to count on for help. But maybe he would be able to let Jason back into his life. After all, he had been one of the few people that he considered a friend before that horrible night when everything changed.
With a sigh of resignation he pulled out his cell phone and began typing a message to Jason.