We kissed. The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," I said getting up off the couch.
I went across the living room where I opened the door to find Irene, the blonde girl I'd dated the summer before I left for college.
"i…..Irene what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Hi Eric. Can I come in?" she asked in her Florida accent.
"Well. Yeah sure. How are ya can I get you anything what….happened to your arms?"
She had bruises on them.
I stepped back holding the door open. She came in. I closed it behind her.
"That's actually why I came to see you."
Linda came up behind me.
"Eric who's this?" she asked.
I turned to her; "oh this is Irene. I dated her a few years ago when Cory and I went on our road trip. Irene this is my girlfriend Linda."
"Hi nice to meet you."
"You too. Can I get you anything?" Linda asked.
"Tea."
"Comin right up."
Linda went into the kitchen.
"So?" I asked as Irene and I walked to the couch and sat.
"Well I'm dating this guy and he. He did this to me. He's not like you Eric. You look at my eyes and not my. Well. You know."
She looked down and smiled in embarrassment.
"Yeah. I know. Wow."
"Can I stay here for a bit?"
"Um well I'd have to ask my parents but…..it's ok with me."
"Thanks."
"Who else knows about this?" I asked.
"No one."
"Oh."
"What's new on your end?"
"I have 3 new siblings, Ashley, josh and Hannah. Josh is the oldest of the 3. He was born a few years ago. He's 15, hannah's 13 and ashley's 11. Did you ever meet my sister Morgan?"
"No I don't think I have."
"Oh. Well her good friend Leo recently overdosed."
"Wow."
"Yeah so it hasn't exactly been paradise here either."
"Yeah but. It's safe here."