In-Between

er case. She needed the best defense because Vincent had tangible evidence against the respondent. She has been speaking with Tender daily

y, do everything for just you, and be indifferent to others can complicate your ability to discern if they are comfortable around you alone or in love with you. Nessa huffed

ed the universe conspired in her favor and sent her Tender. Atrayer, her client walked in making her fight the urge to

says sitting down “

right

to go on a date, have sex, travel, or do anything to have her spend extra time with him. Atrayer was a nice man,

I was close to your office building today and decided t

a goodbye sex to ease her mind. Before she thinks too much of it, she stands from her seat behind the table and rounds the sh

I was away.” She dragged her hand along his shirt

d spreading her leg in the process. She could feel Atrayer pull her pants an

ummed as he g

rd Tender’s voi

ards decorating the shelf to the ground. Fuck! Tender was already grabbing Atrayer by his collar and holding up her fist to punc

d up slowly with both hands raised “I didn’t force her” he sa

rom Nessa who was ho

bouquet of roses that lay on the floor. Tender inhaled

staring at her with a worried expres

ls vividly the anger and disappointment on Tender’s face and the small cut beside her brows which she sustained during the scuffle. She stands up and

ou. Too busy

yes with the back of her palm. She crawls towards the wall and sits. Pullin

in her chest. She quickly unbuttoned her shirt and she swiped her left hand across her forehead, spotting the blood stain on her white shirt. She knelt on all fours and started breathing deeply through her mouth. The walls of the elevator seemed to close in on her, suffocating her. She clenched

a wave. Her steps were brisk as she made her way to the waiting car, parked just outside the building. The driver open

tting blurred by the tears that pooled in her eyes. She pressed a han

der kicked off her shoes, she walked through the living room, each step echoing in the silence of the apartment. The dimly lit space f

joggers and a black shirt. She heard the doorbell, guessing who it was

cup of coffee. She enveloped Tende

a said, her expression c

taking a sip of the warm coffee and s

at her friend who was seated bes

mila finally voiced

are at her friend. Of course, Tender kne

with her?” Camila

o cough. Camila who is seated beside her quickly adjust

sponds, raising h

u know what they

her friend for

Camila answers w

ntle question “You nearly beat up a man for her when y

every other person, how she came out to Nessa first, all they’ve been through together, and everything she’d do in a heartbeat for her. She would ha

amila asked changin

m, I’m

rtable silence un

bove a whisper, as she wrestles wi

d always known there was more to their bond than friendship. The conversation she had wit

o with Nessa, the inked symbol of their eternal re

’t care to see me for 2 mont

, the guest room is cleaned up, please eat something and rest well. Will see

hurt and leaving Camila’s presence was a necessary step to help her push it away. Camila helps them vent, she is the psychologist in the group bu

re. She woke from a nightmare she hadn’t had in a long while, one which usually plagued her every night after her mu

was 5 a.m. She couldn’t shake the lingering unease which made her sit up, she swung her legs over the

at together in the darkness before Camila invited her to the guestroom which she refused. She recalled a fond memory of when she lived here while working with Tender. The guest room was initially hers but she never slept in it because she preferred sta

ouch. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. She held her gaze without a word be

stance. She’d never hit Nessa but she needed the space. Maybe the space

oice was small and hoarse, evi

lders tensed. She hated to see her cry or so disheveled. Her

ced her hair which fell on her shoulders which was a rarity. The only time Tender allowed

afresh. Her heart sank further as she watched the pain etched in Tender’s eyes, the bags under her friend’s eye were visible. She desperately wanted to reach out, to touch

tery eyes. She found it impossible to maintain her

d her friend cry, Tender's heart wrenched. On the one hand, she yearned to embrace Nessa, soothe her, dry her tears, a

gize for barging in on you, for not calling before ap

are” Nessa sobs whi

orry I was physical with your visitor, do convey my apology to

anding quietl

jog. The cold, crisp air outside hit her providing little comfort. She