There is something about movement that clears my head.

I want to go to my room and curl up in my bed but his presence in my room has tainted my sacred space.

It’s not that I don’t love Owen anymore.

He’s still my brother.

It’s just that I can’t bear to live with him.

It’s a two-bedroom house and yet when he’s home, which is pretty often, he seems to suck up all of the oxygen in the place.

A lot of that has to do with his drinking.

At first, we drank to celebrate.

Then he drank because he’s bored.

And now? Now, I suspect he drinks because he has to.

My foot collides with the pavement in an odd way and I trip, nearly losing my balance.

Suddenly, it hits me.

We came all the way out here, three thousand miles away, to start a new life but neither of us has.

Normal lives involve jobs and friends and some sort of regular rhythm to the day.

Perhaps one of the reasons why he’s so bored and why he’s drinking so much is that he doesn’t have anything else to do.

He likes to read and when he was in prison that was pretty much all he had.

And now? He needs more.

But what about me?

I could try to get another content writing job or some other educational writing position.

Or maybe I can work in a tutoring center?

Despite all of my education, that was never really what I wanted to do and now having some money and no actual need to get that job, I don’t really want to do it.

Still, I need to do something.

But what?

9

Olive

When he makes amends…

I brace myself for more conflict when the sun starts to set and I have no choice but to come back home.

I take a deep breath before I walk through the door and am pleasantly surprised to find Owen in the kitchen cooking.

The table in the dining room is fully set for two including placements, wine glasses, plates, utensils, and napkins.

I had no idea we even had placements or napkins.

“Where did you find all this stuff?”

“In the cabinet right here.” He points to the bottom row right next to the dishwasher.

I look at the stove and see that he’s making salmon, cauliflower rice, and asparagus.

“So, what’s the occasion?” I ask.

“Just wanted to formally apologize for what I did and start again. Blank page and all.”

I nod.

After changing out of my dirty clothes, I come out to him plating my dinner.

He pours me a glass of wine and tops off his own.

I’m not sure how much he has had to drink today but he doesn’t seem as lethargic and intoxicated as normal.

The food tastes delicious and I appreciate the effort.