It wasn’t a soft landing like you’d expect. When I hit, my body struck a hard, rocky surface with jagged edges. Moaning, I rolled on my back and stared into the upstairs hallway of my parents’ house.

An unidentifiable whisper mingled with the wind as I moved down the long hallway. When I reached Brit’s open door, I saw a woman’s figure standing by Brit’s bed, hovering over her as she nudged my sister’s lips open and coaxed her to drink. “This will make you feel better.”

When the woman stood and turned, I realized it was Mommy. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and annoyance. And then her features softened, and she smiled. “What’re you doing out of bed, pumpkin?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Poor baby. Let me tuck you back in bed.”

“Is Brit sick?”

“Not anymore,” Mommy said. “I made her better. Now let’s get you back to bed, little miss. Daddy’s home, and I’d like to spend a little grown-up time with him.”

“Can I see Daddy?” It had been weeks since he’d been home.

“In the morning. Tonight, it’s just the two of us.”

“Is Daddy mad at us?” I asked.

Mommy smoothed a red strand off my forehead. “Why would you say that?”

“He’s always gone.”

“He works hard,” Mommy said. “And I think he’ll be spending more time at home from now on.”

I looked back over my shoulder and saw Brit roll on her side and curl into a ball like a contented cat. She did look better. And if Mommy said so, then it must be true.

I startled awake to a doorknob turning. I stood up, half expecting to see my own front door open. But it was closed, still secure as I’d left it. The time on my phone read 6:03 a.m. I’d been asleep for a couple of hours.

Quietly, I moved to the door and stared out the peephole as Alan, wrestling a briefcase and a take-out bag, opened his door. He kicked it closed behind him, and somewhere inside a light clicked on and trickled out under the door.

I should have been comforted that I wasn’t alone. But as I stepped back, I folded my arms over my chest and looked around my apartment, struggling with the sense that someone was watching me.

21 BRIT

21

BRIT

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

1:45 a.m.