Chapter 1
December 16, 2011
Lucy Richards wasnt always her name. Back home she was called Rebecca and last names were not discussed. Lucy wondered how three years had passed since leaving, since abandoning her family. Although there was never any regrets, there also was no reassurance. She parked her car - well, their car, but she was the only one with a license so far - down the street from their apartment, grabbed her backpack, and walked towards her gate.
There was no point in locking the car doors, she’d learned, and after the second broken window she’d decided to leave it unlocked and empty. Almost a year and the windows were in tact, but she missed being able to keep stuff in her car.
She unlocked the metal gate and into her apartment. Downstairs, locals mixed with college kids back in town for the holidays at The Den. Her landlord Adam had offered all three of them cash to help out with the holiday rush, and now that finals were over Lucy planned on working that night. It wasn’t so bad, the locals tipped well and the college kids just wanted long islands, but as she walked up the stairs she realized that, after being so tense from exams, she was almost sore. A whole nights sleep and a nice morning in bed sounded like heaven, but they could use the money.
James was on the couch watching tv when she went inside. Lucy thew her things down, walking towards her room.
“I’m going to shower okay - and I told Adam I could be there by 530, do you want to get a pizza?” Lucy walked into her room and took off her hoodie and shoes, then twirled and laid on her bed. When James didn’t answer, Lucy yelled towards her open door.
“Hey - pizza?”
Lucy closed her eyes and waited for him to respond. After a few seconds she opened them, frowning and walking out towards him. With every step her anxiety grew, and when she got to him she shook him, his head rolling to the side.
**
“Ma’am, I’m sorry but we don’t have the forms and I cannot tell you anything.”
Latoya was beautiful, foreboding, but had a sympathetic tone that Lucy would have appreciated in any other circumstance.
“Dr Walsh out at SSM - “
“Ma’am I’ve faxed over the form to his office myself but it’s the holidays and - “
“Can you call?” Lucy pleaded, but deep down knew it was pointless and she should stop bothering Latoya, who she was unaware had been off the clock for the past 15 minutes they’d been talking.
Latoya shook her head. “Their office is closed, but I’ve sent the form over to -“
Lucy looked around, desperate. “I’m sorry, but -“
Latoya gave her a look, and motioned her head towards the exit and she walked away. Lucy looked around, sighed, and followed.
After they’d left the St Augustine University Hospital and onto campus, Latoya looked back and her, motioning her cleared. It was cold outside, the kind where it seemed like it was snowing even though it was just the cold humidity. Latoya lit a cigarette, offering Lucy one. Not wanting to be rude, she took it and as Latoya lit it, she asked softly “you kids were out at Sinai Harbor?”
Lucy’s blood went cold. Colder. She stared at Latoya desperately, and sighed. “Is it obvious?”
Latoya almost looked thrilled, but shook her head. “No, no girl, it’s not that. I just assumed…” she let the word hang and Lucy sighed. Fucking Pippa.
“It’s been a few years.” Lucy conceded and Latoya shook her head.
“Well I can’t imagine - listen. I didn’t tell you this, your friend is going to be fine. They’re going to keep him to stabilize him but he should be able to leave tomorrow.” Her eyes narrowed. “But you should get him help -“
“We’re doing our best -“ a flyer on the quad announcement board caught Lucy’s eye and she stopped, frowning at Latoya. “It’s not cheap.”
Latoya sighed, and hiked her bag up, taking out her keys. “I know, I get it. But see what you can do.” She smiled, finishing her cigarette. “Have a merry Christmas.”
Lucy nodded, taking another drag and looking at the flyer. She threw her cigarette down and stomped it out, then took her digital camera out of her bag, taking a snap of the flyer.
**
“Do you see this shit? where the fuck have you been?”
Lucy could have done without the confrontation, and immediately burst into tears, falling into her oldest friend’s arms. He held her for a moment, then stepped back, leaning against the hallway door in dismay as Lucy told him about their friend’s overdose. He asked if he should take the rest of the night off but she resisted, they needed the money now more than ever.
She felt guilty minutes later when she collapsed on her bed momentarily, before grinning and grabbing her camera. She booted up her laptop and took the sd card out of her camera. Going through her drawers, she found the syllabus from her CHEM 237 class the year before, where Alice had put her personal email, telling the class she hardly ever checked the Ellington College one.
After sending the email, Lucy climbed out her window onto the fire escape, and lit a joint. After lighting it, she stared at it for a moment, and snubbed it out. She decided she wanted to dream tonight.
