Perfect Strangers by Samantha LaCroix Page B

saying you're sorry," he said. He wasn't looking at her. "Look, I should get back to the shop. I've got work I need to do."
    He grabbed his pants off the floor and started pulling them on. Veronica blinked hot tears back. She grabbed her own clothes and put them on as well. When the two were dressed Jason got out, holding the door open for her. She climbed out and he shut it behind her. Immediately he opened the driver's side door.
    "Bye," was all he said, and he closed the door, separating him from her. She stood there as his engine roared to life, and he drove away, circling around her in the parking lot, leaving it and disappearing down the road.
    She was alone in the parking lot, no other car there but hers. She walked slowly back to it, got into the front seat, and put the key in the ignition. But she didn't turn it. She didn't have the strength. Her throat tightened and her lower lip began to tremble. She blinked and felt her eyelids become wet, burning already from the salt. Taking a shuddering breath in she let it out and heard herself moan, a sad, pathetic sound.
    That was what did it. Veronica let out one sob and another as hot tears started to run down her cheeks. She grabbed onto the steering wheel and lowered her head, hiding her face, her shame. Her body was wracked with weeping moans, her sides hurting, her eyes scrunched tight. The sound of her pathetic voice echoed around the car and back into her own ears. Outside, the cool wind blew silent, completely disinterested in the car sitting lonely in the sunny parking lot.

Chapter 14
     
    Veronica put her key in the front door and let herself in. She walked into the dark house, the silence surrounding her almost foreboding. She shut the door behind her, her face flat and expressionless. Dropping her purse, she walked into the kitchen and turned on the light.
    She sat down at the table and glanced up at the clock. Almost four in the afternoon. Not like it mattered. She looked around the kitchen and noticed the drying rack, full of dishes. Dishes from this morning, from when Greg made the two of them breakfast. And then he left for work so they could have money to survive, and she went off and fucked another man in the backseat of his car …
    Her throat started to tighten up again and Veronica grimaced. She looked away, forcing herself to think of something else. A deep breath in, and slowly out. The tightening went away. But that just left nothing in its place. Her body and her mind, filled with nothing.
    Maybe she was just tired. Maybe she just needed to lay down for a bit and see if that would make her feel better. She got up from the table and went to her bedroom where she lay down on top of the covers. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes slowly blinking. They drooped down, and down, and before she knew it her eyes were closed and she had slipped off to sleep.
    ~~~
    Veronica was in the forest she went to with her walking group sometimes. The smell of pine was in the air; the twigs and leaves crackled beneath her feet. She looked around and saw trees to either side, their branches close to her but not quite touching. And up ahead on the path there was Jason, walking away from Veronica, his back to her.
    Veronica raised her hand and tried to call his name, but no voice came out. Jason kept moving, seemingly unaware that she was behind him. She tried running to him but her body felt like it was stuck in mud. She couldn't go any faster than she was.
    She felt an emptiness inside of her and fell to her knees. She tried calling out again but he couldn't hear her. He was moving farther away. Veronica felt warm tears start to run down her cheeks and she sobbed, she sobbed his name. He turned a corner and she watched him disappear, leaving her alone. All alone.
    Veronica fell onto her side, tears still coursing down her face. A hand found itself on her shoulder and shook her. She turned to see who it was and there was Greg, his face stricken with worry. He shook her