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“Sometimes I feel like I’m over what happened, and then sometimes I’m not," Violet said, sighing. “I try not to think about it too much, but it was terrifying.”
“I couldn’t imagine it.”
“Neither could I," Violet said. “The building had its problems, but I figured they were at least making sure it was structurally sound. Of course, I could hear my neighbors all the time, but I figured it was normal for a bottom unit," Violet sighed and set her tea on Charlie’s nightstand. “I can’t believe I lost everything that night.”
“Nothing could be salvaged?”
“No, it was a water leak above me from the sewer line. What wasn’t crushed was contaminated. It sucks because all that stuff was mine. I built a life for myself, and it’s gone.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“I should have seen the signs of how bad the landlord was. I should have moved.”
“But that’s expensive, and you thought they were at least doing the bare minimum.”
“Yeah, but I should have realized-“
“No, you didn’t have to do anything. They failed you.”
She wanted to believe him, and yet she couldn’t. She closed her eyes for a moment, only to see her dream behind her eyelids, and she opened them to stop from replaying it.
“What was your dream about?” Charlie asked, eyeing her with worriedly.
“It was … it was me reliving that night. I can still remember the sounds the building made as it fell. I remember how helpless I felt as everything came down around me. And usually I can ignore it, except this time, I stayed in the apartment instead of going outside. So, when the building fell, it fell on me.”
Charlie was silent for a moment. She glanced over at him and couldn’t read the expression on his face. Whatever he was feeling, he kept it guarded.
“I’m glad you listened to your gut and got out of there," he said slowly. “And I’m sorry you’re still remembering everything that happened.”
“I want to stop thinking about it," she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I wish it never happened.”
“But it did,”
“I know," She replied softly.
“It’s okay you’re still bothered by it. What happened was terrifying. And over time, you’ll come to accept it, but it’s still okay you haven’t yet.”
“I don’t want to bother anyone with it. Liv and Lewis got married and I know they haven’t had time to think about it, but -“
“It would have been nice of them to check in?”
“Yeah. Is that selfish?”
“No, I don’t think so. Even I’ve been feeling a little left out with all the wedding preparations. I’m glad it’s over.”
“I’m happy for them, I am. But so much happened over the last few weeks that it would have been nice to have things slow down - to be able to sit and talk.”
“And they will slow down," Charlie said. “But for now, you have me. I don’t mind listening.”
How did he know how to get her to open up like this? It should have been impossible, but maybe Violet liked having someone to be herself with. Maybe she was so lonely that she had no other choice.
Or maybe it was him.
“Okay," Violet said. “As things come up, I’ll talk about them.”
Charlie smiled. “That’s all I ask.”
Violet yawned and leaned back on the bed. She doubted she could go back to sleep after seeing that night again, but it was nice to close her eyes for a moment.
