I didn’t know where to start but I knew I needed to start somewhere.
“Yes”
“Did something happen?”
“Yes” I answer looking away.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
The truth is I never talked about it. I went to therapy and people asked but I couldn’t do it. But for some reason Sidney made me feel safe, and I could open up to him.
“I guess. Well I started when I was five or six. My dad lived, breathed,ate hockey. So I started young. I was one of the best at all levels. I played with the boys in the youth but in high school I played on our girls team. I was good, but not great. The teams we played weak teams. I received a scoring title my junior year. My senior year I captained my team, who won the division title.”
“That sounds great!”
But that wasn’t the whole story.
“You see I was hated in every town. In the locker rooms the coaches would say go after 8. I don’t care if she gets hurt. Bring on the stretchers. In our final game it went into overtime. I had a breakaway and one of the defensemen blocked my side. Let’s just say I went and hit the post. I had internal bleeding. And I was in a coma for months.”
I knew it was a lot for him to take in. It was a lot for anyone to take in really.
“Wow” That was all he could say.
“Yea, it’s a lot”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s okay really.”
Now it’s awkward, I stare into the distance with Sidney’s big sweatshirt over my shoulders. I hear my phone buzz in my bag again.
“Do you have to get that?”
“Hmm, oh my phone. No probably not.”
“You should look.”
So I do, I don’t feel like playing that game of no really you should. It was from Abbey: YOU’RE LATE! I looked at the time on my phone. It was pretty late for them.12 am. I needed to get up early tomorrow, and so did the girls. I am guessing Sidney does to.
“It’s getting late,” I say shyly
He glances at his watch. “I guess it is. Let’s go flag down a cab.”
“Okay”
We finally flag down a cab and Sidney opens the door for me. Before I climb in I turn around and open my mouth, but he talks.
“Are you going to get in?”
“I thought you were, yea I guess.” So he was riding in the same cab with me.
“Wer’ too?” The cab driver said in broken English.
“West Village for me,” I whisper to Sidney.
“West Village please sir.” Sidney tells the driver.
“But what about you?” I whisper.
“I need to make sure you get home safely,” He whispers back.
“Oh, okay.” I whisper.
“Why are we whispering?” Sidney replies laughing.
“These are the situations that we do whisper.” I say laughing too.
“Her’ we arw,” The driver announces. “$10.50”
Sidney hands him a bill and says keep the change.
“Can I walk you up”
“I would like that.”
Sidney and I climb into the elevator and just stand there. Gosh this evening couldn’t get any more quite. When the elevator pings to let us know we have reached our destination we both walk off. Sidney follows me to my door. We both stand there.
“I should probably give you this back,” I say pulling off his sweatshirt.
“Keep it, I have a lot and if you have it that means you might want to err, maybe, see me again.”
“I would like that I guess.”
“Okay, good” And before I know his lips are slightly brushing against mine.
“Good night Maddie.”
“Good night Sidney.”
“It’s Sid, remember?”
“I guess I forgot.”
No comments:
Post a Comment