Just for Tonight part 2

Fallon’s stomach woke her up as it grumbled and her eyes tried to make out the dark sky peeking through the window curtains. Her memory and mind began to wake; anxious waves of tears threatened as nausea followed her fleeing ease.

Where was the washroom? She remembered the quick mention of a washroom before lying on her bunk last night. Inching out from her bunk, she made her way to the sliver of light coming from around the doorframe. She made her way past and industrial fire hose and bright red fire extinguisher, finding the toilet she was looking for. When she finished, the nausea seemed lessened, but the stomach grumbling insisted she descend the stairs.

A woman greeted Fallon when she reached the front lobby and introduced herself as the staff on duty for the evening. After handing her a heaping plate of food, they went into the office and she was given calling cards to check in with her family. The worker talked to her about safety planning to make sure she felt safe in the house and safe leaving to go see a doctor. The staff worker offered to find her more clothes when she learned of how lightly she’d been travelling.

When Fallon went into the tiny room with a comfy chair and a phone, her fingers trembled as she dialed her auntie’s cell number. She inhaled deeply and slowly as the first ring began; by the time the fourth began she exhaled loudly and sat back, ready to hang up.

“Hello?”

Fallon steadied her hand.

“It’s Fallon, are you ok—“ and the tears slipped down her cheeks while her aunt Lanita’s soft, excited voice peppered her with questions and eventually gave way to her own crying. She quickly explained about her trip and arrival at the shelter. She had managed to sleep away her entire first day in the city but they agreed this was just what her body needed.

Hesitating, Fallon wanted to ask if she’d heard anything about him but her auntie answered the question without her saying a word. He had been too busy sorting out his own situation to realize she had disappeared and no one had called looking for her.

Still, something compelled her to ask more. "Is he okay? The paramedics wouldn't answer me..."

Shushing her, Lanita said goodnight and Fallon knew not to push. Fallon thanked her auntie for her help and promised to call again soon. No one would be sympathetic about their breakup, she thought, not like at the end of a normal relationship.

After a bath and brand new pyjamas from the worker, Fallon was feeling lighter knowing that her aunt was alright and no one was missing her back home. She had a big week ahead of her and falling asleep this time seemed to come much quicker.

As she began to slip off her mind trailed to a memory of him, the two of them together, lying in bed and intertwined with each other. For a moment, he felt like he was a large gash on her heart. She felt a throb, suddenly anxious to hear a heartbeat from her womb.

She was crying again but her grief this moment was exhausting and soon she was asleep.