The pouring rain quit beating against the roof and windows. The sudden cessation of the uproarious downpour caused Michelle to look up from her textbook and glance out the window.
Her emerald eyes took in the sight of now drizzling rain creating rivulets of various patterns down the cool glass. She was once again glad the apartment she’d rented with three other girls from the University had a fireplace. Michelle was typically the only one to bother stacking kindling and doing the careful task of getting a proper fire lit. But the crackling flames always soothed and comforted, indeed as they did now. The moist, bone-warming heat made her appreciate not being outside in the December rain. Even if the reason she was stuck behind her desk was to study for finals.
Michelle’s gaze traveled from the window to her gray and white cat, Orion, who was purring in his favorite spot. The dark tip of his tail twitched back and forth from where he was curled up on top of her closed tablet. No matter where she set the device, he always found and settled on top of it. She’d quickly learned to make sure she closed the cover, else him resting on it would cause the device to lock from too many failed attempts. Perhaps deep down he knew he could find a fish game to play and was trying to break into it. Michelle smirked before checking her phone.
Oh, it’s time to meet Kyle. Michelle wondered what it was he wanted to discuss. His texts felt ominous but when she’d jokingly asked about it, he didn’t give a clear answer. She dreaded having to go into the chilling rain to meet up with him. She’d have to utilize her hood, which always messed up her long, dark hair. Not that she’d spent an extensive amount of time styling it, but hoods always made it look as if she’d spent no time on it at all.
Heaving a soft sigh, Michelle gave Orion a few soft pets on the head. “I have to go meet Kyle,” she whispered. Maybe people would think it odd how often she spoke to her cat or how close she was to the feline. But Orion was the one who’d stuck closest when the fallout with her family happened over religion. Michelle had found it odd, as they’d never been diligent in their beliefs or attending church. In fact, they professed to hold the idea that anyone who did good and was a ‘good person’ would get into heaven. Yet, when she’d decided to get more involved in church due to attending a local youth group a friend invited her to, there was a big, fussy uproar about it. Michelle wondered how Hayley was doing now, she’d moved several states away to attend a university that’d given her a decent scholarship.
Michelle thought when everything happened, her best friend, Jessica, would stand by her. Especially since Jess claimed to hold beliefs similar to what Michelle now held. However, Jess believe Michelle was being too much of a stickler and alienating family wasn’t worth the ideals of religion. Michelle tried to explain she wasn’t trying to alienate her family, it was them not accepting her, but that didn’t seem to make a difference in the argument. Jess still spoke to her, but there was a rift between them ever since the disagreement.
But Orion stayed true through it all, as if nothing ever changed. To him, Michelle was just Michelle, and that’s what she’d always be. She hoped he was going to be okay, he’d seemed to be more sluggish than usual and in pain. She’d know more tomorrow, once they went to the vet. For now, she had to get out the door and see Kyle.
When Michelle reached the restaurant Kyle mentioned, she scanned the tables to locate him. She frowned when she didn’t see him until she heard his voice behind her.
“Hey Shelly.”
She turned around to meet his gaze, unsure whether to smile or frown. He looked as uncertain as his texts sounded, as if he wasn’t at all happy to be there. She stood next to him as he asked the host for a table, distinctly noting how not only did he not hold her hand, but folded his own hands in front of him. As they walked to the table the host led them to, she focused on his jacket, staring at all the little rain droplets lingering on the fabric.
She gave the host a faint smile before sitting across the booth from Kyle. Normally she’d have sat beside him, but the ominous feeling hanging in the air made it feel inappropriate. They ordered their drinks when the waitress came, but otherwise spent the time in silence, glancing over the menu. It felt weird, as if she were awkwardly sitting across from a stranger, not her boyfriend of four months.
After they ordered food and the waitress took the menus, she met Kyle’s gaze again. He glanced away, but Michelle was tired of waiting. “So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?” she asked, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“You know I care a great deal about you, Shelly,” Kyle quietly said.
Oh no, that can’t be a good beginning, Michelle thought. She stared at Kyle’s chin, no longer wanting to meet his gaze.
“But we’re young, and we don’t always know what we want,” his voice was steady but gentle, as if trying to soften the oncoming blow.
He’s breaking up with me, Michelle thought. Can’t he at least wait until I’ve eaten my
chicken? But maybe that was worse, waiting twenty to thirty minutes for food and its consumption, before cutting the cord. A quicker, clean break would be easier. But why would he bring me to a restaurant? So I don’t make a scene? This should be a private conversation.
“I wish things didn’t have to end this way,” Kyle continued, “but I found someone else.”
Michelle lifted her gaze to lock eyes with him, fingers of one hand tightening around the silverware bundle on the table. “You found someone else? Were you looking for them?”
“It’s not like that, Shelly,” Kyle protested. “She’s just a girl from one of my classes, and we’ve been getting along really well. I decided I want to ask her out.”
Normally, Michelle would keep the words internal, but she no longer cared about sparing Kyle’s feelings. “I suppose I should have suspected, when you asked me out so quickly. You’re very fickle.”
Kyle got a little red in the face, the brightness a contrast to his dark hair. “I am not! I just want to make sure I’m with the right one.”
“Well, you know how it is, if this one doesn’t suit quite right, throw her out and find a new one,” Michelle drawled.
“That’s not how it is. Rachelle and I are just really clicking. I can’t let the chance go by, she may be the one.”
“Just like I might have been the one?” Michelle asked, abruptly standing up. “Are you going to call her Shelly, too?”
Kyle’s face became redder. “I didn’t know at the time I said those things, that this was going to happen.”
Part of Michelle wanted to stay and get the chicken Kyle had ordered. Make him pay for one last meal that she could box up and take with her. Part of her also wanted to splash her glass of lemonade in his face, but it was really cold outside, and no matter how upset she may be, she wasn’t cruel. “Screw you, Kyle. I hope Rachelle sees the truth more quickly than I did.” Michelle slipped out of the booth. Standing made her legs press against the table in an uncomfortable way, and she was glad to be out of it.
Turning, she stormed out of the restaurant without glancing back at Kyle. Once inside her car though, she couldn’t help letting a few tears escape. Just one more person abandoning her. “God, why does life have to be so hard?” she whispered, heading back to the apartment. Then she realized she was still hungry and decided to go to a drive-thru. They may wonder at her tear-stained face, but oh well, she needed a cheeseburger. And some fries. And a chocolate shake.
~ G. G. Marshall
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Part 2 (available 7/18/24): https://www.ggmarshall.com/post/phoenix-2
Part 3 (available 8/15/24): https://www.ggmarshall.com/post/little-phoenix-3
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