Page 33 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

SPRING SUMME R FALLING | 33

Chapter 7

Henri
T
hankfully, the clinic is straight to the point. Sign here. Piss here. Blood here.
I’m out in less than ten minutes. It’s also one of the perks of showing up
early. I am in and out before anyone shows up. I put on my party playlist
and turn up the volume. The upbeat music helps calm the anger that slowly starts to
emerge. Small things she used to do now make sense. Plus, I was so wrapped up in
my own world that I’d missed an obvious sign. Her sudden onset of jealousy should
have been a waving red flag. I can’t blame it on Sanya’s sudden appearance into my
life. Cassie was acting like that before I acquired a new friend in the stairway.
The walkthrough is wonderfully uneventful since Cassie is at her doctor’s

appointment. The landlord is great. He discussed the situation with the office
manager and since I paid for the last four months upfront, they agreed to take my
name off the lease. I happily turn in any and everything that would give me access. I
don’t have any plans of returning.
I send Cassie’s call to voicemail like I’ve been doing all weekend. I have several
voicemails that I will listen to once I’m settled. I also have twenty unread text
messages. I haven’t looked at them yet, but I am pretty certain the one on top starts
with “You asshole.” I don’t want to hear anything other than “the baby is here” out
of her lying mouth. If the baby is mine, I will work on my civility later. Until then,
she may as well lose my number.
I pull into the driveway of my temporary home. The traditional house with the
wrap around porch instantly calms me. It is strange to feel so connected to a house
I’ve only been in once. I don’t know if it’s because it’s the type of house – inside and
out – that I’ve pictured my future family to live in or if it is the owner. I’ve felt