The wind seed to die all at once. No more cold gusts, no rustling leaves, just dead quiet on the road as the three of us stood there like statues. , Aeri, and Sonny. The silence felt thick, heavy, pressing down on us.
I broke it first.
"Let’s go inside," I said, reaching out and gently taking the grocery bag from Aeri’s hand. Her fingers were cold, almost limp, like she didn’t even have the strength to hold on to it anymore.
"Hmm... okay..." she whispered. Barely audible. Sweat was still shining on her forehead, her cheeks flushed deep red. She looked like she might pass out any second, but she didn’t say anything about feeling bad. Just nodded once and started walking with toward the stairs.
We moved together, slow steps across the concrete. I pushed open the blue tal gate that led down to our house. It creaked like it always did. Aeri stayed close to , head still down, arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold everything in.
Behind us, Sonny let out a long breath.
"Alright then," he said, clapping his hands together once like he was shaking off the awkwardness. "I’ll leave for my work too."
He started walking toward the car. Halfway there, he turned back and raised his hand in a lazy wave.
"It was nice eting you, Aeri," he called out, smiling like nothing weird had happened.
Aeri stopped. She turned around slowly. Her hand ca up in a small, shaky wave. The smile she gave him looked forced, tight lips, no warmth in her eyes.
"Yeah... it was nice eting you too," she said softly. "Bye, Sonny. And... thank you for dropping ho."
She turned away almost imdiately, not waiting for more. Her footsteps picked up a little as she headed for the door.
Sonny’s voice followed us anyway, loud and cheerful like he hadn’t noticed the mood at all.
"Yeah, no worries at all! Seriously. Let’s catch up so other ti, okay?"
Aeri didn’t look back this ti. She just kept walking, reached the door, twisted the handle, and slipped inside. The door clicked shut behind her with a soft thud.
I stopped walking.
My feet planted right there on the narrow path between the gate and the building entrance. Slowly, I turned my head.
Sonny was already halfway down the first set of stairs, but he paused when he felt looking. Our eyes t.
I didn’t say anything. Didn’t need to.
I just stared. Hard. Long. The kind of look that says everything without a single word: Back off. Stay away. You’re not welco here.
His smile slipped for a second—just a flicker—then ca back, smaller this ti. He gave a quick nod, almost like he was trying to play it cool.
"Right," he muttered under his breath.
I waited and didn’t say anything.
I looked at the closed door Aeri had gone through. The grocery bag felt heavier in my hand all of a sudden.
"Take... c-care... you as well, Ezra," Sonny said. His voice ca out shaky, and his usual cocky smile looked forced now, wobbly at the edges. My stare had clearly gotten to him—he kept glancing away like he couldn’t hold it.
I didn’t answer. Not a word. Just turned my back on him, pushed the door open wider, and stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind with a solid thud that echoed in the quiet hallway.
Outside, Sonny stood there for a second longer, staring at the closed door.
"Jeez..." he muttered to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. "He seems extrely pissed off at . Maybe he thinks I stole his girl or sothing. Or maybe he’s just super cautious around ..." His voice trailed off into nothing. No one was around to hear it anyway. He kept his eyes on our door for a few more beats, like he was hoping it would open again. Then he let out a long breath, shook his head, and walked to his car. The door opened with a beep, he slid inside, started the engine, and drove off smoothly down the pavent, tires quiet on the evening road.
Inside the house, the air felt warr but heavier. I kicked off my shoes right there by the entrance mat, the laces still half-tied.
"Sigh... such a fucker," I muttered under my breath, low enough that only I could hear it.
Aeri was already two steps ahead. She bent down slowly, slipped off her heels—one, then the other—and stepped barefoot into the hall. Her movents were careful, almost chanical. She didn’t turn around.
I followed her in, closing the main door behind with a soft click. The hallway light was on, soft yellow glow bouncing off the walls.
"Hey, Aeri..." I said, trying to keep my voice casual, normal. "Why were you with him?"
She kept walking a few more steps toward the living room, back still to .
"I an," I went on, "you didn’t even call or ssage or anything. Just... disappeared the whole night."
I waited for her to say sothing. Anything. But she just stood there, frozen in place, facing away from . Her shoulders looked tense, hands hanging loose at her sides.
Sothing twisted in my gut. She wasn’t right. Sothing was off.
"Aeri..." I said again, quieter this ti, curious and worried now. I took a step closer. "What ha—"
Before I could finish, her body swayed. First just a little lean to the right, like she was losing balance. Then more. Her knees buckled.
In an instant—*thud*—she hit the floor hard. Face down, arms limp, no movent after that. Just the sound of her body against the wooden tiles, sharp and sudden.
My heart slamd into my ribs.
"Aeri!"
I dropped everything—the grocery bag crashed to the ground, apples rolling out—and rushed to her side. I knelt down fast, hands shaking as I turned her over gently.
Her eyes were closed. Face pale now instead of red. Sweat still on her forehead, but she looked completely out.
"Aeri? Hey—hey, wake up!" I patted her cheek lightly, then firr. "Aeri!"
No response. Her breathing was shallow, chest rising and falling too slow.
Panic hit like a truck.
I checked her pulse—fast but weak—then looked around wildly. Phone. I needed my phone.
But I couldn’t leave her.
"Aeri, co on... please," I whispered, voice cracking. I scooped her up carefully, her head lolling against my shoulder, and carried her toward the couch.
My mind was racing. Hospital? Call soone? What the hell just happened?
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