BREATHE FOR ME

Chapter 21: Surprise

By the time that the following Friday comes around, I've almost forgotten about William Shelley. Almost. Although my brain has forgotten the details of his facial features, I can still remember the sickly feeling that he gave me as he stood in the darkness and watched Lorrie and I inside of the Chevy. My subconscious remembers the way that his threatening eyes bore into the blacked out windows, almost as if he was scrutinizing every part of me...

Earlier this morning, Mom and Maddie came with me to the pulmonology clinic to get my lungs checked and to top-up my three types of medication before the flight this evening. So far, everything seems to be fine. Good old Dr Lea said that there was no need to take any action because the treatment is working. Walking out of the clinic, I couldn't help but beam up at the sky and silently thank whoever or whatever is up there for this second chance at life.

Now, nine hours later, I'm stood waiting with Maddie, Teddy and May, for Lorrie to arrive at the airport. He was called out last minute apparently to deal with some 'family business', which means that he couldn't ride with us on the way here. Which leaves us here, awkwardly standing on the sidewalk, fighting off the late-night humidity.

"What does his family business entail?" Maddie randomly asks, making Teddy and me freeze. We awkwardly look at each other, silently trying to think of some kind of diversion.

"Lorrie's Dad is a mechanic." Teddy says quickly. "They own a garage down on Rose Street."

"What kind of urgent business would he need to attend to at a garage?" Maddie questions, furrowing her brows.

"I don't know, he likes to help out the family as much as he can. Family is very important to him." Teddy replies, obviously being careful with his words.

May automatically looks uncomfortable at the mention of Rose Street, making all four of us slip into an awkward silence. Great start to the trip, I can't help but think.

"Hey! I'm here, sorry for the late arrival." We all turn around to see a very flustered looking Lorrie. His normally cute-messy hair is genuinely messy, as if he's run from the other side of Phoenix to get here. I also notice that he's still wearing a pair of black cargo trousers, the type that he uses for training, and his white thermal long-sleeve that hugs all of his muscles. He's obviously just come here straight from whatever 'business' that he's had to attend to. Given that Lorrie is the most composed person that I know, seeing this side to him, the disordered side to him, makes me laugh slightly. I'm about to make a sarcastic comment about being tardy when I notice a familiar face standing behind Lorrie, awkwardly smiling at me.

"Esidore?" I ask, all sarcasm dissipating from my system.

He looks sort of sheepish at the situation, as though he feels that he is intruding. Well, he kind of is, I guess. But why? He's also dressed in his gear, wearing a pair of black cargo trousers and a large grey hoodie. He's also carrying a large duffel bag that looks packed to the brim. Wait a minute...

"Surprise!" he laughs light-heartedly, dropping his large duffel bag on Lorrie so that he can come and give me a hug. "I'm joining the couple's retreat!"

As he wraps his huge, burly arms around me, almost squeezing the life right out of me, I give Lorrie a questioning look. He returns it with a we need to talk look.

......

"So, are we going to talk about this?" I ask Lorrie and Esidore, who are sat on either side of me in our very tightly constructed plane seats. I have both Lorrie's and Esidore's biceps pressed against me, making me feel very claustrophobic. And very hot.