Floating by Natasha Thomas Read Free Book Online

working any more. The walls I’ve built to protect myself are starting to crumble, turning to ruins at my feet, and pitifully weak only two weeks in. With every extra day that passes, I can feel them disintegrating further, losing their ability to protect the fragile organ in my chest.
     
    He’s patient, watchful, and considerate. Nate makes sure to check on me often, bringing me food, magazines, and arranging people to visit so I don’t feel completely isolated. He’s slowly worming his way back into my heart, and I don’t know if I like it. Its one thing breaking down my walls, I’m a realist after all, I knew it would happen eventually, but it’s a completely different thing to have him actually make me WANT to love him again. I shouldn’t be surprised, it is Nate we’re talking about.
     
    After spending the first couple of days settling in, at Nate’s decree, Kendall, Lexi, Priss, Tilly, and Lou with baby Anna in tow, started coming for coffee, chats, or to bring by some lunch. It’s like they set up a schedule, complete with coordinating times, so I’m not left unattended. It is actually slightly creepy to think about them all sitting down hashing it out. I wonder if they’ve gone as far as scheduling my bathroom breaks and shower times. I’ll have to remember to ask them next time.
     
    I am grateful for all the support and love I’ve been receiving, but at the same time it’s getting harder and harder to stomach the looks of pity and self-recrimination they, specifically Kendall, keep giving me. I hate that they look at me like that, it makes me feel weak and vulnerable. I kept my mouth shut in the beginning, but I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to hold my tongue, I’m not known for my infinite patience. I especially don’t want nor need their pity because I’m doing just fine. This all culminates in my teeny-tiny meltdown yesterday. Obviously, I couldn’t tolerate it for much longer after all.
     
    Priss, Lou and Kendall, and I were sitting in Nate’s lounge room. I was on the leather recliner that had become a good friend to me of late. It worn, the leather is butter soft, and it feels like you’re sitting on a big fluffy cloud. Kendall and Priss were on the couch, and Lou’s stretched out, back against the couch and legs crossed in front of her directly across from me. Nate had taken baby Anna outside to get some fresh air, she had been fussing since they arrived half an hour before. That man was too damn irresistible holding a baby, I was kind of glad he was not in sight anymore
     
    After getting the ten millionth pity filled look from Kendall I snapped. Okay, so maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. It wasn’t ten million exactly, maybe only five million, but seriously, enough was enough, I didn’t mean what I said to come out so harshly, but I was done. D.O.N.E.
    “I love you guys,” I said, “But you’re all going to get evicted and banned in about 5 seconds flat if this shit doesn’t stop. I’m not an invalid, and I’m sick of you looking at me like I am. I’m fucking fine, and you all need to accept it and go on about your business.”
     
    Kendall’s head snapped up to look at me, as did Priss’s. Lou just let out a loud laugh filled with mirth. “See, I told you bitches she wouldn’t want all this sympathy crap. Sympathy is between shit and syphilis in the dictionary so who’d want it. No one, that’s who.” Turning to me shaking her head she said, “Sorry, V. I told these two they should move the fuck on and get over it, but clearly they didn’t listen. I get what happened was horrible. Jesus. It was worse than fucking horrible, but you’re one tough bitch, and these two are just being fucking ridiculous. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, other than that crazy bitch that’s dead and buried, that’s all there is to it. I for one say they need to lighten up and celebrate the wicked witch’s demise, not mourn what didn’t happen.”
     
    Kendall let out