Loving Sofia by Alina Man Read Free Book Online

signatures from you and of course the office keys.”
     
    That’s it . Nothing else to do. I listen to her talking about Cobra, taxes, and some other crap that really doesn’t matter considering I won’t be able to afford any of the so called options.  I force back the tears, take the forms—including my check, grab my stuff from the office, and walk out.  I don’t even bother saying goodbye to anyone. I just keep walking, never looking back, not even once. 
    After a few hours of mindless driving , I stop on the side of the road, lay my head on the steering wheel, and sob.  I cry until there are no more tears left. Then I scream until my voice is gone.  First I’m sad, then I get angry, and then I feel numb. Before I drive away, I take a look in the mirror to check the damage I’ve done to my face. I look like shit, my eyes are bloodshot, and there is no way I can pretend I’m ok.  Mona is going to chew my ass and she’s going to worry.  I have to come up with some kind of story. There’s no reason to worry her before her wedding. 
    I’m going to be just fine, I tell myself.  After all , I’m neither the first nor the last person to lose a job. When I get home, I notice there are three cars in our parking lot. Honestly I’m not ready to face anyone, so I do the only thing I can think of. I turn the car around and drive away before anyone can notice.  Not far from our place there’s a park, and I decide to stop and go for a walk.  The play area is empty and there isn’t much daylight left, but I don’t really care.  I sit on the swing and let my mind go blank, welcoming the quiet. 
    “Do you have a death wish? What the hell are you doing all alone in the park at this hour?”  Mark comes to a stop in front of me and lowers himself until our eyes are leveled. “Talk to me Birdie.”
    “How did you find me?”
    “I saw you drive away and I followed you. I feel that I gave you enough time alone.  Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way.  You either tell me what’s going on, or I swear I’ll sit on you and won’t let you go until you do.  So what’s it gonna be?”
    “What do you want me to say, Mark?  Why are you here anyway?  Don’t you have some place to be?”  I sound like a bitch but don’t really care. I want them all to go away and leave me alone. 
    “Birdie what happened? Why don’t you talk to me anymore? You used to tell me everything , and now I feel like you’re avoiding me all the time.” He sits in the swing next to me and waits.
    “I lost my job today , OK?  I gave my all to that stupid place and it took them five minutes to dismiss me. And Mona is getting married and is moving, I have to renew my lease next month, I have no job, and so yeah.  That’s what’s going on.” 
    Everything just rushes out. He looks at me and smiles , making me wonder if he heard a word I said.  Is he laughing at me?  This was serious.  We are talking about my life for fucks-sake.  How can you laugh at someone who’s about to end up in the street?
    “Well I was afraid it was something serious.  Like you were sick or something. Shit Birdie. So you lost your job . No big deal. You’ll find another one.” He watches me for a moment then says in a low voice, “You can always move in with me.  You know how big my place is, and I don’t even use the second floor.”
    Wait , did I just hear him say I can move in with him? Is he serious? I can’t believe he thinks that I can just move in with him. The more I think about it, the more I realize that he is my only hope.  It’s either him, or move back with my mom.
    “I can’t afford to pay you too much rent , though.”
    “Really Birdie?  My God I don’t need your money.  However, you could maybe, let’s say, cook for me? Come on, it will be fun.  It won’t be any different than it is now since I’m always at your house anyway.  We’ll still spend the evenings together, just in a different house. Plus,