Page 148 of Don't Leave Me

Michael shook his head. “She just said she was sorry, and she ran off crying. I could see her trembling in his arms, but she seemed like she was trying to hold herself together. I figured it was because of my unannounced arrival,” he looked down at his hands.

I shook my head to myself, staring out the window at the beautiful city before us.

“I think she’s in trouble, Michael. I think maybe she’s had some sort of psychotic break or something. All of this just doesn’t make any sense,” I said, turning back to Michael.

He eyed me for a moment, looking to be in deep thought. “She didn’t take her meds with her. They are still in the medicine cabinet where she took them every night,” he explained.

I sighed heavily, then took my phone out.

“I’m going to text her, see if I can get that dinner with her tomorrow,” I said as I started to type the text.

Hey, Han! How about that dinner to catch up? Ladies night like old times– my treat? I can do tonight or tomorrow.

“I know I can get some answers from her without Jack there,” I said to Michael, setting my phone on his desk.

Michael sighed heavily, sitting back and putting his hand up to his growing beard. “I really hope this is just Hana getting cold feet, that she’ll get it out of her system and come back to me,” he said quietly.

I eyed him sadly, but then my phone vibrated. I picked it up immediately. I furrowed my brows as I read it.

Tomorrow night, 7 pm? We can meet you at La Flaca in the LES.

“She saidwecan meet you for dinner,” I said to Michael, still looking down at my phone. “She’s bringing Jack,” I made a face at him as I looked up.

Michael narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps he doesn’t want her to be alone with you,” he thought aloud.

“But why?” I thought aloud myself. “Unless he’s trying to hide something. He wants to keep an eye on her,” I concluded.

Michael sighed again. “I want to fucking kill him,” he stood up, then started to pace. “What is thefuckis going on?” his voice was stern now, almost scary. I almost wanted him to kill Jack. Something was clearly going on.

“Let’s not act on anything yet,” I said calmly, watching him. “I will go to dinner with them and try to get her alone in the bathroom or something. If anything, I can just observe them again and try to figure this all out.”

Michael stopped pacing and stood at the window, his hands on his hips. His shoulders were slumped and I could tell he felt defeated.

“Please let me know as soon as you’ve finished. Please keep me in the loop,” he said quietly, turning to me – his eyes were desperate and full of hope.

I nodded at him. “Of course.”

* * *

I didn’t sleep very well again that night. I tossed and turned, wondering what I was going to do if Hana was indeed going through some sort of psychosis. What if Jack was taking advantage of the state she was in and making her believe that they “belonged” together? What if she wanted to be there, was perfectly sane, and she just really didn’t want to be around me…and Michael…and Emily? No, it doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense.

I took the day off work. I couldn’t focus with the little sleep that I had gotten, and I napped here and there throughout the day. Finally at 6:30 PM, I got on the L train and headed towards Manhattan.

I spotted them immediately sitting at a table near the window before they even saw me. Hana sat stiffly and stared down at the table, putting her hand to her lips, moving her fingers over them like she was applying chapstick. Jack had his arm around her chair and looked around the crowded restaurant, looking like he owned the place. I finally made myself known and walked further into the restaurant, smiling and waving at them, putting on my best happy face. Inside, though, I was a mixture of angry and terrified.

“Hey guys,” I finally approached them, smiling and giving each of them a hug as they stood up.

Hana felt as stiff as she looked.

I sat down opposite of Hana and eyed the two of them as they sat down together. Hana sat closely next to Jack, almost as if he was propping her up somehow. Her eyes were wide and her face somber, but once she realized I was staring at her, she quickly smiled and started to speak, her voice chipper.

“How are you doing? What’s new?”

I started to talk about myself and the random things that had been happening at work. I casually mentioned that John and I broke up, and Hana widened her mouth.

“What happened?” she frowned.

I explained that he got the job in California and that he didn’t exactly ask if I was okay with it or not. Hana frowned, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry,” she empathized and almost looked like she was about to cry.

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