Page 2 of Please Don't Leave Me

"Could we spend some time with him?"

"Sure! Head out that door at the end of the hall, and I'll meet you in room three; it should be open."

"Thank you."

"Well,Pepin, welcome to your new home."

Staring into my 900-square-foot apartment, I start to wonder if he's as unimpressed with it as I am. He gets up and starts wandering around, inspecting the place. I really hope he's as docile as he seemed at the rescue. Regardless, I'm just glad to have a companion.

I've been wanting a dog for over a year now, but my ex always said no. Now that he's out of the picture, I can do whatever I want. Although I've only been living here alone for a couple weeks, I was starting to get really lonely. Most of my college friends live out of state, and my family lives in a small town over an hour from Minneapolis. After Jay left, I've been in this city mostly by myself.

"So, have you found a new roommate yet?" B asks with a mouth full, eating the last of my Oreos. "Because I've been thinking maybe I could move in with you. It'll be just like old times."

We haven't lived together since I left for college five years ago, but I honestly think having her around couldbe good for me. I don't do well alone. And as great as having Pepin around will be, some consistent human interaction will make the transition to being single easier.

"Yeah, I think that would be great. But I thought you were going to live with your college friend once you move to the city?"

"She decided to take that job in New York instead. She called me this morning to tell me she got us out of our lease. So I guess Jay dumping you works out great for me," she says with a sarcastic grin on her face.

I roll my eyes at her. "Yeah, I'll find out his new address so you can send him a thank you card."

She walks over to where I'm standing and tackles me onto the couch. "You know I'm just messing with you. By the way, how have you been? I haven't heard much from you since you called me two weeks ago to tell me that Fuck Face let the greatest thing that's ever happened to him slip through his fingers." She has always been my biggest hype girl, giving me way more credit than I deserve. I appreciate the constant support and confidence in me more than she'll ever know.

"Better, now that I have a roomie. And I’ll be even happier when that new roomie signs a contract promising not to leave her dirty dishes in the sink."

"Hey, I always wash themeventually!"

We laugh and hold each other on the couch for a moment before I get up, hoping she won't catch the single tear I let slip from my eye.

I really haven't taken the breakup as hard as I thought I would. Yes, I'm sad. But I'm less sad about losing Jay than I am scared of being alone. The last time I was single was in my junior year of college. Before that, I dated a few otherpeople. Needless to say, I haven't spent much time on my own.

Jay never really felt like the one, but I think I got complacent and settled for what would keep me on track with my life goals as opposed to what was best for my heart. He wasn't bad; he just wasn't great. And after watching my parents growing up, I know that great love exists. I was just too blinded by ambition and stubbornness to be honest with myself.

Jay had fit into my plans. I wanted to be engaged and a homeowner by 25, on my way to becoming a great architect. Now, here I am, 24 years old and single, about to move my little sister into my janky apartment.

I hope this pause in my plans doesn’t last long. I am less than a year away from taking my licensure exams and becoming an architect. And now I have a dog, which wasn't a part of the original plan due to the shitty ex-boyfriend, but it definitely seems like a step in the right direction.

Pepin trots over, jumps up on the couch, and curls up next to B, where I left her lying there. "Looks like Lou is getting two new roommates, huh, Pep." The side eye he gives her sends both of us into a fit of laughter.

This is going to be good. And everything is going to be okay.

Chapter Two

LOUISA

The interesting thing about moving back in with my sister after five years apart is that not much has changed. B started moving in her crap this morning, and I'm already questioning my decision. While I am neat, organized, and focused, B is messy, chaotic, and scatterbrained.

"How do you have this much shit?"

"Mom and Dad made me take all my stuff out of my bedroom at home so they could turn it into a library."

"They also had me clean out my room when I graduated last year. And you know what I did? I sorted through everything and got rid of what I didn't need."

She drops a box of what looks like yarn and shoots daggers at me. "Not all of us are as type A as you, Lou. I'm sentimental.”

Reaching into the box she just dropped, I pick up a half-crocheted dishcloth. "And what sentimental value does this hold?"

She flinches when I throw it back into the box as if I just slammed a door on her heart. Her eyebrows scrunchtogether, and her lips press tight together. She really is quite the drama queen at times.

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