Page 14 of Night and Day
Chapter 8
Izzy took his officechair, leaving the couch and armchairs for his family members who poured down the staircase one after another. What on earth were they all doing here? Why now? Did they know he had a visitor? How could they have possibly found out?
His mother Sue sat on the couch, a nervous smile puckering her papery skin. His father John joined her, leaving the armchairs for his brother Mac and Mac’s fiancée, Shasa. They all smiled with such effort Izzy’s stomach heaved. “What’s up?”
“Sorry about barging in like this,” Mac said. “Mum’s been saying we should all visit you and since you’re usually home...”
Izzy nodded at the thinly veiled reproach. “Yeah, I work from home.”
“Mac told us you’re ordering groceries online,” his mother added, eyes widening with worry.
“And now you work out from home?” Mac glanced at his stack of weights.
Izzy shrugged. “So, what? I don’t like shopping and the gym just raised their fees.”
“Surely you can afford a bit more,” his father suggested. “Is your business in trouble?”
“No!” Izzy tugged at the neck of his shirt, confirming that the collar wasn’t restricting his airflow. This conversation was. “No,” he repeated quieter, hoping the others would match his volume and he could somehow avoid Mia hearing every word. This was the worst introduction in the history of introductions.
“That’s good.” His father relaxed against the couch, content to stop talking. He was more of a listener, like Izzy himself. The others had likely dragged him along against his will.
“The reason we’re here” —Sue glanced at Mac and Shasa for support— “is that we really care about you. We’d hate to see you wake up full of regret one day because you let life pass you by.”
She fanned herself with a pamphlet,Wintec Prospectus 2022. “We’d like to contribute towards the cost if you want to do some further studies, in any field, anything at all you’d like.”
Izzy took the brochure and dropped it on the coffee table. “I have a film degree. I’m qualified to do what I do and I’m making a living. I can upskill myself online. Why would I need to go back to school?”
He could sense their answer, and it occurred to him, far too late, that asking the question would lead to his hidden house guest hearing what he himself didn’t want to hear.
Shasa stirred in her chair, her forehead wrinkling. “For the record, I thought the study idea was a bit off topic, but I have a friend I’d love to set you up with.” Her voice raised like a question, her smile turning apologetic.
“She’s hot,” Mac added with a wink.
Sue’s eyebrows shot up. “I think that’s a great idea! It doesn’t have to be study, as long as you’re open to something a bit more ... social. We’re all worried about you. Isolating yourself is a sign of depression, you know?”
Izzy took a breath, waiting for the hot ball of anger in his gut to fizzle out. “Of course I know. I edit suicide prevention videos.”
Sue’s mouth twisted in disdain. “It’s such a morbid subject to spend your days with.”
Izzy sighed. Sometimes, working on suicide prevention indeed tested his will to live.
“It’s important work for sure,” his father added absent-mindedly, leafing through a film magazine.
“We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with what you do for a living, or even working from home,” Mac rushed to add. “But bro, let’s face it, you need to go out and spend some time with humans. See some friends. Find a girl. Stop punishing yourself for what happened five years ago, it’s—”
“I’m not!” Izzy roared, desperate to shut him up. Was it really necessary to advertise every aspect of his emotional baggage? They wanted him to go out on a date with Shasa’s friend, or join a club to meet people? Fine! But why did they have to gang up on him like this? He stared at the delegation in his lounge, a cold sensation trickling down his spine. “Wait... Is this an intervention?”
Mac’s eyes flashed with guilt.
“We didn’t want to use that word,” Sue said, weaving her fingers together so tight her knuckles cracked. “It sounds so invasive.”
