Page 162 of Wrench
to let you know that that¡¯s why I¡¯ve been so crazy, and it¡¯s done now.¡±
¡°I knew you were seeing someone.¡± There was a hint of pride in his voice, but quickly,
he resumed seriously, ¡°Who was it? How long? Where are you now?¡±
¡°I¡¯m at the Desert Oasis Motel and it doesn¡¯t matter who or how long.¡±
¡°At a motel? What? Why are you at a motel?¡±
¡°I think¡ I think I¡¯m going to stay here for a few days, Dad.¡± I pressed my eyes with
my thumb and index finger to literally hold back the tears. ¡°I just need a few days to
think.¡±
¡°Are you sure? I mean, I¡¯ll leave you alone, I¡¯ve got to help the new neighbors set up
their new sprinkler, anyway. I¡¯ll be out most of the day¡¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m sure. I really think I just need to be alone. The clinic is shut down until
Monday, anyway, since what happened yesterday¡ May as well use the time to reflect on
some things.¡± That sounded better than telling him I couldn¡¯t possibly go home now
because I was covered in another person¡¯s blood.
¡°Well, all right, but¡¡± I heard him clear his throat and twitch his mustache over the
speaker. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±
¡°Yes, Dad. I promise,¡± I said while glancing at a smear of blood on my arm.
¡°All right, I love you.¡±
¡°Love you, too.¡± I hung up and breathed deeply before grabbing a large black hoodie
and a pair of sweatpants I luckily had in my car. Sliding down in my seat, I changed from
my stained clothes without anyone seeing,
Pulling my hair back into a ponytail and covering it with the hood of my sweater, I
entered the motel and rented a room for three nights. Hopefully, by then I¡¯d have a
clearer plan of how to fix my life. Somehow, I had ended up in a tacky motel again, just
like I had a couple months before, only this time mentally disturbed and filthy.
The water pressure was heavy, and the water was hot, that was all I cared about. First,
I stuck my head under the water, watching the red spill from my hair and swirl down the
drain. Once the water ran clean, I stripped off my clothes, and jumped behind the
translucent shower curtain.
Underneath the censoring loud showerhead, I wailed like a widow. Everything from
