Chapter 48: An Empty Shell

Nelly walked out of the room and closed the door slowly. She saw Chad coming up the stairs, nodding at her. “How’s she?”

“Still the same,” Nelly replied. “Did she eat at all?” Chad’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. She shook her head somberly. “Can you do something?”

Nelly studied the man in front of her for a bit before replying. “Nothing I can do in this situation. The only person who can save her is herself. You know it.”

“Alright. Thanks for the hard work,” Chad replied with practiced courtesy. Nelly gave him a small smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

Chad entered the room and closed the door behind him. Nelly stood at her spot and stared at the door. There’s a flick of sadness in her eyes as she turned and left.

Chad walked into the room. Sunlight spilled in from the window, lighting up the entire room. He noticed the flower placed on the bedside table. Nelly must’ve placed it there. The bed was empty but it wasn’t a surprise.

He circled around the bed and sat on it. He didn’t say anything. There was a stretched silence as he watched Stacy’s hunched figure. She was sitting on the floor, her body compressed into the corner of the room where sunlight wouldn’t reach. She hugged her knees to her body. Her chin rested on them and her eyes stared at the space in front of her. It was as though her soul had left her body and she was left with an empty shell of a human body.

Chad stared warily. She was so full of life when she left. The difference was so huge, even he couldn’t come to terms with it. What scared him the most was her eyes. There wasn’t a hint of life in them.

He’d seen it before. The exact same look.

There was this period of time when his mother would sit in the room after his father’s passing. She would neither eat nor sleep. She simply sat there for days, unmoving. He was still a child back then. He didn’t know what to do so he sat at the side quietly, waiting for when his mother would come back to life.

She never did. To be exact, she did. Once. It was the last time she looked at him like she was present before leaving permanently.

The neighbors were mumbling something about depression. He didn’t understand back then. After all he had gone through after that, he finally understood what it was like. He’d felt it a few times, the feeling when he lost something he held dear.

Depression must be an extension to that feeling, only a hundred times more severe.

He walked up to her and settled down at her side. She didn’t even acknowledge him. It didn’t matter. He sat there in silence as that’s the only way he knew of.

Nelly sat in the kitchen, nursing a glass as she stared into the distance, seemingly lost in thoughts.

“Knock, knock! Earth to Nelly,” Jack exclaimed as he took a seat beside her.

“Hey,” she replied perfunctorily when she saw him. Jack’s eyes immediately zoomed in on her whiskey glass. “You drink now?”

“It’s water,” she replied plainly. Jack’s eyes narrowed on the liquid in it suspiciously. “Uh-huh,” he said. There was sarcasm in his tone.

Nelly held the glass up high. “It's a transparent liquid. What do you expect?” She snapped but immediately regretted it. She had never talked so rudely to any of the men since her arrival. But he wasn’t any man. He’s Jack. He’s really a pain in the ass but apparently too cute to hit. She’s pretty sure everyone would agree with her.

She took a nervous sip from her glass. “I can’t drink,” she replied, taking extra precaution with her tone this time.

Jack laughed. “But you just did. You drank from the glass,” Jack pointed. “A glass of water,” he added quickly when he saw the look on her face.

A smile formed on her lips. “You’re impossible.”

Jack flashed a proud smile. “That’s more like you. You should smile more often. The sour face doesn't suit you well,” he commented, “don’t you see the room light up the moment you smile?” Nelly’s smile widened involuntarily. “You love to exaggerate.”

Without missing a beat, he said, “well, that’s my strength.” He looked so proud Nelly didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.

“It’s not a compliment,” she stated with a plain tone. The corners of her lips, however, kept betraying her and she had a hard time controlling her smile.

“Is it your break time?” Her question made Jack pout. “I was so busy! Finally I have the time to sit and catch a breather.” Nelly laughed out loud. “No, you didn’t. You talked too much for that.”

Jack faked a gasp. “Even Nelly is bullying me now,” he pouted with exaggeration for extra effect. Nelly couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “And she rolled her eyes at me!”

Mark walked in with his usual resting bitch face. He always walked around looking like the whole world owed him money. Nelly tensed visibly.

Mark grabbed a beer from the fridge. “Did I interrupt something?” He asked half-heartedly. Jack gasped again. “What is happening today? The moon is turning blue! First, Nelly rolled her eyes at me. Then, Mark is showing interest in my activity. I’m so touched!” Jack placed his right palm on his chest, over the place where his heart was supposed to be while his other arm extended upwards dramatically.

Mark gave him a bored look as he turned around to leave. “Hey! Where are you going? C’mon, man!” Jack practically leaped up from his seat and ran after Mark.

Nelly shook her head. Jack’s still the same tornado she knew when she first arrived at the town. Left alone, her smile lingered for a few seconds before it faded away.

At least Jack’s still the same. The stability made her feel safe. Everyone else changes. She’s sure she changed as well. If it was a month ago, she wouldn’t even dare to sit alone in the kitchen. She would probably hide in her room or something.

The changes made her feel anxious. If things changed so quickly, what would happen the day after? She would never know. The unknown was a dark future haunting her very soul.