I'm sitting up against a wall. Rippled and cold. Storage. Paul's pushing at my shoulder. I breathe and stammer out words.
“How?"
“We're leaving. Can you walk?” Wiping his little blade on his little jeans.
“Well enough.” Or not at all. I can't feel my left thigh. Soaked through with what I hope is water, my jacket pulls on me as I stand. Two backpacks. “Take this one, if you can.” I can. I slip it on and tighten the straps so it tucks against my shoulders. It's lumped and cold and uncomfortable. Step and sting. My thigh screams. I slap it.
“Just over through this path and up through the parking lot.” About 40 yards. Stinging sting. Give me a drip. Give me a Meredith. Like sludge, the wet dirt kicks up with each step. Peppering my calves and my feet are so cold. Wet, wet. I baby each step with my left.
“We good?” Far from it.
“Yeah.” Behind the unfinished strip mall. A glaring light with flashing clock and Fahrenheit meters.
4:30 AM
36º
Saggy and brown, the ankles of my jeans meet paved parking spaces. The low glow of three street lamps giving light to two dead ones. Stinging sting, I wince but can't stop. Give me a Mere. Paul's a small lump on the edge of the lot, peeking out to the road. “We good?” yelling at me.
“Yep.” not as loud. He turns back and walks maybe 5 steps and sits on the curb.
“I'll wait up.” Just leave. I'd run if I could. 4 feet away.
“Mhm. I'll wait with you.” I bend and let myself fall to the curb. Slipping my arms out, I lay back against the lamp post. A deep moan from the lot and a truck pulls in.