At the same time... In Apartment Room 101.
"I can't keep waiting around. The longer I do, the more everything spirals."
"Huh?"
Leona's voice was muffled beneath the blanket she had pulled over her head. She hadn't moved since she'd given up trying to explain herself—though, really, there hadn't been much to explain. The misunderstanding hadn't been a misunderstanding at all. Just something neither of us wanted to say out loud.
Still, she heard me. That surprised me.
"I've got to take out the trash," I said, keeping my voice low. "I was putting it off. Thought I wasn't ready. But now... I think I am."
"What trash?" she asked.
Her voice was soft. She didn't lift her head, didn't peek out. But I could tell she was listening—really listening.
"Non-recyclable waste."
There was a pause.
"Then you should throw it out soon," she mumbled. "Can you do it on your own?"
"Yeah. I have to."
