Reed

A month, that's how long it had been since I walked away from Penelope. That's how long since I’d heard her voice, held her in my arms, and kissed her soft lips. I’d been a wreck. I'd lashed out at a few people at work and Abby commented on more than one occasion that I’d  been moody.

Penelope stopped coming to the gym, so I didn't even get a glimpse of her then. I knew this was my decision, but I missed her like hell. I started to question if I made too rash a decision. Maybe I should’ve talked to her and Abby together.

I talked to Abby after everything and she said that it wasn't her. She said she caught an Uber home. I didn't have proof from either side, but Abby was my family and I couldn't turn my back on her. Plus, Uncle Dwight and I had been personally taking and picking her up from her treatment.

Uncle Dwight had asked about Penny. I kept it vague. I didn't want to start any unnecessary family drama. I told him that things hadn't worked out, and we went our separate ways. He seemed bummed out by it. He'd said she was the type of woman you married. I didn't like to think about what could have been. I needed to move forward.

I was sitting on the couch with a now warm beer in my hand spacing out. I didn't drink often, but I needed something to help me relax. Sleep had been hard to come by. I heard keys in the door and I turned to look. I knew it had to be Abby since she was the only other person with a key. She was supposed to go on an outing with her support group and then go to Uncle Dwight's so he could take her to therapy in the morning.

Abby stepped in the door and closed it quietly behind her. She fumbled with the lock a second but finally got it. When she saw me she looked a little surprised, but it didn't last past a second.

"Hey, Reedy. What are you doing up so late?"

She came and plopped down on the couch next to me. It was only eleven. It wasn't really all that late, but it was later than I usually stayed up. Well, before things with Penny. Now I was lucky to get three or four hours of sleep.

"Just up thinking and relaxing."

I looked over at her and she looked pale. Her eyes looked a little glazed.

"Are you ok Abs? You don't look like you feel well."

“I feel a little tired.”

Her words were slow which heightened my concern.

"Are you sure you're feeling ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm not a baby Reed!" 

"Why don't you go up to bed? I think sleep would do you some good."

"Fine," was all she replied.

The interaction made me feel uneasy. She may have thought I’d been moody, but her outbursts of anger were becoming more frequent. Most of the time they were over something small.. I'd thought about seeing if I could go to a few of her therapy sessions with her. Seeing the progress she was making and getting some tips on helping her deal with her emotions felt like it would be beneficial.

Abby got up from the couch and moved to the stairs. She stumbled on the first step. She righted herself and slowly made her way up. I made a mental note to keep an eye on her and to see about the therapy session.

I clicked off the T.V. and headed up to my bedroom. I had an early morning the next day, but I knew it may be awhile before sleep came. Laying in my bed I scrolled through the pictures on my phone. There weren't many so it didn't take long to get to the one I was looking for. It was of Penelope. It was the picture she sent to me after I sent her the edible arrangement at work. I'd saved it to my phone's gallery.

Several minutes passed when I closed the picture and set it on my bedside table. Penelope was my past, and I had to start accepting that. Abigail's recovery and well-being were my priority. I needed to focus my energy on that.

***

The morning seemed to come quickly. I had a six am client appointment so I was up at five to get ready for the day. Abby was still in bed asleep. Uncle Dwight was going to pick her up and take her to her appointments for the day.

I went through the same routine I did every morning. In the back of my mind, I thought about the possibility of Penny coming into the gym today. Would she smile at me with that sweet smile of hers? Would she talk to me or would she look right past me?

I had three clients back to back and a class right after. After the class, I took my lunch break. I pulled my phone out of my shorts pocket and saw a missed call from Uncle Dwight. He'd left a voicemail, so I dialed my mailbox and listened.

"Reed, it's Dwight. Call me back when you get a chance will ya. I have a question about Abby."

His message didn't give me much. Worried that something was wrong I stepped outside of the gym and called him back.

"Hey, Unc. What's up?"

"Reed, was Abby sick last night?"

I thought back to the night before. She'd said she wasn't sick, but I had to admit she didn't seem like her normal self.

"She was acting kind of weird, but she said she felt fine. Said she was tired. She seemed to be a little off-kilter to me. When I pressed the issue she snapped at me."

"Hmm, she was still out cold when I wen to get her. She wouldn't answer the door. I had to use the garage keypad to let myself in. I could barely get her to wake up."

"Where is she now?"

"I finally got her up and to her appointment. She didn't seem like herself even after she was awake."

"Keep an eye on her when you pick her up, please. I'll be by to get her when I get off of work. If she's still acting weird, we can try to talk to her therapist or we may have to make her go to the doctor."

"You know I'll keep a close eye on her. See you after a bit."

When I hung up the call I had a nagging feeling. After lunch, I had a few more clients, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of unease I'd had since talking to Uncle Dwight. The argument I'd had with Penny played in my head. The accusation that Abby had been using on the forefront.

After my shift I headed to Uncle Dwight's house. A few minutes into the drive I changed paths toward my own home. I wanted to trust Abby. I needed to take a look around her room to clear my conscious. Then I'd go pick her up as planned.

I stood outside her door debating if it was the right thing to do. It was an invasion of her privacy. It was for her own well-being I told myself. Besides, it was my house. I turned the doorknob and let the door creak open.

Her room was neat. The bed was made and there were no dirty clothes littering the ground. She hadn't come with much of anything to begin with. I moved to the bedside table. I pulled out the drawers one by one. Thankfully there was nothing to see in there but a half eaten bar of chocolate.

I looked under the pillows and mattress. Nothing there either. I went through the closet and a few other places where I thought things could be hidden. I decided to do a quick swipe of her dresser drawers before going. When I got the third draw down I heard something rustle. I moved things around until I saw a clear bag. I didn't know much about drugs, but I knew that this wasn't sugar or flour.

I sat the bag on top of the dresser and stared at it. Finding it meant so many things. My sister was still doing drugs, she had lied, and I'd made the biggest mistake of my life pushing Penny away. I didn't know what to do with what I’d found so I called the facility that Abby had been going to.

"Hello," a woman with a soft voice answered.

"Hello, my name is Reed. My sister has been receiving treatment at your facility. I found something in her room and had some questions."

After sitting on hold for what seemed like forever, I was transferred to someone else. No one had given me answers up to that point. The final lady told me that she couldn't give me patient information, but she could confirm there were no patients with the name Abigail in the facility.

I sat on her bed and stared at the walls. I mind was fighting to make sense of everything.. If Abby wasn't in rehab then where was she going when we dropped her off?

***

I asked Uncle Dwight to bring Abigail home instead of me picking her up. I let him know that I had something I needed to talk to them both about. I'm sure he could hear the anguish in my voice and agreed.

I was sitting on the couch with my hands clasped under my chin when I heard the front door open. I had the bag I found in Abby's room sitting on the coffee table. Uncle Dwight appeared in the room first. Abby wasn't far behind him.

"Hey Reed," Uncle Dwight greeted me.

I greeted him but kept my eyes on Abby. I needed to see her reaction when she saw what was laying on the table. She began to smile and at me when her eyes dropped. Her eyes got big and her mouth opened slightly. She tried to school her features before looking back up at me, but it was too late.

"What's going on Reed?" Uncle Dwight asked.

He looked between Abby and me.

"Abby, how long?"

"How long what?" Uncle Dwight’s eye brows furrowed. He was confused, but not for long..

I glanced over at him, "I decided to take a look through Abby's room since she's been acting so odd but claims she isn't sick. I had a feeling that something wasn't right. Penny told me that she saw Abby with a strange man a few weeks ago, but I didn't believe her. Imagine my surprise when I find this in her dresser." I pointed to the bag on the table. "I called the facility where she goes for treatment and they said they had no patients by her name."

Uncle Dwight turned to look at Abby. Her face had gone pale and her mouth was turned into a deep frown.

"What right did you have to go through my things, Reed?  How dare you invade my privacy. You and your stupid girlfriend should mind your own damn business!"

Rage was radiating from Abby, but she hadn't denied any of it.

"Mind my own business, Abby? This is my house. Anything that goes on in here is my business. I trusted you. I defended you. I ended things with Penelope because I believed that you were trying. You've been lying this whole time!"

"Hold on a minute," Uncle Dwight held up his hand. "Abigail how long has it been since you've been to treatment? Where have you been going when we drop you off?"

"It doesn't matter, and it's one of your business where I've been going."

"Abigail," Dwight's voice was forceful. "Cut the bull. We're your family and we've sacrificed a lot to make sure you were getting the help you needed. So you're going to sit down and you’re going to give us answers."

Abby crumpled to the floor. Her head fell into her hands and she began to sob.

"I haven't been since the first week. After you dropped me off my boyfriend would pick me up. He'd make sure he dropped me back off before either of you came back to pick me up."

"What the hell Abby, why?" I was on my feet now. The anger raging inside wouldn’t let me sit..

"It's too hard. I need it. It makes me feel good.

"No, you don't need it. Abby, you can't stay here. I'm not going to have this in my home. I trusted you and you broke that. You can either go back to inpatient treatment or you can find somewhere else to stay. I love you and I want the best for you, but I refuse to watch you sabotage yourself and leave the rest of us to deal with the effects."

My chest was rising and falling in quick succession. I’d been so stupid.

Her crying started again. My need to comfort her was overshadowed by my hurt from the betrayal.

"Abby, your brother is right. What you've done has hurt more than just yourself. Chasing a fix isn't worth the consequences. You need to get proper help. I can take you to the facility and we can see if they still have room for you. It's never too late, but you have to be willing. I love you two like you are my own. I'm willing to support you, but you have to want to succeed for yourself."

As angry as I was at Abby I was also angry at myself. How had I missed the signs? How had I been so stupid to let her stop inpatient treatment so quickly? In my quest to protect her and make up for lost time I'd made terrible decisions. A feeling of guilt came over me. Ironic because my feeling of guilt and responsibility wass what led us here. 

Her cries continued for several minutes. I didn't think she was going to speak. Finally, in a whispered voice she said, "Ok, I'll go."

I felt some tension leave my body. I only hoped that this time she was serious. She had to do this for herself. I realized that she was a grown woman and I couldn't control how she lived her life.