She had been discharged a week later, against her doctor's advice. She couldn't imagine being confined to a space with nothing to do, just being awake and counting the ceilings' designs over and over again.
Lori had taken her home and helped her arrange her things.
Two weeks from her home had felt like months. Everywhere seemed so new to her. But it was home. And her soul was pleased.
The connection she got within her white walls had restored her lost sanity, and she could feel peace rising from within.
By the window, she glanced out. Nothing had changed, and barely her neighbors had noticed something went wrong. She couldn't blame them, though; Everybody had just minded their businesses with distant hellos.
Her maids had kept her room and space in order, and everything that went helter-skelter that night was put in place, like nothing had actually happened.
Lori had been her company from the moment she was admitted until now and was feeding her daily updates on everything.
She was so reliable. And she loved her more.
"Lori, how about the guy from the hospital?" She called out to Lori, who was arranging her clothes from the hospital.
"Oh," she replied excitedly, grabbing her tablet and coming closer to where Calah sat. "I did look into him, actually, and I did find out he's actually a gym instructor and a masseur."
"So he wasn't lying the other day at the gym?" Calah asked, looking up.
"No, I don't think so. I also found out about his relationship life."
"Lori, I'm not interested in his relationship life. I just needed to know if he was a spy or not. Any achievements or places he worked?"
"Not exactly, ma'am. He's a private coach and ranks top in the state as a gym instructor."
Calah looked puzzled. " How?" She asked, looking at Lori, "How come I never heard about him?"
"I think you do, maam."
"I do?"
"Yeah, he never just went by his original name for brand and publicity."
Calah thought for a while. "And what's his net worth?"
I Couldn't find any details about that. But he actually does have a brother. And a mother who lives in the countryside."
" Any criminal records?"
"None at all."
"None?!"
"None at all."
"How about his brother?"
Lori chuckled. "None either"
Calah arched her brows at Lori and asked, "WWhere did he graduate from?"
Lori burst into laughter. "Funnily, your school A year before you."
She sighed in frustration.
"It's cool anyway; could you help me warm the soup now?"
"Sure, I'll get it once I'm done with this and..."
The doorbell rang.
"Are we expecting someone, Calah?"
"Not today, at least."
"I'll get it anyway."
" Thanks." She smiled halfway. Remember, there are no guests now, and everything in here is fine," she called out after her.
Calah was going through her phone, trying to check for any headlines she had missed in the past few weeks, when Lori showed up.
With a guy.
"Good day, Mr. Phillips. I thought our appointment started tomorrow."
"Ah, yes! I was driving through and decided to check in on how you're settling in."
Lori threw a sideways glance at Calah, which Philip hadn't seen.
"Anything to offer you?" She asked him sweetly.
"Ah, nothing. Nothing really. I Will soon be on my way, '' he replied. He turned back to Calah. "I'd personally like you to relax today and keep your bones well rested."
"Isn't it just my spine and legs you'll be massaging?" She asked, puzzled.
"True. But I'll need your entire body to be really relaxed."
"All well and good."
"Alright, seeing you're fine, I shall get going."
"Thank you for checking up on me, though," she smiled.
"Get well soon," he winked at her and turned to leave.
Lori walked him out, still grinning at Calah.
She returned, still giggling.
"What was that wink?"
"What wink?" Calah feigned ignorance, looking unperturbed.
"I saw it! And I know you did too!" She was almost laughing.
"Okay, what happens if he wins at me? What's the big deal? Everybody winks at some point. Plus, he might have an eye defect.
Lori burst into laughter. "And why're you explaining so much if you actually didn't see the wink? I thought you said you didn't see it! "
"I don't know what you're talking about, Lori," she said, turning away, trying to hide her own smile.
"Oh yes, you do! She screamed, running back to Calah's face.
Calah sighed. "Can we just get back to business?"
"What business?" She laughed, saying, "You're not even doing anything at the moment."
Calah slightly frowned. "Can you help me with the soup then?"
Looking defeated, Lori gave up, raising her hand in surrender. "You win," she said, walking out the door. " Halfway through, she stopped and looked back. Faking a baritone voice, she added, "Get well soon," and winked.
She was still giggling when she walked out the door. As much as Calah didn't want to laugh, that made her smile, and thinking of the actual event that happened some minutes before, she smiled wider.
Whatever this guy was up to, she wasn't ready for games. As a matter of fact, her mind was made up to avoid guys overall. She wasn't a feminist, but she was a woman who had gotten her pieces right and knew when to use them.
She was successful, and men envied her. She carried her head high where men couldn't. And as though she beat men hands down, some foolish men still compared their women to her.
She sighed.
She thought about the complications that could arise if her therapy didn't go well. And not Just go well; she needed to be up and doing by the end of six weeks max.
Leaving everything for Lori wasn't her perfect idea yet; it's not that she didn't trust her, but she was too small to handle it.
She thought of Lori, her total best friend, but she wouldn't want to show it.
Overfamiliarity causes disregard.
So she kept it professional most of the time, even though most of the time it wasn't.
Lori returned with her soup, and Calah scanned it. It was perfect for her Taste.
She took in gentle scoops, reminiscing about the past few days. Her stay in the hospital wasn't something she would want to repeat. Her mind drifted to the past few weeks as well. The unimaginable had happened.
And everything happened so fast.
Just immediately, the doorbell rang again. The duo glanced at themselves. Neither was expecting anybody, and Calah even barely got visitors.
At least not from home.
"I'll get it," Lori replied, walking out the door again.
She got downstairs and checked through the peephole. The lady looked harmless and not suspicious, so she let her in.
The lady walked in looking half-dressed. "Where's my man?"
She asked immediately, eyeing Lori.
"You live here?" She further asked, seeing that Lori didn't look like the actual owner of that space. "Where's the lady who lives here? I need to see my man!"
Lori looked at her well, like she hadn't seen this from the peephole. She had a green wig blended with black ends, and her edges were laid horribly.
"Your man isn't here, and the lady who stays here isn't in as well."
"That's a fucking lie!" She retorted, glancing around. "I know him; he's been coming to see some pretty asses living here, and now he hasn't called me for days. I know you're hiding my man!"
"You man isn't here, I can assure you. Perhaps you could return if we see a clue from him.
"You think I'm a whiny, crying baby, huh? I know we're bitches; she's probably paying you to keep me here while she hides my man!"
And before Lori could say Jack, she was sprinting up the stairs like a crazy woman, with Lori trying to get a hold of her.
" Zach! I know you can hear me; you better get your no good ass outta here cos I find you myself; you know what I can do."
She found Calah's room open and walked in.
Calah eyed her exactly the way Lori had.
"Wait, I've seen you before!"
"Leave my house before I call the security."
"Why so tense!? We both share him, and he's had his face down on mine like he had on yours. And you might have most likely sucked off my cum in a BJ; so much, what's the stress? We should be friends!"
Lori had heard the last part and walked over to where she was, leaving a resounding slap on her face. Her face went sour immediately.
Two uniformed men found their way inside, and with the looks Calah threw, they handled her out.
"Are you okay?"
"I am, Lori. I should have seen it coming."
"I'm really sorry, Calah."
"It's fine. You have no fault here; I chose him and still accepted him over and over." She dropped her phone, which she had just used. "See that the door is properly locked, please. And help me, I'd like to take a nap."
Lori nodded and walked over to help her. Immediately after she was tucked in, she shut the door and went downstairs to properly lock it.
She found a couch and sank into it too, drifting off to sleep after some moments of thinking.
She just hoped Calah would be alright.