Page 20 of Desserts for Stressed People

Nevaeh:

I’m by myself. Taking a walk.

Shane:

I love that area of town. If you walk down the canal, then turn right at the marble fountain with the horses, there’s a nice hidden spot.

My brows rise. Is he serious? I’ve lived here for years—Alex has parked in front of that fountain a billion times. What’s on the right of it, though? I can’t remember for the life of me.

Of course, I walk there. Skip, really. I want to see what this secret spot is, and two minutes later, I’m looking at the fountain when my phone vibrates again.

There already?

I bite my lip and look up at the sky. The man doesn’t know me, so how does heknow? Stepping closer, I look at the horses—water pouring from their mouths and into the pool underneath. There are coins at the bottom, which I’ve always found annoying. They look messy, and some of them have turned green. I fight the instinct to walk right inside, pick them all up, then give them to the first clochard I find.

To the right, there’s a wall, nothing else. And as I squint my eyes at it, it dawns on me that he might have set me up. What if he’s looking at me from one of the many balconies surrounding the small square?

My head bobs up, but if someone were there, I wouldn’t be able to see it so late at night. My heart palpitates. I’m pretty sure he got me, and I’m just waiting for him to tap on my shoulder and shout in my face about what a deceiving person I am.

I stay still for a while, but the water keeps roaring out of the horses’ mouths, the song blasting in my earphones, and people walk by me, throwing curious looks my way. Nothing else. When my phone vibrates again, I glance at it discreetly.

Shane:

Oh, fuck. You fell into the canal, didn’t you? I’ll give you five minutes, then I’m calling the fire department. #911EmergencyCall

A smile curves my lips. No one’s here. I’m being paranoid. Maybe he’s on his couch, enjoying a slice of chocolate chip banana bread. Which reminds me, I’ll have to ask him how he keeps in shape, and the answer better not be “the gym” because I don’t need that type of negativity in my life.

Nevaeh:

It’s the back wall of an apartment complex. #ShameOnShane

Shane:

Do you see the graffiti of the girl?

The spray-painted figure of a young girl in a pink dress sits on the wall. She’s holding a yellow umbrella, and as I walk closer, I notice the expression of wonderment on her face. She’s pointing to her right, but there’s nothing there. The wall turns, and—oh. There’s a narrow passage between the wall and the banister of the canal that runs along the side of the building.

Okay, this is a little too adventurous for me. I mean, at least while I’m alone and this late at night. There’s barely space to step, and I’d have to walk sideways. But curiosity pummels me. I want to see this place he’s talking about. And I’m aware there’s a good chance he’s looking at me from a balcony and laughing his ass off as he sees me almost fall into the cold water, but I take the first step.

I slide alongside the wall, carefully placing every footfall on the most stable-looking ground. Some parts are covered in rocks and mud, and I almost slip twice, but I keep my hands flat against the concrete wall. After a while, it ends.

To the left, there’s an arch. I step into the larger—but equally scary—passage, and poke my head through to see a garden with apartments on all sides across four floors. Turning around again and again, I take in all the details. The redbrick walls and the three elevated corridors above my head, leading to empty apartments. Weeds hang from the wrought-iron railing and intersect with bright-colored wildflowers. The stone pavement is riddled with cracks. Nature has sprouted through, reclaiming what’s rightfully hers, with tall bushes coming out of it. It’s hauntingly beautiful.

It should be darker here, and when I look up, I notice there’s a large hole right at the center of the roof, and the moonlight is shining down, coloring everything with a pale and silver hue.

This place looks like it’s about to crumble, like the first puff of wind will blow it to the ground. But by some miracle, it stands. And it’s majestic. I kind of wish I could buy the whole thing and spend the rest of my life fixing it up, cleaning it until it’s a grandiose mansion, like I’m sure it once was before it was turned into apartments.

I’m still gaping and twirling when my phone vibrates.

Shane:

What do you think?

Nevaeh:

It’s beautiful. I can’t believe I never knew this was here.

Shane: