Page 21 of Desserts for Stressed People

Very few people do.

Nevaeh:

Thank you for showing it to me. I needed somewhere to hide out tonight.

Shane:

See the white column by the right of the entrance? There’s something behind it.

I walk to the column—my eyes drawn to the writing on it. There’s the communism symbol, a slew of penises, and a few tags I can’t read. I walk around it, trying to read all the other markings people have left over the years when my foot kicks a red metal box, no bigger than a cellphone. I shouldn’t touch it, not without at least five pairs of gloves on, but knowing that’s what Shane wants me to see, I pull the lid up.

“What the...”

There’s a key chain. No, it’s a golden, heavy key, attached to a white key chain that’s become gray with dust and dirt.I grab my phone and type.

Nevaeh:

What does it open?

Shane:

Well, a door. Duh!

I chuckle, and before I can answer back, I get another message.

The door behind you. #GreatNameForAHorrorMovie

Just as he said, there is a green door on the opposite wall that I didn’t notice before. It must be the entrance to this place because there’s no way people had to go in the way I did when it was inhabited. Where the heck did he find the key for it, though?

Nevaeh:

Is it yours?

Shane:

It’s yours if you want it. In case you need to hide out again. I have a copy.

My shoulders slump. He wants me to take the key that opens the door to his secret spot? This place obviously means a lot to him. Sure, I could come here without it as I did tonight, but the fact that he wants to make it easier for me warms my heart. I’m basically a stranger, yet he’s sharing this with me. Is it because of the connection between us, or is it what I said about needing to hide out? I don’t know which would please me the most.

I wish I could ask him a million questions. About where he got the key and why this place was abandoned. Mostly, I want to know why he wants me to have it, but I don’t ask, because I want it. It feels like I have a piece of him, and it’s a precious one too.

Nevaeh:

Are you sure?

Shane:

Yes. It’s a nice place, and I shouldn’t be the only one enjoying it.

He’s generous—I love that. Yet another similarity he doesnotshare with Alex.

Nevaeh:

Okay. I’ll take it.

Shane:

Good. You can use it to leave. Once, on the way in, I ended up a few inches from the canal.