Page 167 of Isolation

Something tells me that Raven is not showering. I poke my head inside to see Raven standing under the showerhead. She is fully clothed in her black tank top and a pair of sleeping shorts.

She is staring blankly at the wall in front of her as the water is falling on her.

Who the hell stands under a shower while fully clothed? I told you this woman is completely insane.

Why does God make me love an insane woman?

What kind of punishment is this?

I walk closer to the shower and open the shower door. I stand there but she still hasn’t noticed me.

“Rave? What’s going on?”

Raven snaps out of her glazed look and turns her head to the side.

“Oh! Hey, stud.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask more gently.

“Nothing. Can you give me a few minutes?”

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no. I am going to stand here with you.”

“If you are going to stand there then close the door. You are letting all the steam out.”

I step inside the shower in my gym shorts and stand behind her. The shower is large enough to maintain a safe distance from the water.

“Okay, stupid. I meant, stand on the other side of the closed door,” Raven laughs.

“I’ve made my decision. I am standing here in case you change your mind about talking.”

Raven seems surprised by my move, but doesn’t argue. We are both quiet as minutes pass.

I am still standing behind her, observing her and trying to get a read on her. There is more to the story of Raven’s history with this house. I just know it.

“You never explained why you left New York so suddenly,” I finally speak.

Raven doesn’t respond.

“Why did you leave New York so suddenly?” I ask more forcefully this time.

“I-I… a few things happened that were hard for me to deal with at that time. I hurt you. I slept with Milo. Things with Milo got out of control. If I stayed… it would have happened again. So, I left.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I frown at the information. “You could have just told Milo that it was a mistake. You both could have chosen to move forward from it. You didn’t have to move to Paris. All you had to do was end it if you felt like you were betraying me.”

“Why are you so positive that I didn’t try to end things with him?” Raven mutters.

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“If you ended things with him then why were you worried that it would happen again?” I ask in an irritated voice.

My anger is getting the best of me. It’s resonating with every word and the tension in the shower is palpable. But everything I am saying is true. Moving to Paris was drastic. She didn’t have to leave me.