Page 90 of Take Care, Taylor

Annoyed, I carried a box of books she’d left behind to the main office.

“Thank you so much,” the clerk said.

“You’re welcome.” I glared at him. “What’s her forwarding address?”

“We’re not allowed to give you that.”

“What’s her fucking address?”

“I really don’t know, Taylor…” He actually looked scared. “But if you want, you can check with the main mail room—it’s not going out until Sunday.”

“Thank you…” I exhaled and slowly let go of the box.

TRACK 41. TOLERATE IT (3:04)

TAYLOR

Why do I keep finding her shit?

On the final move-out night, I grabbed Audrey’s brush from my top drawer and carried it to the living room.

Tossing it onto what I hoped would be my final box for shipping, I tried not to let her invade my mind for another hour.

“Alright, Taylor.”

Michael’s voice made me look up. “I’m going to make it easy on you and give you a rain check on celebrating that you got first place.”

“What? You’re leaving already?”

“Obviously.” He picked up his backpack. “I’ll treat you to a round of beers whenever you’re in a better mental space.”

“I’m in a good place now,” I said. “We can go to the bar tonight.”

“You said that last night,” he said, crossing his arms. “And this afternoon. I’m not taking a third chance on wasting my gas and sitting in the parking lot while you stare into space.”

“I didn’t do that.” I scoffed. “I was …”

I stopped talking. I honestly didn’t even remember us going anywhere; my mind had been elsewhere.

“That’s exactly what you did.”

He walked over and set his hands on my shoulders. “If I didn’t already know what the real problem is, I’d have you committed to a mental hospital.”

“I’m just stressed. This program is hard as hell, you know.”

“This program is over,” he corrected. “Hence why I’m even here, Taylor. Thank God Mom’s flight kept getting delayed so she doesn’t have to see you like this.”

“Is she still coming?”

“She’ll be here in an hour,” he said. “So if I were you, I’d pretend like I have my shit together so we can celebrate without you zoning out again.”

“I’m fine, Michael. Truly.”

“You’re not emotionally stressed about Audrey?”

“I don’t know who that is anymore.”

He arched a brow.