Page 90 of The Last Housewife

(Rustling.)

SHAY:I’m sorry, Jamie. That wasn’t true.

(Sighing.)

JAMIE:Yes, it was. I deserved it. That’s why I got mad and ran away.

But this isn’t about rehashing our fight. Tell me what else you remember.

SHAY:I know Anderson brought me to his room. I have a vague memory of it—this dark space, with a bed in the center—a red bed, red walls, and tall windows, all the way up to the ceiling, with moonlight shining through. The moonlight was really bright, I remember that.

JAMIE:Shay, it was raining prom night. Remember, we had to carry umbrellas? There was no moonlight. And Anderson’s room was blue. He was a huge Cowboys fan. His sheets, the walls—all blue and white.

(Creaking springs.)

JAMIE:Where are you going?

SHAY:Did I invent that memory?

JAMIE:Maybe your brain was just trying to give you something to hold on to.

SHAY:I don’t remember what happened next. When I think about it, I get this sensation of pressure. Rolling around, feeling dizzy. I think I remember a door swinging open, and people laughing. I can see it, like a blurry movie. But I guess I could’ve made it up.

JAMIE:No, that part happened. Some of the guys from the football team walked in on you.

SHAY:I have to ask…

JAMIE:They found you having sex.

SHAY:Right.

(Silence.)

I guess that’s how I lost my virginity. I’d thought so, but it was blurry, so there was always a chance…

JAMIE:You seriously have no memory of having sex with Anderson?

(Silence.)

I’m going back to Heller to fucking kill him.

SHAY:Calm down.

JAMIE:They put his picture on a billboard when he won state. He’s the high school football coach now.

(Silence.)

The same thing that happened to Laurel happened to you.

SHAY:Finding her in the basement that day was like looking at myself, back through time.

(Rustling.)

At some point, Anderson must’ve left me alone in his room, and I must have slept, or just blacked out, because I woke up naked and confused. My body felt… I could tell something had happened. I was sore, in places… It was like my body was someone else’s. I would’ve left it behind if I could’ve. Just stepped right out of it, like crumpled clothes, and left the party, never to be seen or heard from again. But there was no easy escape. I had to put my clothes back on, and go back downstairs. Everyone was waiting for me. It was like they knew.

JAMIE:The football guys were talking about you. I told them to shut up, but, Shay, I didn’t realize how drunk you were. I thought being with Anderson was what you wanted. I was so mean when you asked me to take you home.

SHAY:But you took me.