Sweet as Candy: A Novel in Verse

Roadblock

Needless to say

Another night goes by of not calling the clinic

All because of my lack of courage

And Izzy’s tendency to pace the entire house when she talks on the phone.

By dinner

I’ve retreated back into my shell

Back to being mired in shame and anxiety

The logical but impatient voice telling me to stop worrying about the off chance of Izzy finding out

And doing it before she has the chance to.

Speaking of which

Izzy gives me her worried mother look as she sits my plate in front of me.

“Why have you been so quiet lately?” she asks.

My mind kicks into high gear

Generating random response that will create the illusion that I am not at all floundering.

I shrug, staring down at the chicken and dressing she had prepared.

“People change, I guess,” I start.

As I remember that that’s one of Todd’s signature lines and want to slap myself

Izzy gives me a smile that says that she just might be convinced.

“Okay then.”

She takes the seat across from me and picks up her fork.

“Alex took Monday and Wednesday off,” she says.

“He’s going to stay with us for the long weekend.”

I try to act surprised

Though I already knew this due to my evesdropping.

“That’s great,” I say.

Though it isn’t really

Because it means that

If I continue to be chicken

I’ll have two people to avoid.