Free Past Imperfect by Alison G. Bailey

Mabry,” Tina greets.
    “Any messages?” I ask.
    “The Shackleford meeting has been pushed back to two,” Tina answers.
    I breathe a sigh of relief. That gives me time to catch up on what I missed this morning and try to get rid of this headache.
    As I pass Brad I hear Tina say, “A picnic dinner at Middleton Place Gardens sounds incredibly romantic.”
    My pace and breathing increase and I can’t seem to get to my office fast enough. I know I told him we can’t be together, but hearing those words coming out of Tina’s mouth, directed at Brad, makes me feel as if I’ve been stabbed in the stomach. I knew he would move on someday, I just didn’t realize someday would get here this soon. I need to get to my office before the tears start to roll. Once inside, I quickly close the door and toss my briefcase and purse on the chair, before I let the tears out. I’m trying my damnedest to push the anxiety, anger, and hurt down. The intense deep ache I have in my stomach almost has me doubled over in pain. I refuse to self-harm here. I was weak a couple of times and went to the restroom to pull my hair, but that won’t take this pain away. Only hitting would and I can’t do that here. I’m pacing, taking deep breaths when there is a soft knock on the door.
    I’m a mess. No one can see me like this.
    I run my hands over my face and through my hair before walking to the built-in bookcase. I grip one of the shelves, clear my throat, and say, “Come in.”
    I don’t need to look to know who it is. My body reacts whenever he’s within thirty feet of me.
    “Mabry, are you okay?” he asks with concern in his voice.
    “Yeah, I’m fine. Is there something you need?”
    “I just need to know if you’re okay.” I feel him walk farther into my office and hear the click of the door as it closes. “You’re upset. Did somebody say something hurtful to you?”
    “No, not to me. I’m just tired and I have a really bad headache.” I turn my head toward my desk, so he doesn’t see how red and puffy my eyes are from crying. On my desk I notice a Starbucks Caffe Misto, a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and a small vase with orange Gerber daises. “You did this?”
    “Yeah.” His voice is soft and low.
    “Why?”
    “I drove by your place this morning for some reason and saw your car was still there. You’re always here before me, so I figured you were running late and wouldn’t have time for breakfast.”
    “Krispy Kremes are my favorite. How did you know?”
    “One time when you were at my place I had a box and you sucked down three.”
    A chuckle escapes me. “That does sound like something I’d do. Thank you.”
    I feel his approach from behind me. He places a soft kiss at the crown of my head, causing me to wince. It’s still tender from last night. “Thank you,” he says.
    “For what?”
    “For letting me take care of you this morning,” he whispers before walking out the door.

Even with all the people crowded into the frat house, I noticed her watching me. We had been eyeing each other off and on all night. I earned my undergrad degree and had just started my second year at Duke University. I was no stranger to the weekend frat parties, or to those who regularly attended them. But I had never seen this girl around before, which wasn’t all that unusual. Duke was a huge university loaded with girls, one or two were bound to slip under my radar.
    This girl wasn’t my usual type. Not that I had a hard and fast set of rules. A pair of tits, an ass, a vagina, and a face that wouldn’t make me gag was pretty much all I required. My tastes were not very discriminating. This girl was quirky but cute. Her straight jet black hair that stopped just under her jawline, pale skin, and heavy dark makeup gave her a Goth look. She was dressed in a long black skirt and tank top that hugged her small fragile-looking frame. I wasn’t drawn to her in any strong way, but there was something about this girl that caught