Free Broken by Tanille Edwards

could’ve been nice, like a nice guy to be friends with. I followed Lisa upstairs. The glass panes that lined the stairway made you feel like you were in a modern museum. We swung a right at the top of the stairs. The walls were painted a cool blue. Upon them hung pictures of flowers, most in color and one in black and white. The prettiest framed work was a montage of outdoor scenes: trees, flowers blossoming, petals falling, and the sun shining through the green grasslands.
    â€œDid you make this collage?” I asked.
    â€œYes! I get this wildlife magazine, riddled with or—should I say—embedded in the pictures of wildlife are these wonderful photosynthetic creatures.” I watched as Lisa’s eyes lit up.
    â€œWhat type of plant is this one?” I pointed out the flower floating on top of a body of water, with almost tentacles in the water.
    â€œThis one is called bladderworts. Then, of course, this is a Venus flytrap. This one is also a carnivorous plant. It’s called a sundew.” Lisa was like a different person. “You see the tree here. There are forests of these in Canada that are mined daily for the purpose of creating toilet paper. This mining releases a lot of carbon dioxide into the air because the forests are replete with C02. If we use green toilet paper, we can help reduce the demand for the type of toilet paper that these trees are used to make.”
    â€œI try to be green. I recycle and I’m the one who makes sure Edna buys organic foods, green cleansers, and items made from recycled paper. Too bad we can’t compost in the city.”
    â€œI compost at the townhouse. It was Stewart’s idea. He came home for spring break last year and had this idea of composting in the garden in the back yard. I said, ‘You know what? Why not?’”
    â€œWhere are you now?” Sierra texted. I sent her the address. “Will GPS and get on it.”
    â€œThe office is down at the end here.” Lisa slowly opened the door. My eyes sought retreat.
    â€œThe light!” It was simply stunning. The whole room was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling walls of glass.
    â€œI want to come work in here.”
    â€œAnytime, Cookie. Our spiritual guru suggested the windows so I could be reminded of the joy that surrounds me at all times. I think spirituality is inspirational. God is all around us.”
    â€œI believe in God. I grew up Christian. But I haven’t been back to church.”
    â€œI’m 15 minutes away, according to GPS. This place is far out in the sticks, M!” Sierra texted. I didn’t reply.
    â€œOh.” Lisa whisked out of the room and down the hall. I followed her. She turned to me and smiled. “Love, Stewart is home.” I glanced at my watch. She grabbed me by the shoulder. “I have dinner in 45 minutes. I need to get dressed.”
    â€œMy Dad asked me out to dinner,” I said.
    â€œYou guys don’t get out much.”
    â€œNo.” I followed her into her bedroom. It was all white with a red accent wall. Something told me to turn around. A guy stood at the door, taller than any I’d seen around. He was six-foot-seven, at least. He was cute in an offbeat pop band-boy type of way. He had on a suit vest, a white tee, jeans, and Converse.
    â€œMom,” he said.
    â€œHi, Stew. This is Milan.”
    â€œCool. I know the face. Very nice to meet you.”
    â€œLikewise,” I smiled. “Lis, my friend’s going to pick me up in 10.”
    â€œOh, I can drop you wherever you need to go,” Stewart said.
    â€œThanks. I have a ride, though.”
    â€œI was telling Milan you guys can go to a Knicks game sometime.”
    â€œSometime,” I hugged Lisa. “I should wait on the porch.”
    â€œOh no, sweetie. Stewart can show you his new roaming rover gadget. It’s like a baby tank with a camera for spying. Guy stuff.” Odd.
    â€œOkay.”
    Lisa gave me a