Free Where Nerves End by L. A. Witt

family photos gathered dust on the walls alongside my
degree and a few snapshots from various camping trips. Across the hall was the sparsely furnished guest room. Just a
bed, dresser, and a couple of nightstands, and the wall above the
queen-sized bed still had the faint rectangular shadow where a
painting had hung for a couple of years. I knew we shouldnt have
used that cheap shit paint, but “I told you so” is bitter, cold comfort
when you find out how badly the paint faded while your boyfriend
is taking pictures off the walls so he can leave.
Tearing my gaze away from the evidence of Wess departure, I
gestured at the furniture. “I can move all of this out to the garage
or down to the basement.”
“With some help, I hope?” Michael shot me a pointed look. “Yes, of course.” I laughed quietly. “You didnt think Id try
moving it all myself, did you?”
One eyebrow rose.
Christ, he really is good.
I cleared my throat and broke eye contact. “I, um, can get some
help.”
“Good,” he said with a sharp nod. “Otherwise Im going to use
the dull, rusty needles to treat your shoulder afterward.” I laughed again. “All right, all right, I wont pick anything up, I
swear.”
“Thats right, you wont.” He threw me what was probably
supposed to be a menacing look, but then we both laughed. I continued showing him around the house, and eventually took
him out to the back deck.
“Wow.” He rested his hands on the railing and looked out at
the backyard. “Dylan will love this.”
“Outdoor kind of kid?”
“God, yes.” He smiled fondly. “Between his stepdad taking
him skiing and me taking him hiking, its a wonder he hasnt run
away to live in the woods.”
I chuckled. “Youre a hiker, then?”
He nodded. “Which makes living here a definite plus.” He
gestured at the mountains. “Itll probably take me fifty years to
hike all the trails out there.”
“You aint kiddin,” I said. “Ive lived here my whole life, and
Im still checking them off my list. You been up to the springs
yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Dont bother.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Trust me. Youre better off going down to Colorado
Springs and dealing with the tourists.” I paused. “I mean, its a
nice hike up to Tucker Springs, Ill give you that, but dont expect
much when you get to the end.”
Michael shrugged. “As long as its a nice hike.”
“Oh, its a beautiful hike,” I said. “I prefer the more technical
ones, but its a nice walk through the woods.”
“Technical ones are the best kind. Not a big fan of the ones that
actually involve serious climbing, though.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
He glanced at me, eyes darting toward my shoulder, and
grimaced. “Yeah, I guess rock-climbing isnt very high on your list
right now, is it?”
“Well, thats why Im going to you, right?” I grinned. “So I can
climb Horton Peak by the end of the summer?”
“Good luck with that,” he said dryly. “Im not a miracle
worker.”
“What?” I sighed dramatically. “Seth is a fucking liar, then.” We exchanged glances, and both laughed again.
Then Michael cleared his throat and turned around, looking up
at the house. “So, the rent. You said its a grand a month. All
inclusive.”
“Yes.”
“Seems like a steal now that Ive seen it in person,” he said.
“Are you absolutely sure you dont want me paying half?” “Its fine,” I said. “A thousand a month, and were good.” “All right, well,” he said. “I have to give my landlord thirty
days, so the earliest I could move in is the first of May, so if you
can wait a few weeks…”
“Thats fine. As long as theres a light at the end of this tunnel,
you wont hear me bitching.”
“Great.” Smiling, he extended his hand. “Youve got a deal.”

CHAPTER 6
    At the beginning of May, about a week before the end of Michaels last month in his apartment, he backed a U-Haul into my driveway. Wed both recruited a small army of friends to help move himin, and every inch of the cul de sacs