Page 372 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

until—

my feet,

they’re moving.

“Andrew…” I whisper,

rounding the corner after him.

He’s exiting through the back room,

through the service entrance.

I take off my shoes to keep up.

Above his head,

the EXIT sign glows red.

“Andrew, wait,” I say.

He slams both palms into the door,

then disappears behind.

I run faster.

Shove open the door.

The cold ambushes me,

slices across my chapped cheeks.

My gaze bullets to his retreating back.

“Andrew!” I call out.

He turns fast, angry, sad,

disappointed, tired,

stepping closer.

“What, Allison, what?” he shouts.

“What the fuck do you want from me?”

I stand motionless, petrified,

suspended in a moment

I didn’t prepare for.

The sidewalk’s like glass under my bare soles, biting so deep it feels less like ice and more like fire. Every gust of wind swipes violently at my bare arms,

my bare legs,

my hair.