Page 29 of Play Room Actor

While she paid, I felt my pulse speeding up. I frantically ran both hands through my hair and took a deep breath. It was a good thing we were leaving. I needed to get out of here. I needed to move or do something. Yaël noticed I was fidgeting with my fingers, moving both hands back and forth.

As she slipped the credit card back into her wallet, she quietly asked, “Are you still taking the pills?”

“Pfft …” I laughed dismissively. “Haven’t taken them in a while.”

“What? I thought they were helping.”

“I can’t think when I take them. I feel like a zombie.”

“Maybe the dosage isn’t right anymore. A doctor could probably help. When was the last time you had a check-up?”

I stood up from the table. “I’m fine.”

“Are you working next Monday?”

“No, why?”

“I’ll tell Ma that we’re coming over for dinner.”

“Fine by me,” I said, walking ahead.

Outside, on the street, she raised her eyebrows expectantly.

“What?” I asked.

“Write it down, or you’ll forget.”

“Yes, boss.” I rolled my eyes but pulled out my phone and reserved Monday evening for my parents.

“And what are you doing today? It’s your day off, right?”

“I’m going for a ride on my motorcycle.”

“Be careful.. You know how I feel about it.”

“I’m always careful.”

“You’ve already had to give up your license twice,” she reminded me.

“Not because I couldn’t control it.”

“Yeah, right! One of these days, you’ll end up in a ditch!”

I took a step back and gestured with both hands to stop her. “Please, we’ve already been through this. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Yaël shook her head in disbelief. “Fine. Still, have a good day, little brother.”

“You too. Do you have the day off?”

“No, orchestra rehearsal. So, bye! Love you.”

We said our goodbyes with a hug, and Yaël took off when she saw the tram approaching. Before she got on, she waved at me one last time.

My motorcycle was just around the corner, and I could hardly wait to get on it and ride out of the city.

I’d always been a biker. When I was fifteen, I hopped on my souped-up moped and just took off.

Once, I’d been so wired that I drove through Switzerland in a trance, only snapping out of it when I reached Estavayer-le-Lac. I’d crossed the whole country without realizing it—I must have even been in a daze when I filled up the tank.