Massaging The Pain

Edith

September 17, 3:20

I hang out with Avery at the spa for a girls day. We put on face masks and decide to take a mud bath. "Oh hey, Josh!" Avery says.

"Hey Avery." He smiles.

"You work here?" I ask. He's in a bathing suit but is collecting towels.

"Unfortunately, yeah." He says with a wry laugh.

"Hey, uhm... Why don't you come join us?" Avery offers. "Unless you're working..." She tries to convince him.

"After I put these towels back in the washer I'm on break. I'll see you in a few seconds." He makes his way out.

. . .

After a while of hanging out with Josh his break is over. He was mostly talking to Avery so I didn't talk much. "I gotta go now. See you guys tomorrow at school." He says.

"Bye." Both Avery and I say.

. . .

I go to my locker the next day and look at the picture of Trent I put up. I break down in tears. I fall to the ground on my knees, trying to put myself together. I feel a sudden arm go around my shoulder. "He's gone." I whisper, my mouth quivers.

"I know, I know..." Josh supports me. "I'm so sorry for your loss, but you shouldn't be crying over him." He mentions.

"I LOVED him Josh!"

"But he didn't love you back... He passed a note to Aubrielle telling her to meet him at River Forest." He explains. "Look, you should take weight off your shoulders. Have some time to yourself, do some calming things." He manages time make me stop crying a bit.

"Thank you, Josh." I kiss him on the cheek. I close my locker and exit the school.

Josh

September 18, 6:00

I work at the register, waiting for the next person to massage. I get bored so I pull out my phone. The door opens and I look up to see Edith. She looks like she's holding up great. Her hair is an inch shorter, but her hair is still a few inches above her waist. I guess she took my advice. "Hey, I'm looking for a Shiatsu Massage?" She requests. I guess she's my next customer.

"Right this way." I lead her into a private massaging room. I step out to let her take off her clothes and go onto the platform. I step back in when she's all done. It's silent. So silent you could hear a pin fall. As we get closer to the end, the message requires her to turn and lie on her back. I continue with the massage until she looks at me, and I look at her. We skip a beat. I go forward with it and kiss her.

She doesn't pull back.

I slide a hand into her hair and the other on her waist. I go on top of her and she wraps her arms around me. I can't help but feel guilty. I'm hooking up with my dead best friends girlfriend, how should I feel besides guilty.