10

Hugo

It had been 2 days since the accident, Khloe had been unharmed with only 2 head wounds and a broken hand and Klara was in a coma.

What I found strange was that my sister didn't care about this but seemed in a strange way, happier than ever. She acted as if her wife didn't almost die.

She had no place to live in Seattle, no permanent home here. She had nothing to go back to Illinois with, Finn and I agreed to let her stay with us until Klara got better.

This morning her behavior was even stranger than usual. She came out of her room and came into the kitchen, made herself a cup of coffee and sat down. The three of us were at the table but none of us said anything. We were staring at each other like three illiterates at the alphabet.

She had a weird smile on her face, a little bit like she wanted to laugh.

Finn breaks the silence.

"Really? Your wife's in the hospital and you're laughing? What kind of wife are you?"

For a moment I thought about asking him why he's so worked up on the subject, why he cares how Khloe reacts and behaves, I wanted to hear what else he'd say if he said something that would justify this reaction.

Khloe didn't answer him, she just looked at Finn with a look that seemed to be filled with happiness, she looked at him as if he was her boyfriend, her lifelong partner, the love of her life.

Finn rolled his eyes.

"Hugo, can you leave the kitchen for a minute?"

Khloe says, irritated by my presence.

I leave the kitchen confused.

Finn

I was alone with Khloe in the kitchen, I felt like I was stuck in here, like I had no way out, I was suffocating, I was running out of air.

She approaches me and although one hand was in a cast she uses her other hand to touch my cheek.

What the fuck? I thought, looking into her puzzled eyes.

"Oh, I'm so glad I'm alone with you... I was thinking that since my wife.... pardon... Klara is in the hospital we could be together, she was just an obstacle to our happiness and now that the obstacle might die I think we should take advantage of it."

She tries to kiss me but I manage to avoid her before she can even move her lips close to mine.

"Are you crazy? I would never do something like that! No way would I help you cheat on Klara! I can't believe you could even think of such a thing."

"But why wouldn't I? I want you! I love you! Don't I have the right to express my feelings to you?"

"Yes, but I have the right to refuse them. I already have someone, I don't need you and I certainly wouldn't want a threesome."

"Since you're criticizing me for having someone? Who exactly do you have?"

I freeze and think of an answer.

"Carl! Carl is the person I'm with!"

She chuckles and says something that shocks me.

"Carl? The one who vandalized Lydia's house after they broke up? The one who did three months in jail, the one with the half-full criminal activity sheet? The one who fled Illinois because he feared he would be caught by the police?"

"Why are you making this all up for? Carl wouldn't do that!"

"Sometimes your stupidity amazes me, Finn. I'm not lying, you can ask Lydia what really happened or you can ask Carl but I'm sure he won't soften you up if he tells you the truth. Talk to your little boyfriend and then argue with me."

Her phone rings.

"Whoops. It's the hospital, I've got to answer this, I can't wait to hear she's dead."