JUST FOR THE DOCUMENTS

Velma had promised herself she wouldn't step foot near the house again. Not after that night ,not after waking up to 15 missed calls, unanswered takes and a mindful of everything she didn't want to remember. But fate and poor planning had other ideas. The brown envelope she needed for her interview had been in Daniel drawer the whole time. She had forgotten it completely and now it was her birthday, a day she had hope to spend under a duvet, invisible . Instead,she stood in front of the shays resident,arms folded,eyes blank ,mentally rehearsing what she would say. The gate opened before she could knock. It was Olivia of course.Hair sleek,lip gloss too shiny ,eyes too wide. "Oh look who decided to show up",Olivia said crossing her arms. " Birthday girl needs something or just miss the house", Olivia said teasingly. Velma kept her gaze cold" I left a brown envelope here ,important documents, that is all".

Olivia gave a mock gasp," still holding onto drawers in the house, that's sweet "." I didn't come for your Olivia, I came for my things, that's it",Velma said respectfully. Oliver smile thinned into something sharper." Well you just missed him, Daniel's family is out of the house ,took long enough but he is better now," Olivia added. she leaned closer " don't take long ,some words just need the right kind of attention ". Velma didn't flinch . She was done with giving Olivia the satisfaction of seeing her break. "where are the documents?"."check his room, you know the way but don't get too nostalgic", Olivia said,still smiling,stepping aside. Velma didn't respond ,she walked past her ,head held high pretending that every memory the hallways awakened in her didn't matter anymore.

Inside his room, she found the envelope exactly where she thought it would be. same drawer ,same scent, same past. she picked it up and walked out without looking back and Olivia didn't say another word because the silence Velma had left behind was louder than anything she could have thrown.