Read Online Where You End by Anna Pellicioli - Free Book Online

habits, and it’s driving me a little nuts. We used to go out into the city with our cameras and shoot whatever we found. We’d look through my mom’s old photo books and argue about the importance of composition and the virtues of natural light. When I started to spend all my weekends with Elliot, Adam stopped coming over. I don ’t know what he did that whole year. I don’t know what anybody did. After the split, he showed up with a camera, and I told him I wasn’t taking any new pictures, so we went to the darkroom. He said we could just print, and I knew at least we wouldn’t have to talk in there. We stopped after a week, because I said I wanted to lay off the pictures for a while. Now he knows I wasn’t entirely honest.
    â€œI’m tired, Adam.”
    â€œCome on, Meem, you know you want to. I know you were working downstairs. We can bring out the old film and see how bad we sucked. I won’t say a word, I promise.”
    I don’t know what to say. The worst part about being sad or lost or whatever the fuck I am is that everybody you love makes you a little angry. The more they try to show you the way out, the less you trust them, like they are trying to sneak into your heart, like they ’ve all got a scalpel in their back pocket.
    â€œI don’t. Want. To. And you can’t just come in here on random afternoons, unannounced.”
    â€œDid you just say unannounced ?”
    â€œWhatever, Adam. As I said, I’m tired. I just want to get out of these clothes and sleep.”
    â€œIt doesn’t look like you sleep … ”
    I pull my sweater over my head, and he looks down. It’s been a while since someone cared if I took off my clothes.
    â€œIt’s only my sweater,” I say. “I’m not going to change in front of you.”
    Adam rubs his face and looks at me.
    â€œI never know what you’re going to do,” he says, more serious than usual.
    I sit on the bed and take off my socks. He starts to get up, which makes him look like a giant. He walks toward me, and I have to work hard not to look away, to stay still, for once. He takes my wrist in his hand and rubs his finger over Paloma’s address.
    â€œWhat’s that?” he says.
    â€œNothing,” I say.
    â€œEverything is nothing for you lately, Meem.” Still holding on to my wrist.
    â€œCome on,” I say, “that’s a little dramatic.”
    â€œAll right. Fair enough, then. No more questions. I propose we pick a bus line and take it to the last stop, see what the city can offer.”
    â€œMaybe another day.”
    â€œBut the leaves are bright, the air is crisp, this room is depressing, and you’ve obviously been out already. I have some excellent weird music a girl recently gifted. I’ll turn that on, and we will roam the streets as silent companions. My word.”
    â€œWhat girl?” I say.
    â€œNot important,” he answers, his hand still on his chest from the promise.
    â€œThe one with the huge … you know … ” I say, cupping my hands.
    â€œNot going anywhere near that,” he says.
    â€œToo bad for you,” I say.
    â€œNot going anywhere near the question, not the things,” he clarifies.
    â€œOh … ”
    â€œCan we go now? Have I been sufficiently humiliated?” he asks.
    â€œNo,” I answer. “I’m sorry. I’m not going.”
    â€œYou’re too smart for this, Meem,” he insists. “You’re the smartest girl I know.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about, Adam.”
    â€œYes, yes you do. You’re just being mysterious or something. Look at you, taking beautiful pictures of houses in the middle of the night, showing up late to the bus and telling me you got sick. Is this about that shit-face? Because he’s fine right now. I guarantee you he’s enjoying his day.”
    â€œGood,” I say.
    â€œYeah,