“Hi, Elson isn’t here?” I looked left and right from the doorstep of Hollis flat.

“No. I told you multiple times, just Aage and I, his work is not over yet - you worry me, do you have something to tell me? Is it grave ?” He looked at me worried, taking one of my hand in his, half comforting me, half pulling me inside.

“No, no, I am just really stressed out about the concert-" I lied, following him to his sofa. "and I can’t really relax with him here you know”

I didn't even bother to remove my shoes and coat and he didn't say anything so I must looked terrible, because he was a tyrant about it. Understandably.

“Ooh," He nodded sadly, before shaking his head "Don’t sweat it, rest with me and then we will go to the concert – well separately but I want to see you. I can’t wait. It’s not often I hear you play.”

“Thank you” I hugged him, I had played a few times for him and Aage this past few years, most the time I had play at all in the recent past were for or with him, and before my brain could put my barriers up I added “We can go together”

“Really?” His eyes beamed, and it pained me.

He was my friend, it should be normal. I was about to respond when Aage cried loudly.

“Little urgency” Hollis got up and went to his room.

This is my chance

I went to his desk and to the top shelves, there were multiple pockets, I am sure he won’t realise one or two are missing. I took one, opened it to verify there was the one syring I needed -- it was full -- and closed it. Greed took the best of me, so I took another - Aage was still crying - opened it when I heard the doors open so I hid them both in my sweat shirt and retained them with my hands in my pocket while literally jumping to the middle of the room.

Elson opened the door, and probably alerted by the sound of the front door, Hollis appeared with the crying baby in his arms, one nipple out.

We formed this strange triangle that made me incredibly uncomfortable.

“Is that why you kept verifying when I finish ? – To mingle with him” He gestured to his chest, then pointed at me.

Hollis, put his shirt back correctly, “No, but he is my friend and was in a bad mood and having you constantly snipping at him couldn’t have helped! You’re so rude to him, I had to run here half naked the second I heard you open the door”

“You’re so naive! he is not your friend – he doesn’t want to be associated with you in any shape or form! I don’t know how you can’t see it, he had no reason to want to be your friend! He was laughing at you a few days ago in the café with his friends!”

I winced. I was a terrible friend.

“No reason?" He quoted angrily, "Thanks for this honesty! We have been friends for years, if he wanted to sleep with me I’d know! And we were about to go together to the concert”

“Wonderful, your friend is willing to drive with you” He laughed sarcastically,

“I think I should go,” I chimed in, because this started to escalate too much “I assure you I don’t see him this way –” I moved towards the door, “See you at the concert later, you can come, both of you”

I went past Elson, and he took my arm, “What do you want?” and the sudden action made me stiffen and grasp harder through my pocket.

We made an eye contact, and he pulled my arm even harder

One pocket fell, the one I hadn’t had time to close and it broke loudly. He pushed me back and the second one finished on the floor too.

Elson bent down, looked at Hollis eyes wide and showed him the empty pocket, and looked back at me and I could see it in his eyes.

The fury.

“You asshole!” He went to me, and grasped my collar, shaking me “WHAY WERE YOU PLANNING TO DO?!”

“Nothing -” I met Hollis eyes and he took a step back, making a loud sound

He punched me, and my head spinned “IS THAT WHY YOU SUDDENLY WANTED HIM IN YOUR CAR?” 

“No -” I cried, Elson went to Hollis and put him away. He hoisted me up and slapped me again I extanded my arms to put distance between us, but I didn't have enough strenght and he took my hair and threw me outside. I heard distant crying but was to stunned to register them, and I am sure this is the only reason he only stopped it “You’ll hear from us soon”

I collided against the wall from the corridor.

He closed the door encapsulating the light of the apartment with him, 

And let me with my demons and glass shards in my flesh.