chapter 28

28 I had no idea what time it was when I stirred awake. On the bed was a large suitcase; Cara was throwing clothes into it.‘Hi!’‘Hi. What’s happening?’ ‘I’m packing.’‘I can see that. And?’‘I’m going back home for a bit, I told you.’I was wide awake. ‘What? Now? Cara, you said you were thinking about going back home, not that you would leave this morning!’‘Whatever. How does that matter anyway? I told you Rhi wanted me to come back but I wasn’t sure, and then I asked you, but you didn’t want to go either. So I thought I might as well.’‘WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?’‘Nothing, Sid. Nothing. I’m going back to New York, back home, my home, for a bit, okay? I miss my mom.’‘How did you get a ticket so quickly?’‘I have an open ticket all the time, so this morning I called and confirmed. It was easy.’I sat up on the bed, holding my head. ‘This is just too fast for me, Cara!’‘I know, and I am sorry!’ ‘What are you sorry about?’‘I don’t know . . . Sorry that I am leaving . . . that I am leaving you . . . that . . . Nothing . . . ’She climbed on to the bed and sat on my lap. She was still naked, as was I, and we sat there holding each other.