Twenty-One
The Wake
Alice approached Lawrence slowly outside her dorm. He put out his cigarette and stood up straight at the sight of her.
He spoke first, “Hey. I’ve been trying to message you.”
She made a small noise back, then looked at her shoes.
“Did I do something to upset you?”
She lifted her head, surprised at his frankness, but there was kindness in his voice. “No…” A beat, “You didn’t do anything. I’m sorry, I’ve just been busy.”
When another silence passed them, Lawrence let out a sigh, “I wanted to let you know that me and my friends… we’re having a gathering for Dawn at my place. We were all her friends, so… I wanted to invite you.”
Alice felt shame erase the rage she once felt for Lawrence’s ideologies. Underneath what they believed were identical emotions.
“Sorry,” A
