Chapter 15

“You have a fucked-up way of telling me.But you can say it as much as you want,but the fact remains that you are too embarrassed to have your parents see you with me.”

“They’re just not ready.They’d freak out.”

“You’re twenty-five.If they can’t handle it now,when are they going to be able to handle it?Look.Until you figure out what to do,until you are confident enough in‘us’and comfortable enough about‘us,’I don’t think we have much to talk about.Just leave the keys when you go.”

And Val grabbed her own keys and walked out.Michelle was stunned.Had Val just broken up with her?After the three best months of Michelle’s life.Maybe of Val’s life too.Just leave the keys when you go.

Michelle fought the tears as she packed as much of her stuff as she could in a small suitcase,left the keys,and went down the steps of Val’s building.Val watched from down the block,and out of sight,as Michelle hailed a cab to get home,where she went straight to bed.Ignoring her roommate Diane’s questions.