Consequence

"Honey, I want to talk with you."

Ame kept knocking on the door as I stood up from the floor and approached Sachiko on the bed. I shook her arm without moving her much and whispered.

"Sachiko."

"Hm? Did something happen?" she asked after rolling around to face me.

Ame called, "Honey, don't make me yell."

Sachiko sat up in a jump and rushed to stand up, but I stopped her from walking.

"Calm down," I said. "Let me talk to her first."

"Do it quickly or she'll get angry. She knows I'm here."

I nodded at her.

We both walked into the narrow corridor leading to the door. Ame hadn't stopped knocking. Who knows how long she had been doing it before I heard her.

"Ame?" I replied.

She let out a trembling breath from the other side of the door.

"Honey, why did you take so long to answer? I was starting to think you were doing something behind my back or avoiding me."