Page 32 of Malachi and I

“Sit up and eat before it gets cold,” she ordered as she rose from her place in front of the tray and I saw her dark green leg warmers with the words Lieber Falls written down the sides of them in white disappear into my bathroom.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked as I sat up and I was dismayed to find that it looked nothing like my bedroom. It was immaculate. I didn’t think wood could shine and yet the floors of my bedroom were so perfect I was sure I could see my reflection. I glanced over to the side—

“Where are my paintings?!”

She popped her head back out my bathroom. “In the art room.”

“Art room? What art room?”

“The empty room next to the guest room. I also unpacked the rest of the boxes there.”

There was an attic…wait, no. “You can’t just move my things—”

“And you can’t just die.” She snapped grabbing the trash from my bathroom and heading towards the door. “You are alive. You might want to die. You might feel like you’re dying but you, Malachi Lord, are alive. And you are my responsibility. I didn’t come here for a vacation. I came here because I promised my grandfather that I’d help you produce your best work yet. However, in the week I’ve been here you haven’t written a single thing. You don’t even know what day it is unless I tell you.”

“I managed to write well enough and live perfectly fine—”

“What day is it?” she asked, her brown eyes staring at me. Her hair was pulled back into a thick curly ponytail.

“I don’t need to answer to you. This is my house—”

“Nope.” She pulled out her phone and read. “Property #283, Lieber Falls, Montana. Ownership: Penohxi Publishing House. Renter: Malachi Lord. I’m sending you the contract you obviously didn’t read.”

I heard my phone vibrate on the ground but didn’t look at it as she continued with her commands.

“You do not own this home. My grandfather, the man who has looked out for you since you were a child, owns this home. So I won’t let you treat it as badly as you treat yourself. The books you write, are also owned by Penohxi Publishing House, and maybe you don’t care about your work. But I care. Millions of people care. And we promised them that you would have a new book next year. I confirmed it online. So if need to spoon-feed you, I will. If I need to carry you on my back, I will. Not for you. But for my Grandpa, and for all the women I’ve become friends with who are waiting on you. I’m not going to let them down!”

As she spoke her eyes teared up and I felt the urge to back away from her.

She wiped her eyes with the arm of her maroon sweater. “What are you looking at? Eat! Join the land of the living. I had to ride into town for that breakfast.”

“You rode my bike?!”

“No. I bought a bicycle while you were trying to become one with your bed!” She hollered back. “And thanks for being grateful. I’m taking out the trash!”

She muttered something in a language I didn’t understand as she exited. I stood there stunned for a moment before I slowly sank back into the middle of my bed. Reaching for the plate I took a bite of the bacon.

“Damn it.” It was good…really good. I stuffed my face like a savage, eating the French toast in two bites before reaching for the fork before I once again noticed the blue watercolor origami bear.

Open me.

Carefully I opened it reading her ironically graceful handwriting in the center of the paper.

“Gavin's Law: Live to start. Start to live.” ? Richie Norton.” I read the quote before reading her instructions under his name. “Step One: Eat. Step Two: Shave and shower, please. Step Three: Dress comfortably for a walk.”

Subconsciously I reached up and touched the growth of hair that had sprouted on my cheek.

Dropping the paper, I picked up my fork and ate quickly…a habit I couldn’t break apparently. Why? I wasn’t sure. But reaching for the coffee I drank it like I normally did but nearly gagged.

“What in the—”

“It’s decaf.” She walked back into my room like she owned the place…well, apparently she thought she did, though I’m sure Alfred probably didn’t intend for her to use that fact over me. Since I could pick up and move at any time Alfred rented places out for me so there wouldn’t be a paper trail in case I really wanted to disappear.

“It’s not coffee if it’s decaf.”

; “Coffee is not good for you.”