4: 4
Life seemed to be back on track.
Professor Finch handed me a new project and gave me full independence to run it.
I threw myself into the lab, running experiments day and night, watching the data build up bit by bit, and that pure kind of joy left me satisfied.
It felt like I hadn't thought about Leslie in a long time.
Until the night I stayed in the lab past midnight to finish a data run.
I walked out of the building and only then realized it was pouring outside.
I stood under the eaves, debating whether to just make a run for it.
An umbrella appeared over my head out of nowhere.
I turned and saw Leslie.
He'd lost a lot of weight.
He held the umbrella up, the rain soaking through one shoulder of his shirt.
"Let me drive you home."
His voice was low.
I took a step back, putting space between us.
"No need."
"Margie, the rain's too heavy. You won't get a car."
He stubbornly nudged the umbrella closer to my side.
"That's not your problem."
I took out my phone to call a car.
His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
"Margie, let's talk."
His hand was cold, damp from the rain.
I frowned and tried to yank free, but he only gripped tighter.
"Let go!"
"I won't!"
He almost shouted it. "Margery, do you really have to treat me like this? I've already got nothing left!"
"You did that to yourself."
"Yes, I did it to myself!"
His eyes were red as he stared at me. "I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Veronica and I are completely done, she's nothing but a liar! I must have been out of my mind to ever believe her!"
The rain was loud, and his voice came through it in broken pieces.
"Margie, forgive me, please? Let's start over. We still have ten years—"
"Leslie."
I cut him off, my voice very calm.
"We don't have ten years anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean those ten years died the moment you decided to help Veronica steal my data."
He froze, and his grip loosened a little.
I took the chance to pull my hand back and stepped away.
A car stopped in front of us, the window rolling down. It was Professor Finch's doctoral student, Hubert Chavez.
"Margery, still not home this late? Get in, I'll drive you."
"Sure, thanks."
I opened the door and got in.
The car pulled away, and in the side mirror I saw Leslie still standing there, rain mixed with something else sliding down his face.
He looked pitiful.
But what did that have to do with me?
