The Big Fish by Madison Henley (the first e reader txt) 📗

CHAPTER SIX

Keliah flicked on the light switch and closed the door to her room. Maybe she went for a jog. She’s been doing that a lot lately. Keliah simply shrugged at her thoughts and took off her jacket before slinging it on Meredith’s bed. She decided to go down to the cafeteria to kill some time; hopefully it was still open and grab something to eat. The hospital wasn’t really known for pleasing Keliah’s taste buds, not that she was ever there long enough to try their food. She hoped when she got back, Meredith would be here because it got pretty boring when Keliah was alone and her thoughts tended to shift to inappropriate ones. When she got to the cafeteria, there was hardly anyone there. Just a few people that she had never seen before. It was rolling up on ten thirty and it was a school night. Meredith had never stayed out this late when she had class early the next morning. Keliah hoped her tardiness didn’t have something to do with Gabrielle. Keliah settled for a green apple and a nutri-grain bar. She threw the apple in the air, catching it every time as she made her way back up to her room. No such luck. Meredith was still gone. Keliah sighed and figured she had to come home sooner or later. But just in case, she shot her a quick text.

Have u been kidnapped? Where is u?

Keliah clicked off her phone and put it to the side before she pulled out her laptop to her notes section from earlier that day. She was really starting to use this application more than she wanted to. It was weird writing her feelings down. Like, she was some oddball who was socially awkward and the only friend she had was her diary but it wasn’t like she could really talk to anyone. Gabrielle is gone physically and Meredith is like…gone emotionally. So Keliah told all her thoughts and issues to her virtual notebook because it listened to her and didn’t talk back. It was the perfect friend.

***

“Meredith, hey! I thought that was you.”

Meredith blew out a long breath of relief and smiled, running her hand through her muzzled hair.

“Professor Kerouac. You sorta scared me.”

“Sorry about that, I come in peace. I just like to go jogging at night...Less people.”

Georgia shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah, same here.”

“Were you gonna run some more? It would be nice to have a running partner.”

Meredith thought about it. It’s not like she had anything better to do with her life and she was still thinking about Gabrielle, so why not?

“Yeah, sure. I just hope you can keep up.”

Meredith teased as Georgia and her began to run around the track. There hadn’t been any words exchanged between the two but Meredith kept her headphones out and her music on pause just for the sake of respect. There was only silence except for paced breathing as they ran. After the third lap, Georgia broke the silence.

“You know, I was grading the poems today and I came across yours…”

Well shit.

Meredith looked at her professor, urging her to continue.

“And?”

“I was shocked to be honest, Meredith. I didn’t know you were such a prolific writer. Every word had intense emotion behind it. I don’t really have words for it.”

Meredith couldn’t help but blush slightly. She didn’t think it was that good. She really didn’t consider it to be something good. She had only written what was buried deep inside of her. She actually felt bad after she had turned it in because she had completely forgot about what the assignment asked for. All she focused on was: paper, feelings, write them down.

“Thanks, but I didn’t even use figurative language. Professor, I completely forgot about the assignment.”

“So maybe you did. But it was written well. I don’t think I’ll take off as many points.”

Georgia joked. Meredith didn’t know what to say after that so she didn’t open her mouth and they continued to jog as another silence took over them.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what was your poem about? Was it fiction?”

“Um,”

Meredith suddenly got uncomfortable. She didn’t want to have to discuss her pain like she was in a therapy session seeking special counseling because someone ripped out her heart. She should’ve written about trains, or something basic. Damn, why did she have to be such an over achiever?

“You know what? I’m sorry for asking. It is obviously very personal and I am invading.”

Meredith agreed with her professor and decided to leave the conversation at that. They kept running but the run sped up as the awkward tension spread amongst them.

“It’s true.”

Meredith blurted out moments later. She didn’t realize what she had just confessed to. Why was she spilling her heart out to her professor?

“I don’t really like talking about it, but I’m okay.”

They finished the lap they were on before calling it a quits. It was silence as the two of them packed their bags and headed to the parking lot. Georgia wrapped a towel around her neck and slung her gym bag over her left shoulder as her and Meredith walked to her car. It was sort of chilly and sweating like this could lead to a cold.

“I want you to know Meredith, if you wanna talk, you can always stop by. I want you to know that. Everyone deserves