The Blank Canvas (Apartment #2) Read Online Free Page B

get.”
    “Would you take him back if he showed up tomorrow?” Emma asked.
    “Jeez, Emma, we’re trying to get her to move on from this topic, not beat her over the head with it.”
    “I want to know how she feels,” Emma explained. “Besides, how can someone really learn and grow from an experience if they never really know how they felt about it?”
    “Wow, that’s almost profound,” Maggie teased. “When did you get all deep and shit?” She hiccupped loudly, reminding them all just how much they had to drink. Emma flipped her the bird again, and they all started laughing.
    “I don’t know,” Lily finally said after some of the giggling had died down. “My pride tells me that I should tell him to shove it up his ass and slam the door in his face, but if it ever actually came to that, I really don’t think I could do it.”
    “Aw, really?” Maggie pouted, her glorified image of
Lily the Superbitch
dashed in a heartbeat.
    “I’m sorry, I can’t help it.
He
ended it, not me. Just because he can apparently shut off his emotions in a split second doesn’t mean that I can.”
    “You still love him, don’t you?” Emma whispered.
    “Of
course
I do,” Lily groaned, dropping her head down on the table with a loud thud. “Ow.” She rubbed at her forehead quickly before continuing. “I think what hurts the most is that I had just really come to terms with how much I loved him when he left, so now I’m all alone and missing him, wishing I had only told him sooner. I don’t know if it would have mattered enough to make him stay, but at least I’d have the peace of mind knowing that I gave it my all. He was the first person to make me feel like I really had anything worth giving. I never found anything I wanted enough to fight for before him.” She looked up when she realized how quiet it had become and found both women both staring at her, hanging on every word. “What?”
    “That’s kinda beautiful,” Emma sighed.
    “Yeah,” Maggie nodded.
    “Well, whatever it is, I can’t just turn it off because he’s gone. All I can do is get on with really living my life for once and hope that the pain will go away eventually. I know it will happen if I give it long enough and force myself to not obsess over it. But if he came back tomorrow?” She paused. “I think things would definitely have to be different than before, but deep down, I really just want him back. I want the chance to see if we are as good together as it felt like we’d be.”
    “Even after he did that to you?” Emma said in amazement.
    “I think I get it,” Maggie said sadly. “I think I’d be the same way if Eric ever left. I can’t imagine him ever doing that, but if he was just suddenly gone, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. He’s like the other half of me. Nothing would feel right until he was back.”
    “He’s gone all the time, Maggie.”
    “It’s not the same, Emma. That’s work. We talk all the time and I know he’s coming home to me when he’s done. And I’m here with all of his things around me, always reminding me of him.” She suddenly gasped and looked at Lily. “Oh man! I just got it!”
    “What?” the other two said in unison, both startled at her sudden outburst.
    “I just realized why you took that apartment.”
    “What do you mean?” Lily asked nervously.
    “Well, I always thought it was a little creepy that you rented the same place where you used to hook up with him. No offense or anything—it’s a totally cute place now—but it just didn’t make sense to me why you would want to torture yourself like that.”
    “Do you care to share with the rest of the class?” Emma prompted, making a rolling gesture with her hand to signal her to continue.
    “It’s all she has left of him, Emma. I thought it was maybe some odd way that she was conquering her demons or something, but that’s not it at all.” She turned to look at Lily again. “It’s just your only way to be near your