"He can't get to you here, especially not while I'm around."
"He doesn't need to be here physically. He's in my fucking head!" She screams, while pointing her finger at her right temple. "He never leaves!"
I'm about to say she needs a doctor. She needs to talk to someone and get on medication, which can help her through this, but I don't because I said I wouldn't take her to the hospital. So instead I say, "Let me help you."
"There is no help for me! It's me living through this shit existence day after day. And the worst part is you seeing me like this."
I take a step closer to her. She doesn't move but stays rigid. "Why? Because you've spent years hating me and are afraid I'll somehow hold this over your head?" I don't know what she's thinking, but this is all I can reason. "I would never do that to you."
"No," she shakes her head. "I know you better than that. You're not the type of person who would do that."
"Then why?"
"Because if I allow you in any further, I'll never be able to let you go." My breath catches and my body stills. Did she really just say that? Does this mean she doesn't hate me as I always thought she did? Sure, she held my hand and had me stay in bed with her, but I thought it was because she didn't want to be alone and needed someone there with her.
There's a knock on my door. Lisa turns and opens it. Mino is standing on the other side. He glances at me, then Lisa, then back to me again.
"I'll be in the car," Lisa mumbles and leaves before I can say another word.
Mino leans against the doorframe, his blond hair messy, like he came here straight from bed. "So, you and Manoban, huh?" His lips quirk up on one side. "Can't say I'm surprised."
"Oh, shut the fuck up, Mino. You have no idea what's going on. I'm going to tell you, but if you so much as breathe a word of what I say to Lisa, I'll have your head."
He puts his hands up. "All right, all right, no need to threaten me. Damn."
"Lisa tried to kill herself yesterday." Mino's eyes widen. "The only reason she didn't was because I was there to stop it. She still wants to die. You can't let her get near any guns, drugs, alcohol, anything. Do you hear me? She needs help, Mino. More than you or I can give her."
"Holy shit. I didn't...how...why?"
"That's not for me to tell you. You need to keep a close eye on her, and no matter what happens, don't take her home. Keep her far away from there. And you have to get her to a doctor. She needs to talk to someone about what's going on."
He nods. "She can stay with me for as long as she needs to. I have the room." I'm sure he does. His parents are wealthy, too. Last I heard, they bought him a cabin in the mountains. Eavesdropping pays off sometimes. At least with Lisa staying there she'll be far away from home.
I scribble my number on a piece of paper I find on the counter. "Text me your address when you can. I'm going to Lisa's later to return some of the shit I have of Risa's. I quit my job, by the way." He opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand. "Again, not for me to tell you. I'll grab Lisa some clothes, shoes, and whatever else I can and bring them to your house."
"I can't believe she would do that."
"Yeah, well, there's a lot you don't know about her."
I close the door behind Mino after he promises to call me if something happens and to keep Lisa safe. Glancing at the clock, I notice it's four in the morning. I can't go to Risa's now. Everett will probably be there, and I have zero desire to see him. If I went now, I'd want to take the gun and be tempted to put a bullet in his head. I'd happily sit in jail for murder, knowing that son of a bitch can't hurt Lisa ever again.