The Professor's Mate Clause

e, yes, jus

in the

my pillow like she owned it. The red dress I did not recognize was pooled on the floor next to heel

as on to

on her throat. The sheets I had washed thr

ooke

eyes

surprised. He just stared at me for a long second before

d just walked in on him watching television

r herself. Did not grab for clothes. She just propped her

have called,

ense of what he just said. I stood there with my keys

he word cam

ally work late

d. The sound mad

teadier than my hands. My hands were shakin

floor. He pulled them on without any hurry. Wi

thi

ugh when we watched movies on this couch. The same hair I had washed when he was

entually," he said. "You and

eet. "So you decided to fix it by

etting

ard them but they felt like they w

ay. I am get

e looked at Kelvin with wide ey

snapped at her withou

e someone was squeezing all the ai

r families a

ing it. Trying to make it make sense. "P

It has been pla

ng is a

tually shrugged

. He kept sleeping next to me. Kept asking me to cover his half of the rent when

broke. Not yet. Just cracked enough t

t o

blinked

t." My voice was quiet

ound he made when he thought I was being ridiculo

inutes to get dressed and le

what? I did not

of your stuff out the window. You can

grabbing her clothes from the floor. She would not look at

o

cond before turning back to

in six days after I caught you in bed with a third p

ok he got when he did not get his way. When his team lost a game. When

ack and di

hem on. The woman was already dressed. She stood by the bedroo

vin said as he pushed p

it

around. His face was red now. Angry. "

ve it in th

, come

t o

Kelvin gave me one last look before following her o

sheets were half on the floor. Her perfume was everywhere.

floor. Grabbed the pillows and threw those too. I wanted to burn everything.

e of the room with my chest still t

ted t

ing

eached inside and scooped out everything that ma

et. I pulled it out. A tex

's shift tomorrow

n said he paid half the rent but that was only when he remembered. I covered the rest. Co

cover ever

heater only worked when it felt like it. The bathroom door did not close all the way. But it was min

survive

ed again. Cla

ave wine and that

ted to sit in the empty apartment and feel

being alone suddenly felt wor

ked the door behind me. The hallway smelled like someone was cooking curry. My stomach

Clara's. She

ant wind that cut through thin jackets and made everything f

xcept walk and breathe and try not to think about Kelvin gettin

ce and pulled me inside without a word. Her apartment was warm. Sh

me to the couch and pushed

lvi

the kitchen. "What di

etting m

m the kitchen. Clara appeared in the

y arranged it. He told me this after I wal

tchen and came back with two wine glasses and a bottle. She did not bother g

g." She handed me a glas

edroom. The red dress on the floor. Kelvin's flat voice. The way he looked at m

nk her wine and listened and her

ll him," she said

in

glass. Her hand was shaking

nd hours at the campus library." I took a long drink. The wine

d go to th

er. "Why woul

t break you. That you

am no

ght. Intense. "Show up looking incredible with someon

ave anyone

find s

s? Clara, b

r wine glass like she was thinking hard abou

on my win

ring at you in class late

sor. That is com

university board right? What if Metcalfe knows him? What if he

would

he called on you three times last week even though you

wine was hitting too fast on an

here t

at six in t

me walk

m fi

e I could not even see it anymore. I just

now. It cut through my jacket and made my eyes water. The curry smell was gone.

building I saw somet

ite envelope t

did not recognize. Neat. Precise. The letters were

nd opened it with

university logo was embossed at the top in gold. Below

s R

tomorrow at 2pm. It is regar

sor A.

ipped from

know wher