eunice's song: give me love by ed sheeran. please note that this chapter does contain a curse word.

chapter eleven | devil's food cake

My first impression of Alfie and the assumptions that went along with it were not incorrect. He was a gluttonous pig who didn’t know when to stop eating. He was one of those industrialized machines and his mouth was an all-night diner where truck drivers stopped to get their hourly cup of joe. The comparison I’d just made caused my to feel dirty, as I thought of a prostitute or hooker “open for business” at any time of the day or night. I blamed those thoughts on modern society and Eunice, who idolized the trends of modern society. Calling herself “curvy” was one of those fads. “Fad” wasn’t quite the right word to         describe it because I doubted people would stop using it to replace words that were more appropriate and fitting, even though it was cruder and sounded not so nice or attractive. I wondered how many “curvy” people used it as an adjective on their dating profile when describing their physical attributes. Next I wondered how many used fake or tampered pictures.

The rest of the assumptions, on the other hand, may have been in site of my disdain for him. After spending half of the day with the candy freak, I found that he wasn’t as bad as I made him out to be. He was still pretty horrible in the aspect that he had no respect for the dental hygienists of the world. Oh, and that he was completely terrified of them. I didn’t think he wanted to tell the story, let alone describe the nitty-gritty. He was already sitting farther than socially acceptable when having a conversation, and I didn’t want to scare him back to his house. This was either due to me being an aspiring dentist, I smelled, or he just didn’t like me. I was betting either the first or the last option. I took a shower that morning and used Eunice’s cotton-candy scented body wash. It was sickeningly sweet, but soap was soap. Regardless of the seating arrangement, he told me the story. Basically, his father had forced him to go to the dentist. His dentist was a scary man who was later charged with murder. Now, his dentist was in a bigger, more dangerous city. He was unfriendly and only cared about the money he was making from his dental procedures. His fear was understandable, but it didn’t know how it had gotten to that extent.

Eunice had gone away with her family again. This time their mission was to confront Mr. Gables about his infidelity. I believed they were going to Pickled Pickin’s to see if he was working there today. He was seventeen when he started working at the grocery store. That was how his affair began. Marguerite said she always thought she had a thing for Nancy, the manager. This was one family gathering I would not have wanted to attend. Although, I wouldn’t mind witnessing it behind a shelf.

“Guess what I learned this morning.” Alfie said.

It was two in the afternoon. Alfie had apparently just woken up. I wondered why he had slept in so late and what he was up to late last night. “What did you learn?”

“We have the same birthday.”

“July 3rd?”

Alfie nodded. “Eunice told me.”

“Interesting. What are we doing today?”

    “I still have to go to Marty’s. Want to come with me?”

    While going into a candy shop with Alfie wasn’t on the top of my bucket list, it was better than being a deadbeat in the Gables house. I had already finished reading The Lucky One this morning while waiting for Alfie to show up. “Sure.”

The smell hit me as soon as the door opened. It smelled like candy, which triggered my gag reflex. I felt woozy and overwhelmed by such a strong, unpleasant aroma. “You like this place?” I asked, bewildered.

“Keep in mind that I like candy, Flossy.”

“Right. Got it.”

    “Wow, Alfie! You just keep bringing in the ladies!” someone behind the counter exclaimed.

    “This one isn’t mine, Marty,” Alfie said.

    “Still. I didn’t know you knew any women,” Marty said jokingly, winking at him.

Alfie didn’t take offense to it. “I don’t.”

“Anyways, what can I get you?”

Alfie peered around the room to determine what sort of snack he wanted. My guess is that he chose whatever caught his eye. There was no doubt in my mind that he had tried every single flavor or type of candy in this room. I saw him point to a jar on the left side of the room. “The jellybeans, my good man. In a medium bag, please.”

“I see you’re cutting down. Are you sure you don’t want a larger bag? I’m getting a new shipment of x-large bags just for you.”

“I’m fine with a medium, Marty.”

“If you insist.” He turned his attention to me. “And what can I get you, pretty lady?”

He was probably just doing business, but I found it creepy that he was “flirting” with me. This was a risky and pedofilish approach to selling products, unless the product was your body. Even in that case it was risky because a police officer could be lurking at any corner. The only way this sales pitch would work on me was if Owen or someone as dashing Ryan Gosling. Ryan Gosling was a beauty and I would give up my career for him in a heartbeat.

    “Nothing for me. I’m not a big fan of candy.”

    Marty just about had a heart attack. “You...you don’t like candy?!” he stuttered, his eyes wide. He looked like he had just had a mental breakdown. The scene was so surreal. It was like a child who had just found out that their parents were giving them presents, not Santa Claus. His reaction was worse than Alfie’s.

    “Nope. It’s too sugary, too sticky, too artificial.”

    “That’s the best part!”

    I raised an eyebrow. “What is?”

    “All of the above!” he exclaimed. “That is outrageous. It truly is. Never have I met such a specimen…”

    “I’m not a specimen. I’m a human being.”

    “I apologize. I’ve just never met anyone who doesn’t enjoy the delectableness that is candy. It’s new.”   

“Right. Well, are you ready to go, Alfie?” This guy was a creep.

    “Hold on, Miss…”

    “Flossy,” I provided.

    He paused for a split second, probably at the oddness of my name. “Flossy, you know that chocolate is a type of candy, am I correct?”

    “I guess. I’ve never really considered it a candy.”

    “Does this mean that you enjoy chocolate?”

    “I’m not a huge fan, but I don’t mind it. I’m more of a cocoa person, you know?”

    “Ah, so you like liquidized chocolate. I knew it was impossible for someone to resist the goodness. Chocolate, in my opinion, should be a world wonder.”

    I came to the conclusion that Marty was delusional and should be hospitalized in a mental health facility. “That’s nice…”

    “Come with me to chocolate heaven, Flossy. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

    “I probably will be. I’m not a sugar freak.”

    “What have you got to lose?”

    “Time.”

    “All right. Your friend Eunice enjoyed it very much.”

    “You know Eunice?” Of course he did. Eunice wouldn’t miss an opportunity to go to another sweets store.

    “Yes, a delightful girl she is.”

    “Yeah...she is.”

I tugged on Alfie’s arm to get him to go. Marty seemed like he was eager to sell him more candy. If he didn’t want any more sweets, I would support that one-hundred percent. Once greeted by fresh air and beautiful sunlight, I inhaled it. It was pure. Well, as pure as it could be with car exhaust and other pollution in the air. Curious, I asked Alfie, “What’s it like in there?” I meant the chocolate room that Marty was talking about. If I decided to go in there later, I wanted to know what to expect. I didn’t like going into the unknown and I certainly didn’t like being taken by surprise, especially if it was unpleasant.

    Alfie looked saddened. “I don’t know, Flossy. I hadn’t heard of the room until I brought Eunice along. I think it’s a girl’s-only club.”

    “That’s stupid.”

    Alfie agreed with me, partially because he probably wanted to discover the room for himself.

+++

Eunice finally took me home. I had grown accustomed to the sereness of Pinto, so it was a bit of a shock to come home to a bustling city that never went to sleep. Someone would always be awake in Catalonia, Pennsylvania. The nightlife of Catalonia consisted of insomniacs, college students (the studious and the partiers), the rebels who spraypainted the side of buildings, criminals, and a slew of unhappy husbands who found comfort in alcohol that resided in bars and taverns or women of the night, who stalked those corners seductively. Nighttime was very social and one could find entertainment very easily.

    Daylight in Catalonia was very different. Normal people with normal, average lives walked the streets. Adults went to work, students went to class, and toddlers went to daycare. I would say it was a pretty diverse atmosphere. The city wasn’t nearly as big as some of the others that surrounded us. We weren’t exactly the suburbs or the unknown like Pinto, because we had the occasional tourist.

After taking an elongated break from the office and the theater, I decided it was time to go back. Mom, Dad, and I came up with a schedule so my time between the two places was allocated evenly. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were spent with Dad. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were spent with Mom. Mom had switched to working the morning shifts instead of the afternoon shifts so she could spend as much time as she could at the theater.

Today was Thursday, which meant it was time to visit my mom. Eunice came with me, saying that this would be her last opportunity to meet my “boy toy.” I promptly blushed and told her that he was not my boy toy. I didn’t mention that I wanted him to be.

Owen was in the men’s dressing room when we arrived. Knocking on the wall next to the door, I called out, “Owen! Are you in there?”

He came out. His hair was disheveled but the smile that had won me over was present. He was so gosh darn cute. “Hey, Flossy. I thought you died or something.”

“I wasn’t gone that long!”

He snorted. “Sure.” He looked at Eunice. “Hi, I’m Owen. It’s nice to meet you.”

They shook hands, we conversed some more, and then Eunice announced that she had to go. Pulling me with her, I was forced to bid my farewells to Owen. “Well?” I asked expectantly. “If he not adorable?”

Eunice had an unsure and undesirable expression on her face. “You exaggerated. A lot.”

“What? No I didn’t!”

“Well you’re obviously blind because he is not cute at all!”

“What? Yes he is!”

    “He’s really not, Flossy. I hate to say it, but he’s ugly.”

    “How can you even say that?”

    “I’m just speaking the truth! But if you think he’s a Greek god, then be my guest!”

    Eunice was lying. She had to be. Owen was cute. Even my mom thought so. My worries of her trying to steal Owen away from me because he was uber attractive were in vain because she thought exactly the opposite of that. No offense to Alfie or anything, but Owen was way hotter than he could ever be. Alfie just gave me that lost little puppy dog impression. His bacon was candy. Owen was an intellectual, one who I could connect with.

    “Geez, Flossy. Don’t look so hurt.”

    “I’m not.”

    Eunice rolled her eyes. “Yes you are. You don’t have to lie to me, Flossy. I’m not your lover boy.”

    “Would you stop that?”

    “Okay, okay! Well I think I’m going to take off. I’ve got to get back to Pinto to see my man!”

    I winced at the thought of Alfie being a “man.” It didn’t seem right. “Drive safe!” I said.

    “Don’t lecture me.”

    “I wasn’t trying to…”

    “I’m just kidding! Your nerves are so frazzled. Is it the hormone imbalance? Do you have more estrogen than normal?”

    “Eunice! Just leave. Go.”

    I pushed her out the door.

    “Bye!” she sang, laughing as she did.

---

Alfie realized that Eunice had been spending a lot of time at Marty’s Candy Emporium without him. He found that she was missing in the hours when he was sleeping, eating, or doing some other activity without him. He assumed that she was spending time in that room of his, and he wanted to know what its contents were. He would get it out of her, well, he would try his hardest.

    Alfie sat on his porch, waiting for Eunice to flounce by as she usually did. He wasn’t twiddling his thumbs like the mindless zombies in movies, because he thought that was boring and for the easily amused. He sat on his porch swing, kicking the ground once in a while to get the flow starting again. He looked at his neighborhood and noticed how bland but unique it was. Sure, every house was the same in color and style, but that was just the architect’s fault for not having much creativity.

    Eunice usually accompanied Alfie on his daily walk. While she was a bit rounder than most people in Pinto, she kept up with his brisk pace. Sometimes when he noticed she was running out of energy, he would subtly slow down. It was the little things like this that Alfie did that made the relationship actually enjoyable. They weren’t the couple who were “macking” on each other like bunnies, and as long as it didn’t get to that point, Alfie would continue the relationship. He doubted they would ever get to such a physically intimate point, though. They hadn’t even had their first kiss, let alone reach first base or the first home run. Alfie had no view on having sex before marriage. If he happened to do the deed before he had a gold band on his left finger, then it happened. If it didn’t, it didn’t.

    She was usually euphoric when she came back. This time was a little different. She was filled with dysphoria. She was shaky, terrified, and in tears. She wobbled out of her car, heading inside the Gables house.

    “Eunice!” Alfie called. He was reaching out to her, something he would not have done a couple of weeks ago. “Where are you going?”

    “Not now, Alfie,” she cried, sniffling as she tried to open the door.

    Alfie frowned and wondered what was wrong with her. He darted over to the Gables home, practically bounding and hurdling bushes to reach Eunice. He grabbed her shoulder, turning her around so they were face-to-face. “Eunice, what’s wrong?”

    Startled, she squirmed and pushed him off of her. “Get off of me, Alfie.”

    Alfie was confused. She never brushed off contact with him. She took what she could get. “Eunice, I’m serious. Are you okay?”

    “Does it matter?” she yelled, sounding exasperated. “It’s not like you really care, Alfie. You never care.”

    “Whoa, where is this coming from?”

    “Tell me I’m right, Alfie,” she said. “Don’t deny it.”

    He didn’t. She was telling the truth. This was probably the first time that he showed her he actually cared. It was extremely sad since they were together, but in they really weren’t in Alfie’s head. In his head, she was Fran’s cousin who was slowly infiltrating his system. He considered her a friend. He knew he would never really know her as a romantic interest for him. It was rude and conniving, but he secretly thought that Eunice knew that too. From what Flossy had told him, Eunice was a desperate being who only wanted to be loved. He wanted to tell her that Eunice was loved by her family, by her Aunt Marguerite who chose her over Fran. He would never tell Eunice any of this though because Flossy didn’t know if she was supposed to keep that under lock and key.

    “You’re right, Eunice.”

    She glared at him and slapped his chest. “You’re not supposed to say that, Alfie. You’re supposed to tell me that you’ve always cared about me and you didn’t know how to express it.”

    “But you just said--”

    “You’re not very good at this whole relationship thing, Alfie.”

    “Sorry,” he mumbled.

    “Now, excuse me.” A remnant of her attitude came back, but her hands were still shaking like crazy.

    “Hold on a second, Eunice. Are you sure you’re all right?”

    “Did I ever say that?”

    Alfie couldn’t remember. “Did you?”

    “Did I?”

    “Did you?”

    “Did I?”

    “Eunice!”

    “Alfie.”

    “Oh my goodness.”

    “I don’t have time for this sort of nonsense. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Nicholas Sparks to read.”

    She didn’t wait for Alfie to reply. She slammed both doors in his face and waddled off to some romance book. Alfie begrudgingly left her alone, still wondering what had occurred to make her temperament so nasty. He walked back to his empty house, wondering what he would do for his next meal. Lately he had been eating with the Gables, but he wasn’t so sure he’d be welcome tonight with her recent cold attitude. He’d have to have makeshift dinner, probably something simple like a sandwich, instant macaroni, or soup from a can. He wasn’t a big ramen fan. Something about it was so artificial that even Alfie couldn’t stand it. To him, it was flavorless. Maybe he would have leftover dessert from last night. It was devil’s food cake, his uncle’s favorite. It was a good thing he was at the hospital otherwise there would be none left over.

    He decided to go for a walk before trying to figure out what had happened to Eunice. Maybe it would help him develop theories. He didn’t count on that though. He knew he had the tendency to daydream and think about other things, like solutions to world problems. He knew that they would never actually work. World hunger was one thing that concerned him because he believed that no one should be hungry when there were rich aristocrats pigging out on lobster and stupid things like caviar. Bill Gates should open up a mobile buffet in underprivileged communities, then move onto the next town. He also believed that those children should have the opportunity to have instant macaroni and cheese. Some days, though, he didn’t think of anything. He focused on his surroundings, intaking everything about the dinky little town. He was trying to learn to love it because he would be here for a while. Graduating high school was two years away, and even then he didn’t know if he would move away. He wasn’t much of a school person, so college was out of the picture. He didn’t particularly like working but knew he couldn't live off his parent’s fortune forever, especially with his spending habits (on food). Not to mention he’d be called by a deadbeat by everyone, which was consequently a trait of a lady repeler.

    Alfie didn’t think about anything today. Not the environment, the issues that were arising in the world, or why Eunice was being so cranky (because let’s face it, PMS could be a major factor, if not the only reason). He was almost robotic walking along the street. He liked to balance on the curb and pretend that he was a renowned trapeze artist traveling with the best circus in the country. He had never been to a circus before, but it seemed like a fun crowd to work with. He didn’t know why no thoughts were floating around in his head. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. It made him feel empty-minded and dead inside. He wasn’t even concentrated on breathing in air to his lungs or his heart beating. Alfie was suddenly glad that his brain did all of that for him without him having to control every internal function of his body. It seemed like a lot of work and a lot of time. He was sure he’d be dead if he had that sort of responsibility.

    Alfie knocked on the door. Mrs. Gables answered it. “Hello, Alfie,” she said. Alfie always received the impression that she didn’t particularly like him whenever he was around her.

    “Hello, Mrs. Gables,” he replied. “Is Fran or Eunice here?”

    “Fran is at her synchronized swimming lessons and Eunice has asked not to be disturbed.”

    “It’s really important that I speak to Eunice.”

    Mrs. Gables stood her ground. “My niece has requested to be alone. I will fulfill that request. Now have a good day, Alfie.”   

    Alfie normally listened to adults, but he couldn’t just stand by and watch his girlfriend wither away to nothing. Knowing Eunice, she would binge on chocolate (more than normal) and rip the pages of her cheesy romance books with her tears. He stopped the door with his foot. “I have to,” he demanded firmly. “Let me in.”

    “Listen, young man, I can call the authorities and have you arrested for trespassing.”

    “But you wouldn’t,” he said confidently, even though he had no conception that she would not get him trouble. Just because he was friends with her family didn’t mean she wouldn’t turn him in to the police.

    “Try me.”

    Alfie defied her, pushing his way past her. He ran up the stairs, hoping his instincts would take him right to Eunice. It wasn’t so much his instincts but her blubbers and exaggeratingly painful sniffles that brought them together. Alfie pushed open the door to reveal Eunice curled up in a ball with hundreds of used tissues surrounding her. He didn’t notice any chocolate wrappers. He didn’t have the chance to call them disgusting. No one could with the whale that was Eunice hysterically bawling on her bed.

    “Eunice,” he whispered.

    With alarmed eyes, she immediately whipped around and held her pillow out as a shield. Her hair was unkempt, like a tornado had swept by and only damaged her hair. Her eyes were blotchy, snot was running down her nose, and her face looked wet. Despite these things, he couldn’t help but want to hug her.

    “What are you doing here, Alfie?” she whispered back. “Who let you in?”

    “Your aunt.”

    She cursed. “I told her to not let anyone in.”

    “She didn’t want to. The cops will probably be here in ten minutes.”

    “What!? Why?”

    “She said she’d call because I was trespassing.”

    Eunice let out a breath of relief, but Alfie could still see the fear that was still inhabiting her. He saw it in her eyes, her actions, her voice. “Please go, Alfie.” She sounded desperate, but it was completely different from when she had asked him out. It seemed like a call for help shielded by false words.

    “No.”

    “Please.”

    “I know you really don’t want me to go.”

    “No, Alfie. This time I really mean it. Go.”

    “Eunice, what happened?”

    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she mumbled.

    “You’re not making eye contact with me.”

    She looked up. “Now I am.” She said the sentence and immediately turned her head in a different direction.

    Alfie started walking to her. Much to his surprise, she lept to the edge of the bed. “Don’t come any closer,” she yelled. “Stay where you are. Or better yet, leave.”

    “What’s gotten into you?” Alfie wondered aloud.

    “Let’s just say that there are very dark things in the world, Alfie. We’ll leave it at that.”

    Alfie was even more curious and concerned now. What had Eunice experienced? “Eunice, I’m going to continue to ask you what happened. I won’t leave until you tell me.”

    She burst into another round of tears. “If I tell you, Alfie, I’ll never want you to leave.”

    Alfie didn’t know if he was ready for that sort of commitment, but it seemed serious. “Then I won’t leave you, Eunice.” With those words, he sealed his fate.

    “Do you promise?”

    He held a breath. He didn’t love her, but if she needed him this badly that he couldn’t escape, then there was no way he could leave her. “I promise, Eunice.”

    She patted the spot next to her on the bed. “Then you’ll need to sit down for this.”

    Alfie obeyed and sat.

    “Don’t interrupt me. Let me tell the entire story even if I start to weep, okay?”

“All right,” he agreed.

“Do you remember the first time you took me to Marty’s Candy Emporium?”

Alfie wasn’t sure if it was a rhetorical question or not since he wasn’t allowed to speak until she finished the story, so he nodded.

“Well it wasn’t my last venture there. The chocolate room he showed me was so breathtaking, but trust me when I say that it wasn’t worth it. I would vomit every piece of chocolate I’ve ever consumed to get rid of the memory. I’ll tell you what was in that room, Alfie. It was paradise. There were shelves and shelves of chocolate, a chocolate fountain, and the entire room was like a giant piece of dark chocolate. It was really dark, but he brought candles.”

Alfie assumed the he in the story was Marty. He didn’t dare to ask to clarify.

    “The first day was unreal, the second was magical, the third was like heaven. I never grew old of it. The fourth day came and it was a little strange. I didn’t think of it then, but now that I look back at it, something fishy was definitely going on. He touched my waist.” She gently brushed her hand over the left side of her waist, shivering slightly as she did. “Like this.”

    “I let it go.” Her lip was quivering. “I thought it could have been a slip of the hand or a moment of weakness.” She gave a small smile. “I am irresistible.”

    Alfie chuckled quietly. He was glad that she was still able to tell a joke or two while telling him something seemingly serious.

    “Anyways, the touches became more frequent, more obvious, and for longer periods of time. I could see that he was becoming bolder in his actions. I tried to make it known that I didn’t like what he was doing, but he wouldn’t pick up on the hints. Or maybe he did and ignored him. Either way, they touches didn’t stop. I was reluctant to go back, Alfie, and I almost didn’t, but it was too much for me. That room was delectable. Chocolate’s like a drug to me, Alfie. I couldn’t help it. I went back. I continued going back even though I knew something bad like this would happen to me.”

    Alfie could feel every ounce of emotion dripping into her voice. Her words were slow, inevitable, regretful.

    “I’m a fool, Alfie. What can I say? I went back again today. I ignored the empty pit feeling in my stomach, how my heart dropped every time I saw him, and all of the warning signs. The greed and the need were too strong. I was compelled to go. It was like I was a magnet and he was a super fridge, pulling me to him. Pulling me towards his collection of wonders. He let me go in first. I saw him turn off the sign and he followed me down there, down to his basement lair of evil. I know why the seven deadly sins are so deadly, Alfie. It’s because they can overwhelm you, they can control you, and they can eventually kill you. Today I witnessed all seven of them. Let me tell you, they’re not pretty. Not one bit.

    Let’s start with the first of them: greed. If not for greed, I wouldn’t have been there. I wouldn’t be in the shithole I dug for myself now. I could’ve prevented it all if not for this simple thing. The second of them is: gluttony. It goes along with greed, but I’m afraid this is where my biggest mistake was. It’s times like these where I wished I would’ve listened to Flossy and her health lectures.”

Flossy. Something unspeakably horrifying happened to Eunice in the chocolate room, which explained why Marty was so insistent on Flossy going down there for herself. He used almost every persuasive technique in the book, according to Alfie. Then again, he didn’t read much. It also explained why Alfie was never allowed in the chocolate room, even for the purpose of going down there for chocolate. Alfie was suddenly glad he didn’t force Flossy down there for the sake of his curiosity.

“He touched me, Alfie.”

    Alfie knew what it was that he did to her, yet he couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to hear it, because the words he had been waiting to hear had finally been said. He couldn’t have been more appalled and betrayed. Besides Uncle Bobby, Marty was the father figure in his life. If not that, he was his role model. Never in his life did he think Marty would ever sink to the level of molesting a child. The thought never crossed his mind, and if it did, Alfie would shoot the idea down and call himself stupid. But now, seeing the trainwreck that was his girlfriend in front of him, spilling her damaged soul out to him, he despised Marty with every fiber of his being.

    He was speechless and had no word of comfort for Eunice. Then again, nothing could’ve comforted Eunice other than a time machine. Alfie understood why he saw no signs of chocolate around her. The treat was probably forever spoiled for her, which was a shame.

    “That would be the third sin,” she croaked. “Lust.”

    She spent no time elaborating on what he had done to her. Alfie had no idea if it was something as severe as rape or not. He wanted to know, because the world needed to know that Marty Piper was the biggest scumbag he had ever met.

    “The fourth is envy. After the incident, he told me to never tell anyone what happened otherwise he would come after me. I guess I didn’t do a very good job at keeping it a secret.”

    “You need to tell the police, Eunice.”

    “No! I can’t.”

    “He can’t get you from jail.”

    Eunice lowered her voice. “He’s a very dangerous man and you don’t know what he’s capable of, Alfie. Don’t mess with him.”

    “Eunice, you need to tell someone.”

    “Hey!” she snapped. “Didn’t I tell you to be quiet until I was finished?”

    Terrified, Alfie nodded.

    “Good. The fourth sin is envy. Is it possible to envy yourself, Alfie? Because I envy the me before I came to Pinto. The Eunice then was beautiful, carefree, and most importantly, innocent.” Eunice’s voice cracked, a sign that she was close to tears again. “The fifth is sloth. I should’ve walked to Marty’s. Maybe if I had, there would be more customers. If there were people there, there was no way that it would’ve happened.”

    Alfie didn’t bring up the fact that it could’ve happened another day.

    “I was just so lazy and wanted to be there and back as fast as I could. And the sixth. Oh the sweet, sweet sixth. Wrath, also known as revenge. I want it, Alfie. I want my revenge on him. I want to hurt him like he hurt me. I want him to suffer like I suffered. I want him to die like he killed me. He killed my spirit, Alfie. That was all I had. Now I have nothing.”

    It was like fire had sparked in her eyes. They were so fiery and filled with so much rage and passion, only it was the dangerous type. The type that could land her in a place filled with regret and agony; a place where she would be trapped (and not just behind bars) by herself. It would consume her, Alfie predicted. Revenge was not the path for Eunice. It was too rough, too bumpy, too cruel for her. This Alfie knew.

    “You have family,” Alfie said, even though he wasn’t allowed to speak, “and people that care. Marty doesn’t have that. He’s all alone.”

    “That doesn’t give him the right to find whatever the hell he’s looking for in me,” she growled, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

    “I never said that.”

    “Are you sticking up for him?”

    “No! Not at all! I’m just saying that you do have more than him.”

    “But if I have no spirit, Alfie, then I’m not really me.”

    “You seem to have your spirit.”

    “It’s not mine. It’s borrowed. The Eunice one is gone forever.”
    “Who’d you borrow it from?”

    “I don’t know, Alfie. Can I continue to the last point now?”

    He nodded.

“Pride. I guess I don’t really know how this fits in with today,” she murmured. “I wish I had some.” She laughed dryly. “But how could I be proud of myself after today?”

“You should,” Alfie said.

“Why?”

“Because you’re still here. You’re still living and breathing.”

“Alfie, I don’t think you realize that I exemplified most of the seven deadly sins today.”

Alfie didn’t want to make her feel worse by saying she embodied them every single day. “Who cares? Are you Catholic?”

“No…”

“Eunice, it hasn’t even been a day yet and I think you’re doing great.”

“Get out!” she screeched, turning into a human demon. She pushed him off his bed, shoving him out the door. Once satisfied with the distance between him and the door, she slammed the door shut.

Seconds later, Alfie heard sobs. He didn’t bother to go back in. He went to the only person who might understand Eunice’s situation: Miss Walden.