at Lisa's

Ellie managed a ride over with her mother to see Lisa.

They had brunch. It seemed so grownup to Ellie who hardly knew what to say.

"Just don't look at me, that way?" Lisa said to Ellie with a scowl who kept waddling and pressing her hands on her back. She just couldn't seem to get comfortable. It was hard for Ellie not to stare. Her sister was hardly who she remembered. Her face looked pregnant too. Her butt curved out as well as her stomach. Ellie had to wonder if her sister would ever be the same again.

"Sorry." Ellie felt it was a mistake to come. What was the point? But there was breakfast pizza and fruit.

She looked around their place. It was small but cute. Ellie didn't ask, but she was pretty sure her Mom gave Lisa a good bit of their furniture. Ellie didn't ask about it. It was a rather painful visit. She went around room by room with her mother to see the colors of the curtains and how close the elementary school was to their backdoor.

Ellie was bored to no end, but she knew she had to do it. Of course, she wondered if her sister would ever come to see her if she had her own place, someday. Would she even want her too?

After awhile, Ellie plopped herself down on the couch while her mother went off with Lisa to talk about things. About Geo and what not. Ellie kept busy with crocheting. She hadn't told her sister, but she was making her baby blankets. What else was she going to do? She could only see Eric ever so often. Not nearly enough. It was horrible going through the withdrawl process. Could they do this?

Could she last through right now. All the quietness. The nothingness.

She kept working the pale yellow yarn and crochet hook. Ellie was sure now, this might be the only thing that might save her.