Carrie and Keith 18

Carrie was a another problem altogether. She never walked by any more. He didn't have her phone number because they had always talked in person. The only option was to go to her house and apologize face-to-face.

Another whole week passed before Keith could bring himself to see her. Finally, before going home after work Friday, he went to her house. Her car was in the driveway. He took a deep breath and walked up the steps.

Kim met him on the front porch. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to Carrie," he said.

"She doesn't need to talk to you," Kim replied, arms akimbo.

Keith stared at her. He felt his blood pressure rising. "I want to apologize to her," he said through clenched teeth.

"For what? For destroying her? Because that's what you've done. You've absolutely destroyed her. She doesn't need you or your apology. She needs some healing time so she can move on with her life. Without you."

"You're not going to let me see her," Keith stated numbly.

"No."

"Will you tell her I'm sorry?"

"No."

"You're not even gonna tell her I was here, are you?" Keith snapped.

"No. Just mentioning your name makes her cry."

"Kim..."

"Just go home. You've done enough damage here." Kim turned and went into the house, closing the door behind her.

***

Three weeks had passed. Joey and Justin were with Keith in the basement, waiting for Michael to arrive.

"Keith, man, you have got to start eating and sleeping. You look like shit." Joey said.

Keith snorted. "Thanks," he said, a bitter little smile on his lips.

"Why don't you go and talk to her?" Justin asked.

"Yeah. I tried that. That bitch she lives with won't let me in, her number is unlisted and she never walks by the house anymore. And I don't want to go where she works because I don't want to get her fired."

"What were you gonna say to her, anyway?: Joey asked.

"I was going to apologize. That's all."

"Did you tell her that?" Justin asked.

"I tried. She told me that I destroyed her and that she didn't need me or my apology." He bent his head. "God damn." he said, rubbing his eyes.