My head throbbed as I peeled my eyes open. I pushed myself up, leaning against the headboard. The sun was high in the sky, its light filtering through the blinds into the room.
A faint crash of a spoon in my kitchen jolted me back to reality.
“It can only be Sofia,” I sighed, running my hands under the pillows in search of my phone. I was starting to have a change of heart, until I found my phone and saw his message, sent about three minutes after I went to bed.
Come move the rest of your things from the house.
Ignoring the missed calls from my mom and the messages from my boss, I opened my notes app and created a new note titled “A Pound of His Flesh.” Underneath, I typed: “Hire an assassin.”
I stared at the text until my eyes glistened with tears. Then, I closed the tab.
“Someone’s awake,” Sofia said with a smile as she rushed in, carrying a tray of bagels and coffee.
“An appetizer while I prepare your favorite meal,” she added, carefully placing the tray on the nightstand.
I pushed my phone away and opened my arms for a hug. She took it, and I crashed into her, ugly crying and cursing while she rubbed soothing circles on my back.
I pulled away, looking her in the face. “I’ll mess up his wedding,” I sulked.
“You look a mess. Just go wash up and eat, we’ll talk about this late.” She said, concern in her eyes.
I buried my face in my hands. “Okay, ma’am.”
Sofia and I had been friends since college. We met on campus, got along well, and when she proposed the best-friend thing, I gladly obliged. Ever since, we had done the friendship thing better than anyone thought we would.
I turned on the cold water and climbed into the tub. Fully clothed. I let the water rinse off the tears, feeling them hot on my cheeks and salty on my tongue.
“Don’t let your food get cold, homie,” Sofia warned before I heard the bedroom door close.
I soaked in the tub until chills ran down my spine. Then, I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around myself, and stepped out. I took a bite of the bagel and sipped the coffee. It was creamy. Absolutely perfect. I gulped everything down and picked up my phone.
I knew the right person to call.
An old-time friend. Did dirty jobs for local politicians.
I used to preach to him back in the day to get an actual , legal job but he was too deep in it. It put food on his table, so my preaching always fell on deaf ears. He always teased me, saying, “If you ever need someone cleaned out, just call.”
I never thought the day would come when I’d actually consider it.
I flicked the phone on. Three new missed calls from my mom. I wanted to ignore them, but she called back immediately.
“You don’t give up, do you?” I said, my voice calm. I had no strength to yell.
“Haven’t you heard?” Her voice was shaky. She sounded scared.
“Heard what, Mother?”
“Did you do it? Did you send someone to run into him?”
I felt my patience snap.
“Do what, Mother? Run into who?” My voice cracked as I yelled.
“Bob was in a ghastly motor accident at the early hours of this morning. The news said he was drunk and crashed into a truck. But the scary part is, the truck driver is nowhere to be found. No witnesses. No identity. And Bob… he’s fighting for his life in the hospital as we speak.”
I disconnected the call and stared into space.
“Okay, Karma. You did this one.”
A slow smile curved on my lips just as Sofia walked in with another tray of food. Spaghetti Bolognese, my favorite dish.
I grabbed the tray from her and scooped a mouthful. She watched me, confusion written all over her face.
“Go grab a wine, girl. I think me and Karma just locked in real tight,” I laughed hysterically.
She leaned forward, touching my neck. “You good?”
“Girl,” I exhaled. “Bob got into an accident this morning. Right now, they say he’s in the hospital, fighting for his goddamn life.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I let them fall.
“Come here,” she whispered, pulling me into a hug. “I’m just glad you didn’t have to fight. You’re vindicated. You won after all.”
I nodded, my chest tightening.
“Hell, let me go get that wine,” she said, laughing.
I joined in.
Bob got what he deserved.
“Thank you,” I muttered to whoever the truck driver was.
I still had a heart after all.
I was just being appreciative and that’s all that mattered.