A Story A Day. Story 356 of 365: Best (Part XXVI).

When Leo finally left, after lunch, Ismene found herself alone in her house. Everything smelled like him, the kitchen, her bed, her shower, and her hair. She was still naked, wrapped in a towel. She sat on her sofa, hugging her knees. She seemed to like getting in trouble. In three days she had dated two men, and had sex with one of them three times in one morning. Something caught her eye, Leo had left some plates wrapped with plastic film on the kitchen counter. And he had left leftovers! Ismene looked at the plates, he knew how to cook, that was for sure, and she would have enough food for a couple of days. She put the plates in the fridge, almost hating him for being so perfect. She needed something to clear up her mind, and she knew what it was. After putting on a t-shirt, she sat on her desk with a pile of papers she had taken from work, that would keep her mind busy. She worked for the whole afternoon, and well into the night, she finally went to sleep, still wearing only that t-shirt. 

Once more, she buried herself in work avoiding facing her personal troubles. Of course both Leo and Frode contacted her, but Leo had the morning turn that week and therefore was unable to go to the swimming club, which was a relief for Ismene. She only needed some more time to figure it all out, she would, eventually. Eirian tried to help her, but she had to admit that she wouldn't know what to do either, also, Ismene tried to avoid the topic as much as she could. After lunch she would go downstairs and spend the rest of her afternoon working on the Recombinator. She was the first one to arrive, and the last one to leave. Dora called her one afternoon, worried after not having heard from her for some days. 

-Are you still alive? 

-Sorry, mum. I'm a lousy daughter. 

-You are. Have you been busy? 

-Yes, I have, but it's no excuse. I should have called you, or texted you, or something. 

A machine on the background beeped, startling Ismene. 

-What was that noise? Are you still at work? 

-Yes, I want to finish something. 

-What time is it in there? Six in the afternoon? 

-Actually, it's seven. 

-You should take care of yourself, rest a bit. Don't overwork yourself. 

-I won't.- Ismene knew that as long as she had so much personal trouble, she would spent most of her waking hours working. 

-I'll keep an eye on you. So, don't lie to me. 

-Yes, mother. 

-When are you coming to visit? 

-I have only been gone for a couple of months, mum. I'll try to come for the holidays. 

-You better come. 

-Mum! I need to finish this. I'll call you whenever. 

Dora was always very persistent on her need to go back to visit. But Ismene didn't have time to discuss about that, and she had long learnt how to finish their conversations. She kept working for a couple more hours, as time flew when she was in the basement. After working hard during the whole week, she decided to take the weekend off. No dates, no contact with neither Leo nor Frode, no reason to even get out of the house. Eirian had asked her about her weekend plans at some point during the week, and couldn't believe it when she had told her she had no plans, nor wished to have any. 

Ismene stood by what she had said, and, when she left work on Friday, went straight home. Her date for the evening was a movie and some pizza, and only then did she realize how much had she missed that kind of lazy Friday evenings. She was so tired that she fell asleep on the couch while watching the film, and woke up just after midnight to a different movie. Her bed waited for her, and that was her favorite date ever.