Our building looks the same. I mean… It’s only been two months that I’ve been away from home but it feels like an eternity has passed. Still, it seems like somethings could’ve changed. As the garage door opened, an obscenely loud roar rings through the air. The door rolls its way up to a complete stop. I look over at Billy and, surely enough, she is grinning knowingly at my face that reads irritation anytime we pass through here. I let out a small chuckle. Billy has this thing about her. She is empathetic, that’s a given. But above that, she gives you a look where she wants you to know that she knows what you’re feeling. It’s the look I like to call “Guarda fuckin anima”.

I first met Billy when we were twelve years old. It was around Christmas and there was a showing of Home Alone at the local theater. My mother and I went in the afternoon, got our popcorn and candy, and settled into our seats. There were not many people in our theater, seeing as how it was not a new movie and it was still early in the day. However, I did notice there was another mother-daughter duo sitting to our right. It was about ten minutes into the movie when I humiliated myself in front of nine strangers. I took one bite out of the Swedish fish and my digestive system failed me. I started to “choke” on the saliva and juice byproduct of the tasty Swedish fish. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I sure made one. I stood up in an instant, panic ridden, my hands clutching my neck. My mother stood up and frantically started hitting my back with her hands. The young girl on my right ran towards me, furrowing her eyebrows with genuine concern on her face. She firmly held my shoulders and pivoted my body so that my back was to her. Just as she wrapped her arms around my chest and pressed forcefully into my stomach, a ball of spit soared out of my mouth onto the theater floor. I coughed to clear my irritated throat. Embarrassment replacing my irrational hysteria. The room fell silent and still. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me as their faces illuminated from the flashing screen. The only sounds coming from the McCallisters running around, gathering their belongings to catch their flight. I looked back slowly, lifting both hands halfway up to gesture that I am fine. My mother slumped into her seat and let out a sigh of relief. I sunk into my seat and turned to the girl that wasted her heroic Heimlich manneuver on me. “Are you alright?” she whispered as she knelt down into the seat next to mine. My eyes reached hers and I felt this sense of nakedness, like she could see into my soul. I scuffed out an exhale and nodded in response, trying not to laugh through the awkwardness. “Don’t be embarrassed! I choke on my own spit all the time!” she quietly giggled. I gave her a weak smile, “Thanks for trying to save me anyway… I’m Nisa.” “Billy” she said as she took away my full bag of candy.

Billy pulled into our parking spot, number 16, and put the car in park. On the rearview mirror hang two white turtle doves, one of which I gifted to Billy on her 16th birthday. “When did you hang these in the car?” I asked. “The day after your accident” she paused, “I went into your room and took it from your nightstand….” Her gaze shifted from me back to the doves, “I felt like they needed to be together. I don’t know. It sort of comforted me while you were… away.” I gave her a goofy smile. “You warm my heart. You know that?” I took off my seat belt and reached over to her for a hug. She swung her arms impishly, trying to stop the mushiness that rarely occurs in our friendship.

We took the elevator from the second floor up to the 6th floor. We made a left to our apartment door. I never knew I would be this excited to see my door. 6F. Oh how I missed you. I entered first and Billy followed with my discharge papers in one hand and my hospital bag in the other. She was insistent on carrying my things, afraid that I’d crumble under a six pound bag. “Your meds will be ready in an hour for pick-up,” she continued, “I will go get them along with something to eat.” I walked further into the apartment, “Seriously Billy, I’m fine! I’ve been hauled up in a bed for-“

“We’re so glad to have you back home!” yelled Rachel, jogging out of my bedroom. I jumped back startled, my soul almost leaving my body. I pause, “And you’re in my room because…” Answering my own question, “…you moved into my room while I was incapacitated and now you’re packing to get your ass out of there”? “Hey now!” replied Rachel, “that is no way to thank me for keeping your bed company while you were gone.”

Ugh. She stayed in my room while I was at the hospital. Which means, “You guys fucked on my bed didn’t you?” I stared at Billy with wide eyes and disgust. They both started to laugh. Evading my question, Billy interjected with “Alright, alright, alright! Enough of this banter. Go into your room already!” Billy slowly guided me towards my bedroom. “You’re both still avoiding my questions…” I said trying to erase that image from my head.

Rachel and Billy both yelled suprise as we entered my bedroom. Above my bed hung a handcrafted ‘Welcome Home’ sign. There must have been at least a dozen floral arrangements scattered around the room with cards attached to some. On my bed was a large basket, beautifully arranged with all sorts of goodies inside of it. I bit the side of my lip to keep the tears that were welling up at bay, “What’s all this? You guys really didn’t have to do anything.” The ladies stood on either side of me sandwiching me into a hug. That really didnt help me with the whole not-crying thing. “A lot of the flowers are from your family and friends,” Billy said, “Everyone missed you. They were all hoping for your speedy recovery and waiting for you to return home.” Rachel continued, “And we just wanted to make you a basket of goods to pamper yourself, to relax and rebuild your health.”

“Alsooooo,” Billy reached into the basket then flashed 3 tickets, “Now we could finally get back to our customary and sacred ‘Drunk Escape Room’ nights”. She handed me the tickets. I was still trying to register all the generosity. “You ladies are so amazing. I don’t even know how to begin to thank you!” We all laid on my bed together and continued chatting. And just like that, everything was back to normal.