Twenty-fifth step

     Two days had passed since Carter left me that note and now I was anxiously waiting on the porch of the Matveys’ residence, my finger lingering over the doorbell but not having enough courage to press it. That morning after Carter left, he sent me a message in which he reassured me this wasn’t a sign of revulsion or “disownment”. He literally said ‘Bitch, I shall not hear you overthought about anything these two days. I am not disowning you; I am just giving you a break while I do this and that.’ I didn’t know what ‘this and that’ meant, but his message was clearly not enough to put my negative thoughts to a stop. 

     My family didn’t help smothering these worries either. 

      Two days ago, aunt Debbie asked me if I got any sign from Carter because she had a little talk with him and he seemed distressed. She didn’t want to tell me the origin of his concerns, but I assumed their conversation had something do t