Chapter Thirteen: Kathy:

Kathy stopped by Pauline’s house for dinner as promised. That old lady talked the carer’s ear off while they ate. Around this time, she came to realize something. She didn’t take this job to care about her neighbors like she had first believed. Kathy wasn’t sure of the new reason now. Maybe she needed proof that she could still feel something. Maybe she didn’t want to be alone. Kathy couldn’t be certain of the reason. She noticed Pauline looking her in the eye.

“What is it?” Kathy asked.

“I forgot to ask you something today,” the old lady said.

“What?”

“How are you doing?”

“Good, I’m doing good.”

“How was work today?”

“Pretty interesting. Everyone keeps saying that I need to take care of myself too.”

“You do.”

Kathy glanced up at her. “I already do.”

“Don’t stop taking care of yourself as well as us.”

The younger woman bowed her head. “I won’t.”

“Promise that you will take care of yourself as well.”

“I will.”

“Good.”

Kathy pressed her lips together and nodded. She made it home just when she felt another drop on her cheek. The carer pulled out her key just as the downpour had started and unlocked the door. She took off her sandals and placed them in front of the living room closet.

“I’m home,” she said to the empty apartment. There used to be someone here waiting for her. She couldn’t remember who anymore. Maybe they were still alive somewhere. They would probably find their way back to this apartment one day. For now, Kathy had this job and her neighbors. She took off her bag and coat and walked over to her computer. She hadn’t planned much to do for the evening. Just take a bath and go to bed.

“Hello, Kathy,” her boss, Henry, said via he answered the Skype call. “How was your first day on the job?” The carer gave off a real smile for once today.

“Good,” she said. “My rounds went well today.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” he said. “This is why I picked you out for the job. Give me all of your reports for the day. Your payment will be delivered to your Bit-Payment amount when you are finished.” Kathy thought of the Ramones’ version of “What a Wonderful World” as she took out her notes and read them off.

“I will go check on Mr. Bret in the morning,” she said once she was finished.

“Very good,” Henry said. “I put your payment in your account.”

“Thank you, sir,” Kathy said.

“I look forward to hearing from you in the morning.”

“You too.”

“You have a good night, Kathy.”

“You too, sir.”

Henry hung up on his end of the line. Kathy closed out of everything and shut down her computer. She turned and walked to the bathroom to run herself a bath like planned.