The Box, Chapter 9
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Naina couldn’t believe Raiya had stuck around. Most people who spent time with her eventually gave up or went away. The girls at Ivy Oak School called her dull and boring. People in college promised they would call and keep in touch, but they didn’t. Even Alice bailed on her. When Alice first started working at the office, a couple of years after Naina started, Alice took her to Whole Foods in Mount Pleasant. She had done it once a month for a couple of years so that Naina could stock up on her supplies of essential oils and Dr. Bronner’s. Naina took a Lyft home. It had been several months since Alice had driven her to Whole Foods.
Raiya had not only not lost interest but he had been persistent. Raiya showed up at Naina’s apartment every day. He made himself at home in a way no one had ever done before, as if Naina had always been his. Naina was dumbfounded. Raiya left a dent on her couch as if the spot had been waiting to take the shape of him. He had even picked his favorite mug to drink coffee out of, making a habit of knocking on her door in the mornings, while still in his pajamas.
A week later on Sunday, Naina was towel drying her hair, which given the length and thickness was a four-hour affair. She didn’t dare use a hairdryer to prevent damage. She’d kept waist-long hair since she was…
