Under One Roof in English

Chapter 13 Present The weirdest part is how quickly everything changes. One minute, I’m in the middle of cleaning up the kitchen, wondering whether the smoothie blender is dishwasher safe, thinking about my ongoing pining and my upcoming move, about how much I’ll miss this—coming home after work, finding twelve forks and a colander in the sink, wondering how many of them are Liam’s.

Chapter 12 One week ago No dimensional plane exists in which apartment hunting (more precisely: apartment hunting while heartbroken) could ever be pleasant. I have to admit, however, that browsing Craigslist on the phone with my friends while I sip on the overpriced red wine Liam got from an FGP Corp retreat does dull the pain of the ordeal.

Chapter 11 Two weeks ago I get the phone call on a Wednesday night, before dinner but after I’ve returned from work. I am remarkably composed throughout: I oh and ah in all the right places; I ask pertinent, important questions; I even remember to thank the caller for sharing the news with me.

Chapter 10 Three weeks ago When Liam arrives home, I can barely feel my toes, my teeth are chattering, and I am more blanket than human. He studies me from the entrance of the living room while pulling off his tie, lips pressed together in what looks a lot like amusement. Asshole.

Chapter 9 One month ago “I had lots of fun tonight.” “Good. Thank you. I mean . . .” I clear my throat. “So did I.”

Chapter 8 One month, two weeks ago Rain is my favorite kind of weather. I am most partial to summer storms, their strong winds and hot air, the way they make me feel like I’m sitting on the humid inside of a balloon that’s about to burst. As a kid, I’d run outside as soon as the rain started just to get all wet —which seemed to outrage my mother to no end.

Chapter 7 Three months ago There’s nothing wrong with the waveguide. That, I know for sure. The transformer and the stirrer seem fine, too, which has me thinking that the problem is in the magnetron. Now, I’m not really an expert, but I’m hoping that if I tinker with the filament the assembly will fix itself and— “Is this because last night we watched Transformers?”

Chapter 6 Four months ago I take a careful step out of the shower, letting my toes dig deep into the thick, soft mat. It turns out to be a lethally poor choice, because I do it in the same exact moment Liam opens the bathroom door to take a step inside.

Chapter 5 Four months, two weeks ago I look out of the window, trying to use my engineering degree to approximate how many meters of snow fell overnight.

Chapter 4 Four months, three weeks ago There are plenty of things I wouldn’t expect Liam Harding to do when he enters the kitchen. For instance, he’s unlikely to whip out castanets and flamenco his way around the island. To break into a Michael Bolton hit from the ’80s.

Chapter 3 Five months, one week ago Dear Helena, This is weird. Is this weird? This is probably weird. I mean, you’re dead. And I’m here, writing you a letter. When I’m not even sure I believe in the afterlife. Truth be told, I stopped pondering eschatological matters in high school because they got me anxious and made me break out in hives under my left armpit (never the right; what’s up with tha...

Chapter 2 Five months, two weeks ago I don’t have time for this. I am late for work. I have a meeting in half an hour. I have yet to brush my teeth and my hair. I really don’t have time for this. And yet, like the fool that I have grown to be, I give in to temptation. I slam the fridge door, turn around to lean against it, cross my arms as menacingly as I can, and I stare at Liam across the expans...

Chapter 1 Six months ago “Frankly, They get on like a house on fire is the most misleading saying in the English language. Faulty wiring? Misuse of heating equipment? Suspected arson? Not evocative of two people getting along in the least. You know what a house on fire has me picturing? Bazookas. Flamethrowers.