shake the dust // JENLISA

Chapter 1

"Lisa." The front door to her office slid open, revealing Jisoo's tired face. "I just finished with the last of the boxes. Are you heading out now?"

Lisa glanced over her shoulder, blinking. Her eyeballs were almost completely dry. "Staying late," she answered automatically. Before Jisoo could give her sad eyes, she turned back to the screen and continued polishing the work schedule she had started an hour earlier-for only the third month from the present one.

"Lisa..." Jisoo sighed. "Trouble at home again?"

Exhaustion overcame Lisa, but she shrugged and stared pointedly at the screen. Not like her eyeballs could get any dryer, right? "Nah. Just don't feel like going home. You can though. Don't wait for me."

The aura of reluctance was strong, practically pouring out of Jisoo, but this was the same old fight. She left it, saying a quiet goodbye, and shut the door behind her. When she shut the store doors, Lisa exhaled so harshly that her shoulders sagged. Yeah, she just felt like working late.

Who didn't?

*

The night was unusually cold, making Lisa harshly curse herself for forgetting her jacket at work. Not only did she work into the early hours of the morning, but now she was cold and starving. Her house wasn't all that welcoming either when she stepped inside-white picket fence, three dogs outside, a pool and four big bedrooms. The lights were off. There was a faint smell of spaghetti in the air, so Lisa followed it into the kitchen. As expected, Jennie hadn't made any for her. The oven and microwave were empty. The fridge lacked any leftovers.

Slamming the fridge door with a sigh, Lisa grabbed some cheese and bread. She hurriedly made a sandwich, swallowed it down with a can of beer, and then made her way warily down the hallway to the bedroom. Inside Jennie slept, soundly and peacefully. She was sprawled out over the centre of the bed, hair spilling over Lisa's pillow. Instead of making Lisa smile, like it used to, it made her sigh in irritation. She had a quick shower, dressed for bed and then climbed in on her side. She lightly pushed Jennie away to her own side, and then turned her back to her wife, closed her eyes and fell into a cold, restless sleep.

Nothing new there.

*

The next morning Lisa woke late. Her alarm had gone off, but clearly she had slept right through it. Swearing, she jumped out of bed and into a hurried shower. When she was done she clambered into the kitchen for a quick bite, only to find Jennie at the stove, flipping pancakes. Lisa paused.

"Don't you have work today?" she found herself blurting.

Jennie glanced her way. "Morning to you too, Lisa."

Lisa sighed. "Sorry. Morning. Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, Lisa. Just because I decided to spend the morning at home, it doesn't mean the world is ending. It's not like you make much of an effort either."

Lisa narrowed her eyes. She went over to the fridge to grab a cold bottle of water, and drank from it slowly. Her chest was buzzing with anger, hot and tight. She hated it. And looking at Jennie's small form, the hard line of her shoulders, the stiffness in her spine, Lisa hated her too sometimes.

"Are you making any of that for me?" she bit out, intending the comment to hurt or insult. It did.

"Well, you were still in bed this time. Will you even stay for breakfast?" Her tone was clipped, formal. It made Lisa's anger burn brighter.

Morning sunlight burst in through the open curtains, framing Jennie's round face. Her skin was pale, but Lisa knew how warm and soft it was. Her heart ached. It ached that she thought badly of Jennie, that sometimes she simply wanted to leave. It ached for the loss of a beautiful relationship, one they had built from ruins, all the way into a shining, strong fortress. Now all their efforts were for naught. They could barely stand each other anymore. Married for 8 years, but it felt like the last year had been a prison sentence.