Left Behind
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This is a work of fiction based on the North American reboot of Being Human. All characters, etc. are the property of their copyright holders, no infringement intended.
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He still looks terrible from his accident, she noted, taking in his haggard appearance. "Josh, are you sure you're okay?"
"Hmm… oh, yeah. F-fine. Fine, I'm fine." He said, his last word drifting off, nodding, as if to convince himself. His physical wounds may be healing, but the ones under the surface were seemingly still raw.
"Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee, tea, water?" The waitress asked, far more jovially than was necessary.
"Coffee is fine for me. Josh?" He merely nodded. "Two coffees. Thanks." They sat in silence until the waitress returned. She couldn't blame him for being distracted, from what she gathered, he was attacked by some sort of animal… and he was the lucky one, he was the only survivor. She grabbed his hand.
"I'm so happy you're okay." She paused, trying to maintain her composure. "I can't help thinking that you could've died." He squeezed her hand.
"I'm right here, Em. I'm fine." He tried to contort his face into something that looked encouraging. "I mean, I could be better," he added with a chuckle. She wagered a smile, though she looked on the verge of saying something. "Are you okay, little sister?" She would never tell him, but she secretly loved when he called her that, it made her feel secure.
"Yeah. I was just thinking." Visibly stricken, she paused, started, and paused again, shaking her head. "I have to tell you… I never would've forgiven myself if I didn't and you…" She trailed off, not wanting to entertain the idea of her brother's death again. "I've fallen in love. With another woman." She couldn't help smiling, the relief of finally telling someone was overwhelming.
Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that. He looked up, processing it. "You're gay." It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway. His expression was slightly pained. "Oh."
She tried not to let herself think that her brother, her own flesh and blood, might have a problem with her sexuality, she never pegged him as a homophobic. "I'm going to go to the bathroom." She got up, attempting to cover up any trace of sadness. "We're okay, aren't we?" She asked, almost child-like. Again, he did his best to smile encouragingly, trying - and failing - to hide the mysterious pain coursing through his body.
Moments later, she returned to the table. Empty. Maybe he went to the bathroom. Sipping her coffee, she waited for his return. Ten minutes later, she stopped the waitress. "Did you see where my brother went?" she asked, motioning to the empty seat across from her. "I went to the bathroom and he was gone when I returned."
"He stumbled out a few minutes ago, poor thing looked sick," she said, smiling sympathetically. "The coffee is on the house," she added, sensing that something was wrong.
"Thank you," Emily said, leaving a generous tip. She couldn't help feeling upset and worried, in addition to nearly every other emotion possible. She rose quickly and exited the small diner. Instinctively, she reached for her cell phone and tried to reach him, but there was no answer. Walking to the parking lot, she noticed that his car was still in the parking lot. She couldn't decide if that was promising or not. He couldn't have gone too far, but she couldn't drive away the thought that he left because of her.
Over an hour later, after sitting in her car waiting for some sign of her brother, she left. Not knowing where he was left her on edge, but if he wanted to be found, he would have shown himself by now. On the way home, she added a few more voicemails to the collection she'd left in the hour she spent waiting for him.