AN: I apologize for the brief hiatus. Things have been fairly busy, but in a good way. :) ... I will try and back track as soon as possible. Or take some time this summer to regroup. Until then, here are a handful of tags to a fairly controversial episode. Enjoy.
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When the fireplace was done offering all the comfort it could, he retreated down to his newly deemed, 'torture' chamber. He paces around the emptiness, sipping bourbon and letting his chest tighten and release…tighten and release…tighten and release…
Occasionally he'd play Kelly's piano rendition or stare relentlessly at the picture frame that no longer holds his reality. But only a clear indication of what he'd lost. And for a fleeting moment he contemplates smashing it into a thousand pieces on the floor. But after awhile the bourbon takes its usual numbing effect and he anticipates passing out at any moment.
It's then he finds himself mouthing words to no one and feels the tears start to sting in his eyes. But he's determined to put it behind him, so he stops playing the tape…he stops staring at what once was…and finishes the bottle in stride. Not long after that, he stumbles up the stairs and collapses on his couch…because some nights his empty bed is more than he can handle. So he lets the alcohol do its work and slowly drifts off to sleep, where maybe, just maybe, he'll dream of them…