Without a Sound
A/N: "Without a sound" belongs to SHeDaisy. It's rather depressing, sorry, but there are so many more sad songs than happy ones! Anyway, happy reading and please R&R.
I
pull the covers 'cross the bed
I tuck away the thoughts in my
head
And
I live behind closed doors
Knowing I will always love you more
He was actually leaving. Clarisse was too numb to show any emotion. Her expressionless face had made him angry and he'd turned on his heel, leaving the letter of resignation in front of her. Now, alone in her office again, she stared blankly at the piece of paper in lying on her desk, trying to process what had just happened.
And
I won't fall apart
I won't lie in pieces on the ground
I won't
fall apart
If we say it all without a sound
He'd entered her office without knocking as usual, and said they needed to talk. It was then that he'd spilled the whole story; he couldn't live like this anymore, all the uncertainty of their relationship, all the secrets. He'd met a girl, a few months back and they were going to tour Italy together. At last the tears began to fall, as the whole truth sunk in. He was leaving her for good.
If
we could last another day
Filled with nothing left to say
I
will know I've loved my best
Then maybe I could put my heart to
rest
Joseph didn't sleep that night either. He knew he should, he had a long trip in the morning, the image of her expressionless face imprinted in the screen of his mind. He realized now that she had been too shocked by the suddenness of his resignation. She never really thought he'd go, God, he never thought he'd go. Tears welled in his eyes as he was assaulted with a stream of happy memories from the years they'd shared together. And he was leaving? Was he crazy? Yes, he must be.
In the next room, Clarisse was remembering too. Remembering that they were through and tomorrow she would be left with nothing but those memories. No, sleep would not come easy.
And I won't fall apart
I won't lie in pieces on the ground
I won't fall apart
If we say it all without a sound
Twice that night, Clarisse got up and made her way towards the door, determined to beg him not to go, and twice she returned to bed.
In his room, Joseph lay awake, staring at the blurred ceiling, debating whether or not to run next door and apologize, and promise once again to never leave her side. Which would be worse, to stay here and live out his life keeping the most important part a secret, or to go and be free, never to see her again?
Both knew that saying good-bye would be the hardest thing they would ever do.
If
I could make the sun rise a little too slow
To keep from hearing
what I already knowThey stood on the front steps
the next morning watching the little blue car come up the driveway.
It came to a stop and a woman with long, dark hair jumped out of the
driver's seat and ran up the steps to hug him. Clarisse shifted a
little to look past them. It was time to go. He hugged Charlotte and
Mia, promising to keep in touch. Then he turned to Clarisse. He saw
the faint glimmer of tears in her blue eyes, eyes he suspected
mirrored his own. Surprising them both he pulled her into a tight
embrace.
"I'll miss you, my…" he stopped short, but after only a moment's hesitation finished his thought, "my friend."
Nodding into his shoulder, she released him and quietly excused herself, she had work to do. Standing at her open office window, she watched as Mia hugged Joseph one last time and he got into the car. As the car pulled away, he looked up, feeling her eyes on him. For just a moment, they could have taken it back, but foolish pride prevailed. He turned to watch the road, and she shut the window with a quiet click, the tears once again streaming silently down her face.
I
will live behind closed doors
Knowing I will always love you more
