Thanks for the reviews for the first chapter! It's always nice to know you're off to a good start :D
Well, here's the second - I hope you enjoy... A lot of work went into this; editing, proofing, editing, more proofing...So REALLY...I hope you enjoy this lol
REVIEW!
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It had all been so quick. Two weeks ago, she had been celebrating her anniversary with the man of her dreams. And now? ...It was over.
At night, when she tried to sleep, she would hear the forceful knock of the police echoing deep in her mind. She remembered the shrill scream elicited by her young daughter as she over heard the news and, the thing that effected her the most, were the nightmares that dominated her sleep; each time her heavy eyelids would close, she would see the car flipping into the distance, as her husband lay there alone, screaming in agony, his final moments pending. The mornings were no better. Each morning, for a split second, she would believe everything was okay. She would rotate in bed to greet her husband, and it was then she would be faced with the memory of what had occurred. Each morning she would feel the suffer the torture of her heart shattering again.
Since the sombre funeral of Alejandro, Maria had been left with endless tasks - though those around her attempted to alleviate her of all troubles, her 'To Do' list never seemed to be empty. As she sorted out food dishes (preparing to return them to their rightful owners), she heard the piercing 'ding' of the front door. She trod slowly; having to summon all her energy for the simplest of tasks.
As the door flew open, she found herself enveloped in the arms of her best friend Lucille. Everyday since they had heard the news, Lucille, her husband Jack and their young son Troy had been over to offer their support. Lucille, Jack, Maria and, Alejandro had all been friends since freshman year of college; Maria, Lucille and Jack had formed a strong friendship since high school, Alejandro being the latest edition the group. The four of them had shared so much together; they had been key players in each others wedding, and had been present at the births of each others' children. When Lucille and Jack had gotten the phone call from Maria, they had taken it equally as hard - reminiscing over all the times they had spent together.
"Oh sweetie, how are you?" Lucille asked, sympathy lacing her words as she noticed the fragile state Maria appeared to be in, due to her sudden weight loss.
Maria replied with nothing but a feeble shrug as she ushered them towards the kitchen. "You didn't need to bring anymore food, Lucy. Look." She indicated to the counter-tops which could no longer been seen, for they were completely covered with glass dishes.
"Well then you can freeze it. I don't want you to be under any stress, so I'm going to keep bringing you and Gabriella food until all this starts to settle down." Which won't be for now. She added silently.
Troy sat in patiently silence for a while, as his mother and father considerately assisted Maria in her bid to restore order to the kitchen. "Uhhh... Aunt Maria?" He asked cautiously , his tone quieter than usual, "Can I go see Gabriella?"
Silence fell. Since the funeral, Gabriella hadn't uttered a single word; it was as if it had finally hit her - had only just become real that her dad wasn't coming home.
"Maybe you should...-" Jack began tactfully, but was cut off by Maria.
"Why don't you take these cookies up to her." Her body swivelled gradually as she carefully handed Troy a long, silver platter holding a batch of sumptuous cookies. "Mrs. Martin bought them round... they're still fresh."
"Uhh...ok." Troy smiled slightly as he headed towards the stairs, cookies in hand.
Making sure Troy was out of earshot, Lucille looked worriedly at her friend, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Her hands rested on the sink as she sighed. Turning to answer her friend, "My husband's dead and my daughter won't speak to me. I've tried everything - everything - ,but I don't know how to make this right - I don't know how to say the right things. I just want to know what's she's feeling, and if Troy -if anyone- can get her to talk them I'm happy. I need her to talk; I can't lose them both." Her tears fell so frequently since the death, she no longer tried to stop them. Instead, she would allow them to stream silently while her heart ached, waiting patiently for the day when the endless flow of tears would stop - or at least...slow down.
Meanwhile, as Lucille held her friend as her tears fell, Troy stood at the door of Gabriella's room, knocking hesitantly. There was no answer, so, stretching his small arm forward, he turned the knob. As his head peered around the door he saw Gabriella curled delicately on her bed - a large, baby pink comforter encasing her small frame.
"Hey Gabi." He spoke tentatively, he watched her as she ignored him, timidly clutching her bear closer to her chest. His steps toward her bed were slow and deliberate - almost as if he were afraid that, at any moment, she would flip out on him. "You want a cookie? Mrs. Martin baked 'em. You know...Mrs. Martin from down the street. They're still warm and everything." He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of them as the aroma wafted up, tickling his senses, "I think she did quite a few different one's; I smell banana and peanut butter and there are some choc chip ones here too." His attempt to make the cookies sound appealing fell on deaf ears.
He perched himself hesitantly on her bed, just in front of her. "I really think you should have one. Remember how we used to say 'Everything gets better once you have a cookie'? Well, maybe...-''
"Maybe what!?" She snapped at him, sitting upright, her back against her flowery headboard. As much as he wished she wasn't yelling at him, he inwardly beamed at hearing her voice again.
"I'm sorry - I shouldn't have...I didn't mean that-"
"It can't make this better Troy!" Her voice was cold as she scolded him. "Don't you get that!? He's gone! My dad's gone and he's not coming back! And some stupid cookies are not gonna make that better! He's never coming home. He's never gonna put me on his knee and tell me a story again. Nothi-" She was unable to finish, as her body was wracked with tears. She had never been in so much pain - it wasn't like falling off her bike, cutting her finger or stubbing her toe; it was an indescribable, unrecognisable, unbearable pain. She wanted to yell in fury; tell him she hated him for leaving, and that she hoped he would never come back, but that urge was overrun by her need to see him again, to hug him, and tell him he shouldn't of played such a cruel joke. Except...she was too young to pinpoint her emotions, but she was too old to not get the concept of death - she knew it wasn't a joke. This was it. This was her life now. Her life without her dad. Without Alejandro Emilio Montez.
Troy reached over to the bedside cabinet, benevolently handing her a few tissues to wipe her tear-stained cheek. "I know. And I'm so sorry Gabriella. Maybe...we should think about all good things we did with your dad."
Her fist clenched around the tissues in her hand as her tears continued, "But it hurts Troy. It hurts so bad- it's like...I feel sick but there's no medicine this time."
He plucked more tissues out of the box and bought a hand to her face, gently wiping her left cheek - cleaning away the tears - before moving over to the right. "I know it does Gabi, but you have to try for me. When my Grandpa died, mom and dad did the same thing with me; and I know how hard it is - I do - but it'll get easier I promise. Just try it."
She squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to block out the pain, before shaking her head, "I can't remember Troy - I can't." The tears started again, making their way swiftly down her cheeks. "I'm scared." She whispered, "What if that's it? It's only been a few weeks and I don't remember - maybe in a few years I won't remember the way he would play with his hair if he was bored, or his laugh...or maybe even the way he sounded!"
"Hey, hey, hey. You do remember. Don't you see?" He placed a hand on her arm, attempting to comfort her. "The way he played with his hair - that's a memory Gabs. You just have to try real hard - forget about everything but your dad." He saw her frustration mounting, so decided to step in and start her off, "Like... don't you remember that day he was meant to take us camping, but then there was a fire down at the campsite so we couldn't go? And we were all disappointed so he set up a tent in the back yard - we couldn't go in the house for the entire weekend unless we wanted to pee coz he said he wanted it to be real authentic. You must remember Gabs."
She tried to calm her breathing and clear her mind, sifting through her internal memory archive, "And we both got really bad colds afterward?" She asked nervously, hoping she was able to remember.
"Yes! That was it. What happened when we got sick? Do you remember?"
She paused in thought, a small glimmer of hope igniting within her, "We had to stay up in my bed - our mom's kept bringing us soup and fever medicine, and your dad was freaking out coz you had floor seats to the Redhawks game and he didn't want you to miss it."
His arms wrapped tightly around her, Gabriella quite taken aback by his sudden outburst of emotion, "I told you could remember Gabi! I knew you could do it!"
******
Maria, as she helped Lucille dish up the nights' dinner, was startled as she felt as pair of thin arms snake around her waist. Tears stung her eyes upon the realisation that the arms she felt around her belonged to her daughter. "Oh Gabi!" She flung her arms around the small girl, lifting her off the ground, pressing loving kisses into her hair. "I've missed you baby." Something inside of her clicked; she realised Gabriella was yet to speak. "Gabi?" Silence. She spared a glance in Troy's direction, who just shrugged apologetically. Brushing a stray curl away from Gabriella's eyes she stared at her intently, "I get that you might not be ready to talk to me yet, but promise me you won't keep it all inside; at least talk to Troy. Promise me Gabriella." She appeared to be pleading with her. Not a sound was made. Instead, Gabriella hugged her mom once again in agreement.
Dinner was relatively subdued; nobody knowing what to say in the light of recent events. As the Bolton's prepared to leave, Gabriella desperately clung to Troy's left arm, pulling him closer to her. Each parent watched in intrigue as Gabriella whispered into his ear. "Umm..." Troy began, somewhat uncertain, uncomfortable with the situation he had found himself in. After receiving a gently prod from Gabriella, he recommenced. "Gabriella asked if I could stay over."
Silence fell like a thick sheet of snow. Lucille and Jack were more than happy for Troy to stay the night but, knowing Maria may not be up to caring for two ten year olds, left the question for her to answer.
"Troy is always welcome to stay." Was Maria's answer.
Lucille crossed the room, crouching down before Troy. "I want you to do whatever Aunt Maria says, okay Troy?"
"Yes Ma."
"When she tells you to sleep-"
"Yes Ma, I know." Cringing at the loving kisses he had been smothered in, Troy waved goodbye to his parents.
******
After numerous cups of soothing hot chocolate, Gabriella and Troy had been sent to bed. While speaking in whispers, wrapped in Gabriella's thick comforter, Troy asked, "Why did you stop speaking Gabi?" The question bought about a swift change in mood.
She shrugged, fiddling with the hem of her flowery yellow nightdress, the ease she had shown, just moments ago, disappearing.
"C'mon, you must know why." Troy continued to pry, desperate to know the reason for his friends' silence.
She looked up shyly through the wispy strands of brown hair, her chocolate brown eyes meeting his, that shone like sapphires. "It was easier." She confessed. "Everyone had been asking how I was and it wasn't making things easier, it was just getting worse; the last thing you want when you're upset is for someone to tell you that, 'It's okay' or 'Don't cry, he's in a better place', coz he's not in a better place." She said resolutely, her voice cracking at the statement. "He should be here with me and mom." Her eyes dropped for a moment, watching the moonlight seep over her bedding. "So I decided to stop answering. Simple as." A singular tear wet her soft cheek, her hand immediately flying up to catch it.
"It's okay to cry you know."
Her head flicked up in a small nod, "I know, but I don't wanna be like my mom." Seeing Troy's confusion, she continued, "At night, I hear her crying. She doesn't realise, but I do. She just cries - all night - and sometimes...I hear her asking why my dad had to leave - saying she doesn't understand. I don't want that to be me Troy; it hurts so much when I do cry, so I try not to."
"But sometimes, Gabs, you need cry - and it's okay when you do." To lighten the solemn tone, he added: "I won't tell anyone." and threw a wink in her direction, drawing a small giggle from her.
******
Troy stirred, feeling a continuous prod in the sole of his foot, "What? What's happened?" He asked groggily, as his eyes adjusted to the darkness that had swallowed Gabriella's room.
"Troy? Are you awake?" Gabriella asked, her voice barely audible.
Wiping the sleep out of his azure eyes, Troy, raising his head a little, brushed his long hair back, enabling him to see Gabriella. Chuckling slightly, he answered, "I am now... 'Sup?"
"I can't sleep." Her voice, as it travelled through the shadows, was young, timid, almost afraid. "Can you come down here?"
Forcefully pushing the comforter from his body, Troy crawled to the opposite side of the bed where Gabriella lay. "Better?" He asked, as he recovered himself, shielding his body from the draught.
She nodded, and gave him a small smile before shifting her form to face away from him. "G'night Troy."
As sleep, once again, took control of his body, Troy sunk beside Gabriella, his arm laying gently over her. "Night Gabi." His whisper floating into the cool night air.
Their relationship had always been special - one their school friends struggled to understand - but Gabriella had never found the need to explain, or defend their bond to anyone. Troy was her best friend and she his, and as they lay together, side by side, with his arm draped protectively over her, she knew that things would get better. They may never be perfect or great, but they would be okay, because when she felt alone, as though nobody in the world understood her, there would be Troy - who would always have his arm draped protectively over her.
