Lilac breezes

The next morning brought unexpected joys and some familiar pains for Kit as he opened his eyes for the first time in six years outside of a cell.

Rubbing his thick hair, he sat up in a queen sized bed, instead of a stained thin mattress that smelled of a mixture of bleach and urine.

The sun shone through real glass that were void of bars, and doorknobs had locks on the inside, instead of caged windows and bolts that slammed shut with an echo that sent chills up his spine.

Still finding it all hard to believe that he was actually free, he felt himself walking on eggshells, jumping at the slightest noise, ready to defend himself from god knows what.

He owed his early release to the tireless efforts of his sister, award winning journalist Lana Walker, who filed appeal after appeal on Kit's behalf, before going to the media with proof of the horrendous conditions found in Briarcliff Manor.

Her scathing interview, along with proof of a coerced confession by a couple of dirty cops, gave the authorities reason to reopen his case.

The results of their findings along with the crime in question remained something that Kit, to this day, had trouble speaking about.

After finding Lana's letter that was taped to the fridge, Kit settled down at the kitchen table with a glass of orange juice from the fully stocked pantry.

Dear baby brother,

I apologize for not being able to be there for you on your triumphant first day of freedom.

I have taken it upon myself to make your adjustment to the outside world a little easier.

You will find plenty of groceries to get your through what I assume to be a month, if you're careful.

I've paid the utilities six months in advance, and by the end of the week I've made arrangements for a used pick up truck to be dropped off with a full tank of gas.

(It's paid in full, just consider it an early birthday present)

In the bedroom dresser drawer you will find a cell phone, five hundred in cash, and a checkbook with an additional thousand in your name in care of Northeast Bank Savings and Loan, located on Main Street in town.

I've set up an interview at the Thomaston Mills factory for a janitor's position at the end of the month, the details are with the cash.

I know it's not much, but it should help to make ends meet till something better comes along.

If there is a problem please let me know and I'll check on some of the other connections I have in town.

Kit, please take this month to relax, and if possible start to recover from the hell we both know you've been through.

I know you refuse to see a psychiatrist, lord knows I don't blame you, but I hate to see you go through this alone.

Go easy on yourself, I can't imagine anyone adjusting quickly from such a traumatic time, but please know this, I am always here for you.

I'm just a phone call away, or if need be, a five hour plane ride. Remember this, you are not alone in this world, no matter how it may feel.

After Wendy recovers from her surgery I promise to visit, until then please keep in touch at least twice a week, you now how I worry.

Again I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person, I know you of all people understand.

All my love,

Lana

It wasn't until he finished the letter that he noticed the paper shaking, it was his hands, a nervous tick he picked up during his stay at the asylum that would happen anytime he felt overwhelmed.

Folding the letter neatly, he placed it in the drawer with the cash and checkbook, while taking out his new cell phone.

It was pretty self explanatory, but it was clear that much had changed over the years, something he hoped wouldn't be a problem when he stepped out into the world.

Thinking of the outside world, and the mysteries it held, he made his way over to the window to check to see if Violet was home.

The driveway was empty, the house was quiet, but it wasn't long before the memory of last night came flooding through.

He felt like a voyeur, he knew that he had violated her privacy, and felt horrible for it.

It wasn't a stretch to realize that she had no idea he was moving in.

Jumping in the shower he sighed as actual hot water slid down his skin, instead of the usual cold or at best lukewarm temperature that he was used to, this experience alone was heaven.

Pressing his forehead to the cool blue tile he exhaled slowly thinking back to the night before.

To the girl he knew just as Violet, hair of honey gold, eyes like aged whiskey, skin like cream glistening in a spring thunderstorm.

He envied the rain, to have the chance to grace her body, to worship at such an exquisite sight.

Being trapped for so long without the affections of such privileges, Kit had learned to never taken something that special for granted ever again.

He sighed as the searing heat pelting down upon him working hard to relax his aching muscles.

He wondered if he would ever truly feel safe again, if the memories of those years would ever disappear from his mind.

Flashes of her, of his young wife wormed their way suddenly, like always, painfully piercing his faltering heart.

Grabbing a towel, feeling his breath dangerously accelerate into a familiar panic, he found himself, wet, sitting on the lip of the tub, shivering, knowing there was only one way to escape the horror of it all, but today wouldn't be that day.

Searching in his bag he found a few old clothes, a pair of jeans, a white tee shirt and flannel button up shirt.

After changing, he gazed into the mirror, tilting his head at his reflection, trying to feel like a normal man, and not the monster that they had believed he was for all those years.

He knew it wasn't the best of clothes, but it was better than the asylum uniform, his sneakers were another matter.

His only pair the laceless ones issued the day he went in, worn, frayed, he realized that the sooner he got himself to a store the better if he had a chance of fitting in, no matter how long that would be for.

He spent the rest of the day cleaning, ridding the house of the sheets that covered most everything.

Finding himself exhausted he slept for hours on the couch, unaware just how much yesterday had taken its toll.

It was well after six when he heard her voice outside, walking back and for between the evergreens between their houses.

Needing to air out the house, he had opened most of the windows inviting her voice in.

Floating in on a breeze of pine and lilac, skimming across his skin like feathers, it was heavenly, until he made out what she was saying.

"Gabe, I told you I paid the bills on time, I promise nothing will be late, there's no reason to yell, it was so long ago, it hasn't happened since, I think you're overreacting."

Moving so he could see her, his heart clenched, she was nervously raking her hand through her silky hair pacing back and forth visibly upset.

Holding the phone away from her ear, Kit could hear the man on the other end screaming, his voice deep, loud, threatening, his tone full of hatred.

"O-Okay … you're right… I'm sorry, please just stop yelling. I know I embarrassed you, I realize how much the bank charged us for the bounced checks…. I understand, I'm sorry, I know how hard you work, I would never - "

Resting her back against the bark of a tree facing Kit, she sighed as her husband continued on, leaving her no choice but to let him continue to scold her.

The despair in her eyes, the feeling of being trapped, cornered, it was something that he could more than identify with.

He remembered Lana telling him of this man, this husband, that to the rest of the world was Mr. Personality, the life of the party, but she witnessed something much darker.

Lana was no fool, being a journalist her natural curiosity for the truth caused her to look a little deeper into the couple from across the way.

More than once she witnessed his tyrants, throwing furniture, smashing things around the house, overpowering her to the point where she would cower, giving into whatever it took to calm him down, taking fault when there was none to bear.

In just the short time that Lana was in town on business, or to help set Kit up, she noticed articles in the local paper, glowing stories of awards given for his selfless contribution to the community through his business dealings.

Pictures of him shaking hands with the police chief, and local town officials, it was clear he had connections, people that would protect him, trust him in any situation, believing his word over any other, especially that of seemingly quiet housewife that no one knew much about.

Kit recalled phone calls, Lana mentioning this girl, sad, alone, trapped in her own hell of sorts.

His dark eyes watched her, her efforts to calm him falling to the wayside as he continued to berate her.

"Wait… how is the hunting going? Get anything yet - "

Trying to change the subject was useless as he moved onto another subject to rip her apart over.

"Y-yes… okay, I'm sorry, you're right. I'll see you sometime next week. Bye - "

Sighing she lowered her cell, as tears threatened to spill over her long lashes that flickered in the edge the darkening sky.

He was mesmerized, unable to look away, melting in her slightest move, it was then that her eyes lifted up to his window.

Caught spying on her, there was nothing he could do but raise his hand pathetically, waving as if this was completely natural for him to be watching her private conversation.

His body tensed as her eyes widened, without hesitation she made her way over to the house causing him to stumbled backwards, working hard to think of an excuse of why he was staring as he went to the back door where she was waiting.

Expecting her to be furious for his intrusion, he was met with a warm smile, bright eyes that seemed almost relieved to see him there.

"Hello… my name is Violet, I live next door, I didn't realize anyone had bought this house, it's been empty for years."

Kit fumbled to find the right words, his hands shaking behind his back, his shy expression finding it almost hard to look her in the eyes.

"Hey, sorry… this is… well was, my grandmother's house."

Nodding, looking past him noting that the sheets were gone, she grinned charming him almost instantly with her forward personality.

"So… do you have a name?"

In his mind he quickly rattled off his patient ID number as he had a million times automatically, 451638.

After a few seconds of silence he raised a shaky hand to her lowly speaking as if it was odd for him.

"Sorry… I'm Kit."

Keeping his last name to himself, worried that somehow it would ring a bell from the recent story his sister had done about Briarcliff, he hoped she wouldn't ask.

He was unaware of her reaction, an almost immediate calmness that took over her entire body at just the gentle, sweet manner in which he spoke to her.

"So, are you from here? Do you have family - "

Quickly Kit shook his head, "No, I don't know a soul actually."

Tilting her head, giving him a slight grin that lifted his heart to places unknown, she laughed lightly, sweetly.

"Well that's not exactly true anymore, you know me."

His gaze fell to his feet nervously, stunned by her kindness, it was something so foreign to him, so beautifully odd.

Weighing the option of yet another night alone, she took a minute to look him over, she knew what to fear, the guise that a bad man hid behind, there wasn't a sign of danger or cruelness there.

In fact it was just the opposite, he seemed broken, nervous, shy to the point where she almost wondered if there was something in his past, such as hers, that was haunting him.

Gazing back at her house, she hesitated briefly, "Look, I'm making Lasagna tonight, I'm kinda sick of take out... I'm not the greatest cook, but I'm thinking since you just moved in today you don't have much food, you're welcome to join me if you want. I can fill you in on this exciting new town you've moved into. "

An awkward laughter fell from her lips that she immediately regretted, Gabe always told her that she talked too much, that her laugh was grating, like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Kit was wrapped up in his own insecurities, blown away by her invitation, also feeling guilty that she thought he moved in today, that she was alone in her moment in the rain.

"Sure… I'd really like that."

Moving to hid the piles of food in the cabinets, he gave her a small smile, that in of itself was enough to light up her lonely world like the sun.

Backing way, she motioned towards her house.

"Well I better get to it then, I'll see you around eight?"

Nodding, Kit watched in awe as she turned to walk away, her bare feet sinking in the grass, the slight scent of lilacs drifting behind her in her wake.

Closing the door he braced his back against the wall, looking down at his hands, worrying that he wouldn't be able to hide them, or that somehow it would come to her, exactly who he was, where he had been all these years, and what he had been accused of.

Just as he was beginning to doubt himself, thinking that he should back out, that it was just too much for him to handle, his cell rang.

"Kit?"

"Lana, hi, it's so good to hear your voice, and of course your timing is perfect as usual."

"Wait what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay? Do you need me to - "

Laughing he interrupted his protective big sister, "No, I'm fine, it's nothing like that, it just… well… something kind of … unexpected happened and I'm not sure if I should - "

"What? Tell me!"

"Lana, really I'm okay, it's that girl you told me about, the girl from the house next door."

A long pause followed, his sister knew exactly what was going on.

"You met Violet."

His legs gave out at the just the sound of her name as he fell into the kitchen chair running his hand through his chestnut hair.

"She asked me over for dinner, Lana … I-I, just don't know, I mean I know she's just being polite, welcoming me to the neighborhood and all - "

"Kit listen to me, she's in a bad situation, her husband, he's dangerous, if he found you there - "

"I think he's away, on some hunting trip, I don't think - "

"Listen baby brother, I'm just concerned, she's married Kit, this isn't exactly the best time to be … "

Hold on, Wendy is listening, she wants to talk to you.

"Kit?"

"Hi Wendy, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, now you listen to me, I heard all about this girl, you've been in that hell hole for years sweetie, go, have some fun, enjoy yourself. She sounds like she needs a friend, so do you. Just be careful."

Kit could hear a serious discussion breaking out between the couple as his sister made several arguments against her advice, but his mind was already made up. He was going.

"Listen Lana, I promise to call tomorrow, try not to worry, and thank you… for everything. Take care of our girl. "

Hanging up before she could talk him out of it, Kit left the phone on the table before walking over to the a large mirror over the fireplace.

Gazing at his reflection he practiced smiling, wondering if she could see the years of torture ingrained across his face.

One thing he knew he had to go, he had to see this Violet, this beautiful girl who stepped out of nowhere into a world that up till now, had only brought him pain.

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Chelsea, Dinah, Gwenyth, and parmigiolate, thank you so much for you sweet and fast reviews, so happy you like this pairing, I just love Kit :)