Hold on for One more Day
Chapter 11
As a child, Jack hated the beach. The sand that some how found it's way onto every inch of his body, the cold Pacific Ocean, the large pieces of seaweed, it repulsed him. He listened to the waves crashing down against the shore and to the cars on the freeway. He lost track of how long he was sitting there and when he looked at his watch he kenw Kate would already be asleep.
I guess it's luck but it's the same
Hard luck you've been trying to tame
Maybe it's love but it's like you said
Love is like a role that we play.
The walk up the stairs took longer than usual and as much as he wanted to believe that they would fight for an hour, apologize and then be done with it, he knew that it wouldn't be that easy.
But I believe in you so much.
I could die from the words that you say.
The upstairs was silent and fear began to run through his veins as he ran to their bedroom. The drawers were empty and thrown across the floor and all of Kate's things were gone. He left their room and ran to Natalie's to find it in the same condition, drawers hanging out of the dressers. His back soon found the wall and slid down it until his knees were to his chest. He dropped his head into his hands and he began to cry. He hated the fact that he always let his emotions take over him so easily, but this time it was different. This time his entire family, his reason to live, walked out on him and everything seemed to fall apart.
And your chasing the ghost of a good thing
Haunting yourself as the real thing.
It's getting away from you again
While your chasing ghosts.
That night Jack went to the bar closest to his house and drank until all of his problems went away. He had to be escorted out of the bar by the owner when they wanted to close. He almost got lost on his way home and once he reached the front door he broke down again. He sat against the door until he finally found his keys and went inside. The radio was still playing and Jack shut it off before falling on the couch and into his drunken slumber.
As Kate turned her key in the door she gently pushed the door open. She found Jack still sleeping on the couch, day old stubble upon his fce. She sighed as she walked over to where he was and sat in front of him. "Jack, Jack!" He slowly work up, his head pounding as the light invaded his view. Kate was sitting beside him before she got up and walked into the kitchen to get him something to drink. "Here..." she whispered with a sad smile. After many failed attempts, he was finally able to sit up. He avoided eye contact with Kate at every cost until she placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled his eyes up to meet hers. "What are you doing to yourself?" Jack pulled his head away from her hands and returned to drinking his drink.
Silence filled the room and eventually Jack sighed. "You left without a word, you didn't even give me a chance. I had to drink away the pain, that's why I did it. That's what I'm doing to myself." He stood and walked past Kate, and into the kitchen.
"So instead of coming and looking for her you drink, you know what Jack, your more like your father everyday. You try and try to say taht your different yet each day your start doing the same things you said he did to you..." She was standing in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest. Jack had dropped the thing in his hand onto the counter and he stood, gripping the edge. The muscles of his back constricted in anger and Kate found herself taking a step back. The words she thought were coming never came but instead they both just stood in silence. She slowly alked forward placed her hand on his back. "Jack its just...I need to get away for a while. Natalie and I are going to stay with someone and I promise that we'll be back..." Jack had finally turned around and was looking Kate.
"Why do you always have to run Kate?" His voice was barely above a whisper and his face showed his defeat. Kate finally stepped away from Jack and walked over to her keys that she had abandoned on the table. "Jack, please. I just...I need time, alright? Just don't call me, for a few weeks at least..." Once again Jack looked away from her and ran his hand through his hair, that was slowly starting to grow longer.
"Your going to take her away from me? but she needs me. you know she can't fall asleep unless..." Kate shook her head and couldn't help but laugh. "That's just in your head. If she's tired, she'll go to sleep." Instantly Kate felt horrible and tried to correct herself but knew it was to late. "Jack...You know I don't mean it..." But Jack was standing no where near her. He had returned to sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. Kate walked towards the door and sighed as she closed it behind her.