Tommy: "I still do mean it all." He said aloud. That's when it hit him. He got up, taking the picture with him, and took out a big black suitcase from inside his closet. He immediately started gathering all of his things and putting them in the suitcase. Meanwhile, he also had his cell phone to his ear, making many last-minute, and necessary phone calls. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, and that at first it would be difficult getting Jude to talk to him. But that didn't stop him.
At least once in someone's life, there's a time where they know that they have a lot of work to do. At least once, someone has a feeling that the road they have to walk is going to be a long winding road, with many twists and turns. But the reason you would walk the road that lies ahead of you, is because you know that in the end it all be worth it. All your struggles and pain, it will all be worth it once you reach the end of the street.
That's why Tommy Quincy is not going to hesitate when his long and winding road awaits him. He will do all it takes just to make things better between him and Jude, and to help her right now, when things are the toughest. Because he cares about Jude, and he doesn't want to lose a relationship that is so special to him.
With a few suitcases filled with his belongings, he walked over to Emily's bedroom, still making numerous arrangements by phone. He reached his niece's room and opened the door to see her playing with a few dolls on her bed. He was afraid of her having to get used to a new home, in a place she didn't recognize, after already losing her mother. She didn't talk much, only a few words at a time. She always wanted to play by herself, and most of the time she wanted to be alone. Emily was extremely sad after her mother, and Tommy's sister passed away, and so was he.
Every time he looked at the little girl he would be flooded with memories of his sister, Tina, and the many fun times they shared. At one point in his life, she was literally everything to him. And he finds it so hard to believe that she had passed away. That his sister whom he loved so much was gone now, and there was nothing anyone could do to bring her back. Sometimes he just feels like breaking down, but he knows he has to be strong for Emily. Seeing Tommy sad and weak would only make her more upset, and that was the opposite of what Tommy wanted right now. So for now, he tried not to think about her death too much, and just thought about cheering up this little girl in front of him who used to be full of life, but is now constantly sad and lonely.
As he hung up his cell phone he knocked lightly on the door, but she didn't look up. She continued to play with her dolls.
Tommy: "Hey Emily." He said in a soft voice.
Emily: "Hi Uncle Tommy." She said, as she laid her dolls down, finally looking up at him.
Tommy: "You're playing with your dolls?" He asked as he stepped closer to her, and she only nodded her head lightly. "Have you ever taken a trip to a different place?" She looked down at her hands then back up at him.
Emily: "No."
Tommy: "Do you want to?" He asked as her sat down on the edge of the bed.
Emily: "No." She shook her head. "I want mommy."
He couldn't look at her, as a lone tear fell from her eye. They had already explained to her that her mother wouldn't be coming back, but she didn't want to accept it.
Tommy: "I'm sorry, Em. I miss her too." He picked her up and sat her on his lap. "I know you miss your mom, but right now we have to be strong for her. She is watching you from way up in the sky, and she doesn't want to see you cry."
He wiped the tear from her cheek, and she seemed to understand, though it seemed a 4 year-old girl could never understand.
Emily: "Ok Uncle Tommy. No more cry."
Tommy: "That's my girl." He kissed her forehead. He was starting to think that maybe it would be easier for her to move, instead of having constant reminders of her mother's death. "Do you want to take a trip with me?"
Emily: "Trip?" She questioned.
Tommy: "Yeah. A trip, to where I used to live."
Emily: "Uncle Tommy live here."
Tommy: "I live here now, but before I came here I had a house somewhere else."
Emily: "We go to Uncle Tommy's house?"
Tommy: "Only if you want to, Em." He placed a strand of curly hair that was in front of her face, behind her ear.
Emily: "I want trip." She smiled, and he smiled with her.
Tommy: "You want to go on the trip?" He asked once more, and she simply nodded her head in agreement. "Ok. Help me get your things in your suitcase." He stood up and took a suitcase out of her closet. He carefully placed the small clothing in the bags, and got all of the last minute things together before his big trip.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Jude stared down at the charm bracelet Tommy had given her, and remembered how he had explained what each charm meant, and how happy it made her. He told her the bracelet was a promise to her. He broke his promise, just like he broke my heart. She thought to herself. But she couldn't figure out how he had caused her pain, yet she still wanted him to be back with her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ring of her cell phone. She took it out of her pocket and the Caller ID read "Private." She was afraid of who might be on the other line, so she decided not to pick it up. She thought for a moment about changing her cell phone number, but that didn't seem important to her. It was very easy to just hit the "Ignore" button when an unwanted call came in, so that was what she was going to do. She picked up her guitar, and her fingers gently danced over the strings, making the horrible silence of the room be filled with beautiful music.
She suddenly felt tired, and decided to stop her guitar playing, laying it on the ground against a chair. She took out her iPod instead, in hopes of getting lost in the only thing that hasn't left her in her life: Music. She pressed the button a few times, and put the volume up as the music filled her ears. A classic: "The Long and Winding Road," by The Beatles.
The long and winding road
that leads to your door
will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
that the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
and many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
the many ways I've tried
But still they lead me back
to the long winding road
You left me standing here
a long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
to the long winding road
You left me standing here
a long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
