Chapter 38 Alone Again

The Locker Room was dark in the corner he sat in. The Trainers were done checking out his balking back, and now he just wanted to rest before warm ups. He looked down at his wrist and the hand woven hemp bracelet that Shea had given to him, and he wore except when he played basketball. His hand rubbed the back of his neck that bore his jersey number, thirteen, something he had gotten when he was dating some girl named Jessalyn Windsor. Finally he looked down at a faded, folded, and battered picture.

It was Keith almost four years ago when they won the State Championship Game when he was a junior in high school. He was standing there soaked and smiling, proud of winning the game. At his arm was a brunette cheerleader, she was also smiling, and on her cheek was a blue R for Ravens. He looked at the picture, and folded it back up.

(Song Lyrics in Italics)

Alone again, alone again
I'm in the twilight zone again
Another lonely star crossed night
Shivered to the bone again

They never stay, they always leave
I wear my heart upon my sleeve
I won't say what I don't believe
I turn another heart to stone again

Alone again
Can't stop the rain
Alone again
Put out the flame

Across the country in New Haven, Connecticut, as a number of townies were getting ready for the partying, guys heading to watch the final four match up with North Carolina, or them just preparing for the UCONN Women's Basketball Team's latest game the next day, was a lone figure. She sat on her bed; her fingernails polished black, her eyes lined with black, and her lips black. Her brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail mainly now for ease and nothing to do with her vampire-like image. As the low light consumed her like a ravenous beast, her dark clothes camouflaged her in the still being birthed night.

She flipped through the pages of a brand new scrapbook. Each picture would bring back memories, and sometimes surface old and deep scars. Finally she stopped at one picture. She looked deeply at it.

It was almost four years ago that picture was taken. It was a picture of a sweaty basketball player and an excited cheerleader. He mouth became thin and the slight smile became flat. Her hazel eyes became distant.

Izzy barely remembered that day, well, most days. It was a good day, it was when her and Keith seemed at their peak. She shook her head and walked over to the window.

Betrayed again, unmade again
Out of the sun, into the shade again
The silent room, the unsung tune
All the old games must be played again

And all the words we could not say
And all the nights and all the days
We quarreled in the same old ways
And all the same mistakes were made again

Alone again
Despair and Pain
Alone again
Can't break the chain

Keith stood up from his locker and looked at the mirror that was in it. He sighed and nodded. It was time to play the game. He walked over to where his teammates lined up and took his place in line. They walked down the tunnel towards the arena and the crowds.

The echoes of the crowd filled his ears. He barely could hear his own thoughts over everything that was going on. That was when his name was called and he stepped out of the tunnel and into the bright lights and the cheers of the fans. Lost were all thoughts of what was before and the compulsion to look up at the moon and wonder about that brunette cheerleader from almost four years ago.

Alone again, alone again
To sit beside the silent phone again
And all the words we spoke were knifes
And so I'm here on my own again

The days are dark and drowned in tears
I know the game the rules are clear
I walk alone through all my years
I know you never will come home again

Alone again
Shot through the heart
Alone again
Tear me apart..

In New Haven, Izzy, the new Angel of the Night stood before her apartment's open window. The stars had been erased by the light pollution of New Haven. But the one primeval guardian of the night was in clear view. She looked up, all gothed-out and in sullen darkness and looked at the slivery disk that filled her hazel vision.

The cold winds of the late winter night blew against her but she kept staring. Why wouldn't she be able to let ago?