CHAPTER 9: ALONE
The room was still shrouded in a terrifying silence. Jeffrey thought about the crash and the events surrounding it. He couldn't take it anymore. Tears formed in his eyes and he didn't try to hold them back. Peggy and Bo looked at him full of compassion.
"I'm so sorry, Jeffrey," Peggy said compassionately, "but I can't help it. It has already happened…" Jeffrey looked up to her, trying to find the right words to express himself. He couldn't. Bo felt sorry for Jeffrey. The message must have dropped like a bomb onto him. He rose from his chair walked to the couch and sat down next to Jeffrey, putting his arm around Jeffrey's shoulders in an attempt to comfort him. Finally, through his sobbing, Jeffrey managed to say something. But he kept his head bowed to the ground.
"I know it's not your fault…but I just feel so…" Jeffrey ceased. Again he was unable to find the right word to say.
"You mean helpless." Peggy said, completing Jeffrey's sentence. Both Bo and Jeffrey know looked into her direction, stunned. How did she knew how he was feeling? Peggy, like she also knew what they were thinking answered the question before they asked it. "It's just like I felt after Joanna disappeared…We all felt like that. But life has to go on and we all find a way to deal with those things eventually." She paused a minute and used it to look Jeffrey straight in the eyes. "I'm sure you will to." A small smile appeared on her lips as if she was trying to cheer him up. It didn't work the way it should have.
"Can I have a minute on my own, please?" Jeffrey asked, still with a tear-stained face.
"Sure." Peggy answered. She rose from her chair and walked towards the door and ushered Bo to follow her. With a thud the door closed behind them. There was Jeffrey…on a stranger's couch in a house he didn't know to well either. Jeffrey dried his eyes using his sleeves. Why wasn't this nightmare still not over? If he was ever going to feel save again it had to end here and now. Then, all of a sudden, a brilliant, yet dangerous idea entered his mind. But after thinking a few minutes he decided it was the only way to do it. He produced his cellphone from a holder on his belt and started to dial a number…
********
After approximately 20 minutes, Jeffrey came out of the room. Bo and Peggy awaited him in the hallway. Jeffrey took Bo aside. The walked a considerable distance away from Peggy. Apparently, the chat they were about to have was private. Peggy saw that Jeffrey whispered something to Bo. Bo jumped up.
"WHAT? Are you crazy?" Jeffrey pushed his finger to his mouth while he made a hissing sound.
"Just trust me. Please!" Bo tapped each foot to the ground in turn while he tried to decide what to do. Since it could help two of his friends, he agreed. They thanked Peggy for her help and walked to the front door, greeting Robert on their way. 2 minutes later they were gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…