By Argent
Rated PG
Part Two
*
She had fallen asleep.
The digital numbers on the VCR told her that. Hours had passed since she had closed her eyes and she was awake.
She stumbled up from the sofa.
Searched the refrigerator for something that would help ease the hunger in her. Ended up opening another beer.
She took a sip.
It poured through her, filled her. Left her numb to the world. She took another sip and walked back towards the sofa. Lighted a cigarette, inhaled.
Yesterday a month had passed. Today a month and a day had passed and the lies had been only lies. The truth had been the truth.
The blood spilled had been the truth.
She inhaled once again. Slowly she let the smoke escape her lungs. Took another sip of the beer. Felt revealed that the phone had stopped ringing.
She killed the cigarette.
Let her hand travel her stomach. Felt the lifeless skin. Remembered tightened skin and took another sip of her beer.
Death had been the truth.
Life had been the lie.
Some had told her that life would continue. That had been a lie. No one had told her that life wouldn't continue, no one had told her the truth.
He had told her that they could try again. That next time would be different. That he loved her, that the grief was his too.
She had left.
Secluded herself in her apartment. Only entering the world when she needed supplies. Beer and cigarettes sometimes perhaps a Snapple or two.
Sometimes when she looked at herself in the mirror she felt nauseated. Her skin was grey, her eyes blurry and red darken circle beneath them.
She had crashed the mirror.
In the beginning there had been knocks on her door. Now the telephone rang. Messages were left on her answering machine, the postman delivered letters.
She ignored them.
She turned on the television. Zapped through the channels. Found nothing of interest. Left the commercial channel on remote.
Watched as the lady with heavy make-up tried to sell the new ever-so-fantastic training machine. She took another sip of her beer.
The bottle was empty.
*
Once more she walked to the refrigerator. A bit of cheese lay deserted on one shelf. She looked around, found her keys left on the kitchen table.
She picked them up and walked to the door. Opened it, walked outside. Walked inside again quickly closing the door after her.
Peaked through the peephole.
He was asleep.
His clothes rumbled. His hair ruffled. His face tormented even in his sleep.
He was asleep.
Perhaps she could walk past him. Only to return before he awoke.
She opened the door again. Quietly. Walked on her toes past him. Was almost at the end of the stairs when she heard her name spoken from his lips.
"Abby."
A word, a word that trapped her, stilled her.
She heard him walk down the stairs. Felt him stop behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. Turned her around. Looked her in the eyes.
"You stink."
Two words, tow words that broke the tension. That brought a smile to her face, a little smile yet still a smile and he kissed her.
He kissed her and mumbled in her ear.
"I lost her, I don't want to lose you too."
She tried to smile again, succeeded. Held him close to her. Mumbled
words herself, let the grief of yesterday and a month wash over her again.
The End
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