LIFE OR DEATH
Part 13: Refuge
Author's Note: Hey, y'all! Sorry that it took so long to get this part written and posted. I went to Iowa and Nebraska for the weekend, and I haven't felt up to writing. But now, I'm inspired. ( So, I hope y'all enjoy this next part. Toodles! ~~ Samantha
Author's Note 2: I'm really sorry that it took so long to get this posted! *smiles sheepishly* I just got this major case of writer's block. Ya know, they should really make pills for those. Anyways, here are some extra notes. The song below is called "One Flight Down," which is sung by Norah Jones. It's a really beautiful song. I suggest y'all listen to it. Another one is, that the next chapter is going to be the crossover. Now, can you guys guess what show it's going to be? Here's a hint: look at the last two words of the fic. Still stumped? Then you're just going to have to wait until next chapter to find out. That one will definitely take me a long time to write, because I seem to be swamped with homework lately, and I have to find a job somewhere, so my free time will pretty much be reduced to nothing. Plus, the chapters are getting longer. Anywho, read and enjoy! Toodles ~~ Samantha
Parker sat and listened to Jarod and Angelo's hushed conversation. She could pick out parts of the plans to get out, but her mind soon drifted. She still didn't understand why Jarod took her with him. She was blind. Her blindness equaled almost certain recapture. She would rather he got out successfully than them both being taken back.
She felt a gentle nudge to her shoulder, bringing her from her reflective state. She could feel Jarod's hand take hers as he whispered, "We're ready. C'mon, Parker." She nodded, even though she really didn't want to go. She knew better; however, than to voice that sentiment. Jarod was risking his life for her, and all she could do was pout? Where was that Parker spirit? Inhaling deeply, she held tight to Jarod's hand while following him, steeling her resolve. Not being able to see where they were going, or to look out for trouble, was very frightening to her. But, she wasn't going to let Jarod or Angelo see that fear. So, she froze the only spot in her that had any warmth left: her heart.
The trek was long, and sometimes boring. Every once in awhile, after a shush from either Jarod or Angelo, they would stop and wait for several minutes on end. Then they would proceed; their pace quickening slightly.
One horrifying moment, Parker lost her grip of Jarod's hand. She sat back and looked back and forth, even though it was a useless movement. Time seemed to stop as all other sounds vanished, other than her breathing. It seemed very loud in her mind. The Miss Parker/Ice Queen façade melted for that moment. Then, she felt Jarod's hand grasping hers once more, and time resumed its normal flow.
They continued their long and treacherous trek in silence; only whispering when the occasion called for it. After what seemed like an eternity, Angelo was hugging Parker, and he and Jarod said a few words before she felt cool air blow in her face. Then she knew she was on the outside.
Wanting to weep for joy, she barely restrained herself. They still weren't out of danger yet. She and Jarod had to get out of Blue Cove, even out of Delaware, before they could even begin to dream of safety. And even then, they would always be looking over their shoulders. -Well, - Parker thought, -Jarod will be looking over his shoulder. I'm not going to be doing much looking in the near future. -
She felt Jarod lead her to a car. How he had arranged for that to be there, Parker had no clue. But it was there. When she sat down on the soft upholstery, she sighed and slouched. She heard Jarod get in and shut his door, then start the car. She turned her head towards the window and pretended like she could see the Centre as they drove off. Jarod wasn't the only one who was good at pretending. Slowly, after she sensed that they were far from the Centre, Parker drifted off into the land of dreams.
----------
Jarod watched the sleeping beauty in the seat next to him. She had been withdrawn, almost cold, when he'd found her earlier. But he guessed that was to be expected. He quickly simmed what she was going through, and decided that he would feel the same way, if it were him. He knew that the road ahead of them would be long, and hard.
He exhaled and then turned the radio on soft. He then craned his neck and settled in the seat. It was going to be a long drive.
----------
Parker opened her eyes. The same usual blackness greeted her like a slap in the face. She still wasn't used to being blind, but she was getting there. She could hear the radio playing softly. She blinked a couple of times before turning her head to where the window would be again.
Jarod noticed her wake up, but he said nothing. He saw her turn her head and looked out the window with her unseeing eyes. Without paying much attention to what he was doing, he let out a sigh.
"What?" Parker asked somewhat sharply. "What's the problem?" Jarod looked at her, even though he knew she couldn't see his movement.
"Nothing's the problem, Parker. I was just wondering why you were so silent." He hoped this would appease her. Unfortunately, she was out looking for an argument.
"I'm silent because there's nothing to say, Wonder Boy," she spat out. "So get off my back."
"There's nothing to say? There's always something to say with you. Nothing like, 'Thank you for getting me out of hell itself'? Like, 'Can we get back to what happened right before we were captured'? Anything like that?" She turned her head to him and shot him a vacant stare.
"No. Nothing of the sort. Why would you think that?" Her face was set; firm lines where soft curves had been while she'd slept. Jarod scoffed.
"I don't know about you, but I felt *something* in that cabin. And I can't deny it, either. Maybe you can. But I can't. What's it like to be Cleopatra, queen of denial?" he asked with barbs in his voice. Ice Queen or not, those words hit hard. She clenched her jaw before turning her head away. She was silent.
But Jarod was still irate. He murmured, "What happened to your gutsy, balls- to-the-wall attitude, huh? Why can't you come back with something on that one? Maybe it's because you know I'm right. Maybe it's because you felt something too." He paused for a few moments before whispering, "Maybe it's because you're scared."
"Don't you tell me what I am, and what I am not!" she exploded. "You have no idea what I am! Don't even try to sim it, either! Yes, you may have saved my life! And yes, we may have kissed that day in the cabin! But I'm not the same person I'm used to be! Being blind tends to do that to a person!"
Letting out a soft growl, Jarod turned the radio up and swerved to pass a person. Parker grabbed ahold of the door handle to avoid from being whipped around in the seat. She instantly regretted what she'd said to him, but it was done. She chose to remain silent, and she turned her head to the window again.
Jarod brought a hand to his mouth as he worked to keep from exploding, himself. Doing what he was doing wasn't going to help Parker any. Deciding not to say anything more, the two fell into an uncomfortable silence.
----------
"Jarod," Parker spoke up after a long time, "where are we going?" A few moments earlier, she had realized that she didn't know their destination. She gazed blankly at the floor while waiting for his answer.
"We're going to Texas. When the blizzard died down in Montana, Broots and Syd went back to the cabin, only to find lots of blood, and no us. So, they never went back to the Centre. They practically disappeared. Broots relocated to Texas, with Debbie. We're going to stay with them for awhile until we can establish the identities we're going to use. " Jarod fell silent as he kept his eyes on the road.
Parker processed this information that she had just received. She really didn't know if she was excited to see Broots or not. She also didn't want Debbie to see her like she was: blind and weak. Sighing, she lightly rubbed her cheek with a hand as she let the gentle sound of the car's motor bring a wave of drowsiness over her once again.
Jarod watched in his peripheral vision as Parker fell asleep. He sighed himself as he ran his left hand through his hair, then rested his head on that hand. He continued to steer with his right hand, but he wasn't really paying too close attention to the road. Things had been so good, so perfect. Then the Centre had found them. How, he'd had no idea. He even wondered how the Sweepers had been able to make it to the cabin despite the blizzard that had been raging at the time.
He'd been careless. He let his steadily growing attraction for his huntress leave him vulnerable. For a moment, he thought that there was no greater crime than that. Then, he realized that it wasn't as terrible as he was making it out to be. They got away. That was all that mattered. Right now, Parker needed support. He could see that she whipped out the Ice Queen persona quicker than she could say "Lab Rat." He desperately wanted her to be the soft-spoken, fun-loving woman she'd been for those few moments before their capture. So, he decided to treat her like a trusted friend, not an enemy. She needed someone to care for here, whether or not she wanted it. And Jarod would be the one providing that care.
----------
"Jarod! Miss Parker!" Broots cried out as he met them in his driveway. His heart was burgeoning with joy at the sight of them. He had feared them lost before Sydney had made contact with him.
"Get your hands off me, Wonder Boy!" Parker snapped, causing Broots to look more closely. "I can do it myself!" Broots watched as Jarod removed his hand from her arm, and she straightened up. Staring blankly, she took a first step, then another. She was doing fine until her foot stumbled upon a rock on the driveway. She went down, putting out her hands to break her fall. Jarod rushed and grabbed ahold of the backs of her arms, but her knees still hit the pavement. She grimaced in pain and closed her eyes. He gently helped her to her feet, and kept his hands on her arms. This time, she voiced no complaints.
With a questioning look on his face, Broots asked, "What's the problem, Jarod?" The two made their way closer, and he could see that Parker still had her eyes closed. Jarod established eye contact before quickly shaking his head. Broots then moved his gaze back towards Parker's face and saw her open her eyes. She looked around, but never focused on one particular object. His heart sank. He knew then that she was blind. Oddly enough, he didn't pity her. He knew that she despised pity, and he didn't think she deserved any.
"Miss Parker! Miss Parker!" shouted Debbie as she ran out of the house and into the previously mentioned woman's arms. Parker grunted slightly at the impact, and then chuckled slightly. Her arms circled around the younger girl.
"Hello, Debbie," she whispered into the girl's hair. She inhaled the sweet scent of Debbie's shampoo and closed her eyes in an action that was familiar to her. Debbie pulled back and looked into the older woman's face.
"Miss Parker," she began, "what's wrong?" She instantly recognized the signs of blindness after she'd asked the question. Then, in an endearing gesture, she caught Parker's hand and placed it over her face, letting her "see."
Jarod watched this, and bit his lip to keep tears from emerging. He had never once thought to do that for her. But then again, she wouldn't let him get near her with a ten-foot pole. Also, the scene gave him hope for the future. He hoped that the combined efforts of himself and Debbie would help Parker realize that she was loved.
Loved? His train of thought surprised him. Loved? Did that mean. . .? What did that mean? Did he love her like a sister? A best friend? Or. . . as a woman?
He noticed that attention would soon be directed from Parker to him, so he guarded his expressions and decided to wait until a later time to ponder this newfound revelation.
----------
Parker sat back and felt Debbie settle in beside her. The soft, soothing melodies of Norah Jones played in the background. The two immediately fell into a comfortable silence. She almost wanted to laugh at the circumstances: the one person she'd wanted to avoid earlier was the one who made her feel the most comfortable.
She loved Debbie Broots like a daughter. In fact, she would love to take Debbie as a daughter if it didn't mean that Broots came as a husband. The guy was great, but she didn't love him. He wasn't someone special, like--
- Don't go there, Parker! - her inner voice warned her sharply. She couldn't even think his name. She was useless to him now. Any chance they had was taken along with her sight. She closed her eyes to keep them from absently wandering around the room, and was silent.
----------
Jarod folded his hands behind his head and stretched out on the bed he would be using during his stay. He was finally able to let his mind return to the thought pattern he had stumbled upon earlier that day.
When the thought had first occurred to him, he had thought that his love for Parker was a complete surprise. Before he could continue, his thoughts were interrupted by a song playing in the den. He recognized the smoke-and- honey voice of Norah Jones. He let his mind be silent, and he listened to the words.
One flight down
There's a song on low
And your mind just picked up on the sound
Now you know you're wrong
Because it drifts like smoke
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know
The reeds and brass have been weaving
Leading into a single note
In this place
Where your arms unfold
Here at last you see your ancient face
Now you know
Now you know
The cadence rolls in broken
Plays it over and then goes
One flight down
There's a song on low
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know
Jarod realized how that song symbolized what he had been feeling. He thought he had just begun to realize his love for Parker. But, in reality, it had been there all along. Surprisingly, the thought brought a smile to his face.
He loved her.
----------
Two weeks later
Parker sat outside, smelling the crisp autumn air. It was an unusually chilly day for Texas, the temperature had reached below 60. In her mind, she imagined that the trees were ablaze with vivid oranges, reds, and yellows. Occasionally, she could hear a squirrel scamper across the carpet of fallen leaves. The afternoon was silent, and light. Until a twig snapped.
"Hi, Jarod," she whispered, having recognized the sound of his footsteps. She was getting better at "the blind thing", as she so aptly put it. It wasn't as terrible as she thought it was going to be, but it was still horrible that she was robbed of her sight.
"Hey, Parker." He moved toward her and sat beside her on the back porch swing. They were silent for a time, neither one wanting to say much.
"Describe it for me," she whispered after awhile. She could hear him inhale.
"The backyard's about an acre in size. The ground is practically covered in leaves. The trees here have almost neon orange foliage. The rest are rich maroons. The sky is a deep blue, and there are no clouds in sight. Such a clear day. . . . " He trailed off.
After a few minutes of silence, Parker began to think that something was wrong. She gently nudged his arm. "Jarod?" she asked quietly. Nothing. "Jarod?" She waited a little bit more before practically swatting his arm. "Jarod??"
After another brief moment of silence, she could hear him mutter under his breath, "Oh, boy."
Part 13: Refuge
Author's Note: Hey, y'all! Sorry that it took so long to get this part written and posted. I went to Iowa and Nebraska for the weekend, and I haven't felt up to writing. But now, I'm inspired. ( So, I hope y'all enjoy this next part. Toodles! ~~ Samantha
Author's Note 2: I'm really sorry that it took so long to get this posted! *smiles sheepishly* I just got this major case of writer's block. Ya know, they should really make pills for those. Anyways, here are some extra notes. The song below is called "One Flight Down," which is sung by Norah Jones. It's a really beautiful song. I suggest y'all listen to it. Another one is, that the next chapter is going to be the crossover. Now, can you guys guess what show it's going to be? Here's a hint: look at the last two words of the fic. Still stumped? Then you're just going to have to wait until next chapter to find out. That one will definitely take me a long time to write, because I seem to be swamped with homework lately, and I have to find a job somewhere, so my free time will pretty much be reduced to nothing. Plus, the chapters are getting longer. Anywho, read and enjoy! Toodles ~~ Samantha
Parker sat and listened to Jarod and Angelo's hushed conversation. She could pick out parts of the plans to get out, but her mind soon drifted. She still didn't understand why Jarod took her with him. She was blind. Her blindness equaled almost certain recapture. She would rather he got out successfully than them both being taken back.
She felt a gentle nudge to her shoulder, bringing her from her reflective state. She could feel Jarod's hand take hers as he whispered, "We're ready. C'mon, Parker." She nodded, even though she really didn't want to go. She knew better; however, than to voice that sentiment. Jarod was risking his life for her, and all she could do was pout? Where was that Parker spirit? Inhaling deeply, she held tight to Jarod's hand while following him, steeling her resolve. Not being able to see where they were going, or to look out for trouble, was very frightening to her. But, she wasn't going to let Jarod or Angelo see that fear. So, she froze the only spot in her that had any warmth left: her heart.
The trek was long, and sometimes boring. Every once in awhile, after a shush from either Jarod or Angelo, they would stop and wait for several minutes on end. Then they would proceed; their pace quickening slightly.
One horrifying moment, Parker lost her grip of Jarod's hand. She sat back and looked back and forth, even though it was a useless movement. Time seemed to stop as all other sounds vanished, other than her breathing. It seemed very loud in her mind. The Miss Parker/Ice Queen façade melted for that moment. Then, she felt Jarod's hand grasping hers once more, and time resumed its normal flow.
They continued their long and treacherous trek in silence; only whispering when the occasion called for it. After what seemed like an eternity, Angelo was hugging Parker, and he and Jarod said a few words before she felt cool air blow in her face. Then she knew she was on the outside.
Wanting to weep for joy, she barely restrained herself. They still weren't out of danger yet. She and Jarod had to get out of Blue Cove, even out of Delaware, before they could even begin to dream of safety. And even then, they would always be looking over their shoulders. -Well, - Parker thought, -Jarod will be looking over his shoulder. I'm not going to be doing much looking in the near future. -
She felt Jarod lead her to a car. How he had arranged for that to be there, Parker had no clue. But it was there. When she sat down on the soft upholstery, she sighed and slouched. She heard Jarod get in and shut his door, then start the car. She turned her head towards the window and pretended like she could see the Centre as they drove off. Jarod wasn't the only one who was good at pretending. Slowly, after she sensed that they were far from the Centre, Parker drifted off into the land of dreams.
----------
Jarod watched the sleeping beauty in the seat next to him. She had been withdrawn, almost cold, when he'd found her earlier. But he guessed that was to be expected. He quickly simmed what she was going through, and decided that he would feel the same way, if it were him. He knew that the road ahead of them would be long, and hard.
He exhaled and then turned the radio on soft. He then craned his neck and settled in the seat. It was going to be a long drive.
----------
Parker opened her eyes. The same usual blackness greeted her like a slap in the face. She still wasn't used to being blind, but she was getting there. She could hear the radio playing softly. She blinked a couple of times before turning her head to where the window would be again.
Jarod noticed her wake up, but he said nothing. He saw her turn her head and looked out the window with her unseeing eyes. Without paying much attention to what he was doing, he let out a sigh.
"What?" Parker asked somewhat sharply. "What's the problem?" Jarod looked at her, even though he knew she couldn't see his movement.
"Nothing's the problem, Parker. I was just wondering why you were so silent." He hoped this would appease her. Unfortunately, she was out looking for an argument.
"I'm silent because there's nothing to say, Wonder Boy," she spat out. "So get off my back."
"There's nothing to say? There's always something to say with you. Nothing like, 'Thank you for getting me out of hell itself'? Like, 'Can we get back to what happened right before we were captured'? Anything like that?" She turned her head to him and shot him a vacant stare.
"No. Nothing of the sort. Why would you think that?" Her face was set; firm lines where soft curves had been while she'd slept. Jarod scoffed.
"I don't know about you, but I felt *something* in that cabin. And I can't deny it, either. Maybe you can. But I can't. What's it like to be Cleopatra, queen of denial?" he asked with barbs in his voice. Ice Queen or not, those words hit hard. She clenched her jaw before turning her head away. She was silent.
But Jarod was still irate. He murmured, "What happened to your gutsy, balls- to-the-wall attitude, huh? Why can't you come back with something on that one? Maybe it's because you know I'm right. Maybe it's because you felt something too." He paused for a few moments before whispering, "Maybe it's because you're scared."
"Don't you tell me what I am, and what I am not!" she exploded. "You have no idea what I am! Don't even try to sim it, either! Yes, you may have saved my life! And yes, we may have kissed that day in the cabin! But I'm not the same person I'm used to be! Being blind tends to do that to a person!"
Letting out a soft growl, Jarod turned the radio up and swerved to pass a person. Parker grabbed ahold of the door handle to avoid from being whipped around in the seat. She instantly regretted what she'd said to him, but it was done. She chose to remain silent, and she turned her head to the window again.
Jarod brought a hand to his mouth as he worked to keep from exploding, himself. Doing what he was doing wasn't going to help Parker any. Deciding not to say anything more, the two fell into an uncomfortable silence.
----------
"Jarod," Parker spoke up after a long time, "where are we going?" A few moments earlier, she had realized that she didn't know their destination. She gazed blankly at the floor while waiting for his answer.
"We're going to Texas. When the blizzard died down in Montana, Broots and Syd went back to the cabin, only to find lots of blood, and no us. So, they never went back to the Centre. They practically disappeared. Broots relocated to Texas, with Debbie. We're going to stay with them for awhile until we can establish the identities we're going to use. " Jarod fell silent as he kept his eyes on the road.
Parker processed this information that she had just received. She really didn't know if she was excited to see Broots or not. She also didn't want Debbie to see her like she was: blind and weak. Sighing, she lightly rubbed her cheek with a hand as she let the gentle sound of the car's motor bring a wave of drowsiness over her once again.
Jarod watched in his peripheral vision as Parker fell asleep. He sighed himself as he ran his left hand through his hair, then rested his head on that hand. He continued to steer with his right hand, but he wasn't really paying too close attention to the road. Things had been so good, so perfect. Then the Centre had found them. How, he'd had no idea. He even wondered how the Sweepers had been able to make it to the cabin despite the blizzard that had been raging at the time.
He'd been careless. He let his steadily growing attraction for his huntress leave him vulnerable. For a moment, he thought that there was no greater crime than that. Then, he realized that it wasn't as terrible as he was making it out to be. They got away. That was all that mattered. Right now, Parker needed support. He could see that she whipped out the Ice Queen persona quicker than she could say "Lab Rat." He desperately wanted her to be the soft-spoken, fun-loving woman she'd been for those few moments before their capture. So, he decided to treat her like a trusted friend, not an enemy. She needed someone to care for here, whether or not she wanted it. And Jarod would be the one providing that care.
----------
"Jarod! Miss Parker!" Broots cried out as he met them in his driveway. His heart was burgeoning with joy at the sight of them. He had feared them lost before Sydney had made contact with him.
"Get your hands off me, Wonder Boy!" Parker snapped, causing Broots to look more closely. "I can do it myself!" Broots watched as Jarod removed his hand from her arm, and she straightened up. Staring blankly, she took a first step, then another. She was doing fine until her foot stumbled upon a rock on the driveway. She went down, putting out her hands to break her fall. Jarod rushed and grabbed ahold of the backs of her arms, but her knees still hit the pavement. She grimaced in pain and closed her eyes. He gently helped her to her feet, and kept his hands on her arms. This time, she voiced no complaints.
With a questioning look on his face, Broots asked, "What's the problem, Jarod?" The two made their way closer, and he could see that Parker still had her eyes closed. Jarod established eye contact before quickly shaking his head. Broots then moved his gaze back towards Parker's face and saw her open her eyes. She looked around, but never focused on one particular object. His heart sank. He knew then that she was blind. Oddly enough, he didn't pity her. He knew that she despised pity, and he didn't think she deserved any.
"Miss Parker! Miss Parker!" shouted Debbie as she ran out of the house and into the previously mentioned woman's arms. Parker grunted slightly at the impact, and then chuckled slightly. Her arms circled around the younger girl.
"Hello, Debbie," she whispered into the girl's hair. She inhaled the sweet scent of Debbie's shampoo and closed her eyes in an action that was familiar to her. Debbie pulled back and looked into the older woman's face.
"Miss Parker," she began, "what's wrong?" She instantly recognized the signs of blindness after she'd asked the question. Then, in an endearing gesture, she caught Parker's hand and placed it over her face, letting her "see."
Jarod watched this, and bit his lip to keep tears from emerging. He had never once thought to do that for her. But then again, she wouldn't let him get near her with a ten-foot pole. Also, the scene gave him hope for the future. He hoped that the combined efforts of himself and Debbie would help Parker realize that she was loved.
Loved? His train of thought surprised him. Loved? Did that mean. . .? What did that mean? Did he love her like a sister? A best friend? Or. . . as a woman?
He noticed that attention would soon be directed from Parker to him, so he guarded his expressions and decided to wait until a later time to ponder this newfound revelation.
----------
Parker sat back and felt Debbie settle in beside her. The soft, soothing melodies of Norah Jones played in the background. The two immediately fell into a comfortable silence. She almost wanted to laugh at the circumstances: the one person she'd wanted to avoid earlier was the one who made her feel the most comfortable.
She loved Debbie Broots like a daughter. In fact, she would love to take Debbie as a daughter if it didn't mean that Broots came as a husband. The guy was great, but she didn't love him. He wasn't someone special, like--
- Don't go there, Parker! - her inner voice warned her sharply. She couldn't even think his name. She was useless to him now. Any chance they had was taken along with her sight. She closed her eyes to keep them from absently wandering around the room, and was silent.
----------
Jarod folded his hands behind his head and stretched out on the bed he would be using during his stay. He was finally able to let his mind return to the thought pattern he had stumbled upon earlier that day.
When the thought had first occurred to him, he had thought that his love for Parker was a complete surprise. Before he could continue, his thoughts were interrupted by a song playing in the den. He recognized the smoke-and- honey voice of Norah Jones. He let his mind be silent, and he listened to the words.
One flight down
There's a song on low
And your mind just picked up on the sound
Now you know you're wrong
Because it drifts like smoke
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know
The reeds and brass have been weaving
Leading into a single note
In this place
Where your arms unfold
Here at last you see your ancient face
Now you know
Now you know
The cadence rolls in broken
Plays it over and then goes
One flight down
There's a song on low
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know
Jarod realized how that song symbolized what he had been feeling. He thought he had just begun to realize his love for Parker. But, in reality, it had been there all along. Surprisingly, the thought brought a smile to his face.
He loved her.
----------
Two weeks later
Parker sat outside, smelling the crisp autumn air. It was an unusually chilly day for Texas, the temperature had reached below 60. In her mind, she imagined that the trees were ablaze with vivid oranges, reds, and yellows. Occasionally, she could hear a squirrel scamper across the carpet of fallen leaves. The afternoon was silent, and light. Until a twig snapped.
"Hi, Jarod," she whispered, having recognized the sound of his footsteps. She was getting better at "the blind thing", as she so aptly put it. It wasn't as terrible as she thought it was going to be, but it was still horrible that she was robbed of her sight.
"Hey, Parker." He moved toward her and sat beside her on the back porch swing. They were silent for a time, neither one wanting to say much.
"Describe it for me," she whispered after awhile. She could hear him inhale.
"The backyard's about an acre in size. The ground is practically covered in leaves. The trees here have almost neon orange foliage. The rest are rich maroons. The sky is a deep blue, and there are no clouds in sight. Such a clear day. . . . " He trailed off.
After a few minutes of silence, Parker began to think that something was wrong. She gently nudged his arm. "Jarod?" she asked quietly. Nothing. "Jarod?" She waited a little bit more before practically swatting his arm. "Jarod??"
After another brief moment of silence, she could hear him mutter under his breath, "Oh, boy."