Mending Pieces
A Roswell Alternate Universe Story
By Andrea Sinisterra
Romance/Drama
Standard Disclaimers Apply
* * *
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
"My Immortal"
- Evanescence
* * *
Part 12
Isabel lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. She felt so helpless, so pathetic. She sat up, a look of desperation in her beautiful face as she looked down at her useless legs. And before she could stop herself, she had begun crying. It started as a simple whimper, but it slowly grew in intensity reaching voids of emptiness only her broken sobs could ever muster.
How much time had passed since the accident, she really didn't care. She suddenly regretted with all her being having refused the offers from her mother. The moment she was released from the hospital, her mother had wanted her to stay at the Manor, where she could be taken care of, and where they would have complete facilities to speed up her recovery.... But she had refused. She hadn't wanted to be a liability; she didn't want to be a burden for her mother and her whole family... so she had decided to stay at her home where she belonged.
The house seemed so big and hollow, she almost felt scared, if it had not been for Kansas sleeping deeply at her side. Running her hands across her face to erase the tracks of her tears, she took a deep breath and reached for the phone, dialing a number she already knew by heart.
She held her breath as she waited for the one person she most wanted to hear to answer the phone. And when he finally did, all she could do was cry.
* * *
Things had started to go worse. After four months into the accident, and after finally telling her what happened, Clarisse Evans' condition had been in a downhill fall. Her face had lost all color, although her eyes hadn't lost any of their liveliness. The honey brown irises still sparkled with the knowledge and memories only a woman like her possessed.
And as she squeezed his hand, Robert Evans hated himself more than anything or anyone in the world. His gaze dropped to his wife as he strolled her in her wheelchair. Her diabetes had finally caught up with her after decades of struggle. Robert knew she had given up long before Isabel's accident. She was just tired. He glared at the oxygen supply attached to the side of her wheelchair.
Once they reached their chambers, he carried her and tucked her in bed. He took a seat beside her, and grabbed both her hands. Despite everything, her hands were still warm, her eyes still sparkled, and her chattering had lost none of its excitement.
"I can't believe how tall Aaron has grown!"
Robert smiled, "just like his father."
"And every other single male Evans in the clan. You, Phillip and Michael are just as tall." Clarisse rested her head against his shoulder, an almost imperceptible sigh escaping her lips, "and to think that you were so worried about Max not re-marrying..."
Robert laughed, and Clarisse relished in the deep rumble that echoed through his body, "that, and Michael not marrying at all, and look where he is."
"Suva." Clarisse sighed.
Robert smiled, "remember the summer we spent there. Oh, that was heaven."
"Gosh, that was so long ago. Remember the hat you bought me there?"
"The one I lit with fire-"
"Accidentally!" They laughed, "with a lighter!"
Robert continued to laugh, his laughter resounded throughout the room, "and the lady that took your bag thinking it was hers-"
"And we had to sleep outside because our keys were inside the bag! Thank God she returned it."
Their laughter died down after a while, and they stared into each other's eyes as if memorizing the moment. Robert let out a deep, almost wistful sigh, "we had so much fun."
Clarisse touched his face, her fingertips tracing the lines at the corners of his eyes, "yes, we did... I love you. From the first time I saw you."
He shook his head; "I think I've been in love with you since before we ever met. I remember the first time I saw you walk into that room with that awful skirt you had", she laughed, "and thinking I had never seen such beauty. Your eyes..." He said, as he tenderly kissed each of her closed eyelids, "Were what first captured my attention."
"And here I was thinking it was my incredible intelligence."
"That, too. But your eyes had, still have, this way of showing exactly what you feel... like right now, I know you're feeling sad. And scared."
"I have no regrets."
"I can't help but think you're saying goodbye."
Clarisse closed her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips, "my time is not too far away. I can feel it."
"Don't say that. How can you know?"
"I just do." Her hand patted the bed beside her, "come to sleep, it's very late and tomorrow I know you have meetings."
And as the lights went off, and as Clarisse closed her eyes, Robert Evans let silent tears fall, and gathered his wife into his arms, for perhaps one of the last few opportunities Time would ever permit him.
* * *
Christmas Eve showed its face with a deep cover of snow and blaring cold that could freeze even a bucket of burning lava. But this couldn't possibly keep a certain woman away from the mall.
"Hey! Watch it!" Liz exclaimed as she dodged a person coming her way, "there's too many people here, and why the hell didn't you shop for your gifts BEFORE. You're always late!"
"BECAUSE sales are really, really great on Christmas eve, that's why!"
"You always have an excuse for everything, Maria."
"I know, but you love me anyway."
Liz breathed a sigh of relief when they found themselves safe inside of one of Las Cruces' most prestigious jewelry stores. The warmth of the calefaction a most welcome on their chilled bodies.
Maria moaned at her reflection in one of the many mirrors that adorned the store.
"What?"
Maria groaned, "I look so out of place!"
"What? Why?" After Maria's glare, Liz covered her smile with her hand, "I'm sorry, you do look... kinda funny."
Maria turned again towards the mirrors, glaring at the reflection of her tanned face, "I look SO sunburned and we're snowing here!"
"It's reasonable, you just came from your honeymoon. Now, let's shop for those presents, and get the hell out of here before we freeze to death."
Maria mumbled her protest all their time inside the considerably small store. Past several minutes of intense perusal, she let out a squeak, 'oh, my God, oh my God!! She thought frantically, wrenching her head around, away from the clear, clean windows.
Liz gave a start of surprise, "what is it? Jesus, you scared me!"
"Nothing, nothing!" Maria said hurriedly, turning Liz around. "Look, isn't this one pretty?"
Unfortunately, there was a mirror on the wall across from the window, and Liz couldn't keep her eyes away from the picture of Tess and Max strolling together on Main Avenue.
To be continued...
Chapter 13: Doubts