They all sat in the Crash Down, the atmosphere gloomy and quiet. Everyone avoided eye contact, each in their own worlds. Tess sat next to Max in one of the booths with Kyle sitting opposite her. Max held her hand under the table, getting silent support from her. Right now he appreciated her help. Maria and Isabel sat on one of the stools near the counter, aimlessly stirring their drinks while Michael just stood leaning against a wall, staring stone-facedly ahead.
"A month today…" Tess whispered quietly.
"I remember…how could we not." Isabel answered quietly. She looked at Max who had now grabbed a napkin from the dispenser. He began to shred the napkin into little pieces.
"You okay Max?" she asked.
Max looked up from the napkin he was shredding. "Hmm?" he asked distractedly. "Yeah, I'm okay."
But he was lying; everyone could see that. He was not fine, neither of them were. How could they be? Today was Alex's one-month death anniversary. Maria couldn't believe it. It seemed so much longer.
"It's time we let them go." Tess said. She paused, as if anticipating a sharp comment. When no one said anything she went on. "We don't have a choice, not if we want to stay alive."
Everyone looked at her quietly but unresistingly. They knew she was right. They weren't sure how to let go.
Maria played with her apron, blinking back the tears. She refused to cry, she would not cry.
God, Alex! I miss you so much! And Liz! She thought in agony.
Just then she thought she heard someone call her name. It sounded so much like Alex that she jerked her head up suddenly and looked about confused, almost expecting to see him standing there, calling her name. She listened harder but could hear nothing. She was about to shake it off when she heard it again, this time louder.
She sat up straighter. She was sure it was Alex!
"Alex?" Maria whispered quietly. Her eyes glimmered with puzzlement but also joy. "I miss you, Alex."
Isabel gave her a curious look. Maria, realizing that she had spoken aloud shook her head slightly, clearing her head. She was being ridiculous, how could she have heard Alex? And to think she said that out loud. Isabel must think she was crazy. She sneaked a peek at Isabel and saw Isabel shiver slightly, her face confused, yet feeling something familiar.
"You okay, Iz?" Maria asked her, noticing her look.
Isabel frowned before nodding.
"I just thought I felt..." she stopped talking.
"Isabel?"
She shook her head and smiled a strained smile, her eyes showing her pain. "I'm fine. It was nothing."
Michael glanced curiously at them before resuming his statue stance. Max, Tess and Kyle didn't even notice. Maria shrugged it off. Maybe she was thinking about Alex and Liz a bit too much today, that's all.
