Closer
Chapter 4 – In the Kitchen
As Bobby and Shauna were standing only an inch apart, their lips almost touching, the girl felt her heart stop and…
…next moment she opened her eyes.
"Huh…" The blonde put a hand on the chest to steady her breath, she looked at the clock on the nightstand.
4:26
Not wanting to go back to the dream she's just had, she stood up and, grabbing an old man's dress-shirt with buttons, went downstairs.
Entering the kitchen she wondered if she should turn the lights on and the last moment decided against it and only lit two candles.
"Can't sleep?"
"Ah!" Shauna shouted as the flame from the lighter slid on her finger. "Fuck!"
Bobby jumped from his sit and next moment was in front of the whimpering blond who was holding her burned hand close to her chest.
"Let me see." He ordered.
Shauna's eyes expressed surprise for the determination of his voice did that to her and she extended a shaking hand. The finger was red.
"Hmm…" Producing a harsh sound, Bobby led her to the sink, applying cold water to the wound.
"Ah…" Shauna murmured as the water collided with the red of the skin.
"Hurts?" Bobby asked, still holding her hand in the water, his voice low.
The young woman nodded:
"Thanks to you."
Bobby chuckled:
"You never change…"
"That's where you're wrong." Shauna took her hand back forcefully. "I've changed, Bobby. I'm a grown up now. Unlike yourself."
"Are you really? So working in a nightclub, strolling through Detroit streets at night. Which of this remind you of adulthood?" He raised his voice.
"What's wrong with that?" Shauna snapped back but the man in front of her didn't have a chance to answer. "And you? You left, Bobby. You just ran away. You were here and next moment you were gone without a trace. No sign of where you were going, no phone calls, no cards for Christmas or birthday. You left your mother, for God's sake! You left your brothers. Did you know that Sofi had abortion two times because Angel was not ready to be a father? Did you know that Jack was using for some time? Did you even know that Jeremiah got shot? Did you? No! No, because you left us, you left you family! You left me…even though you promised you'd always be there for me…but you weren't. It may sound selfish, I know, but…so many times I needed your help those years everyone was here for me. That is, everyone but you…"
Bobby didn't know what to say. All she said was true and he couldn't deny that even though he wanted to.
"I…" He finally whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Well, sorry isn't enough anymore, Bobby." She turned to the med box on the windowsill and took out a small bottle. "I'm going to bed."
Next second she was going up the stairs, having left Bobby Mercer, a man with a heart almost cold as stone (became that way with the years), speechless and distressed, with a realization heavy in his heart…