Chapter 248: Alone Again

Wednesday, January 25th, Evening

(Song Lyrics in Italics)

Walking down the stairs, Bobbi-Lee Burke took her place on the sofa. She reached over and petted her cat, Custis, splayed out on the cushion next to her. The cat purred for a moment, then started to beat at Bobbi-Lee's hand. Bobbi-Lee smiled at her cat and withdrew her hand.

Bobbi-Lee looked at the fireplace. With a sigh, she reached for the remote control and turned on her stereo. The music from the stereo washer over her as Bobbi-Lee stared at the ceiling.

Why have ourselves abandoned us
Why they no more belong to us
Cries in the sky pray to believe
My heart and soul will never forgive

After a minute, Bobbi-Lee stood up and walked over to a wall. She studied the picture over and nodded with a faint, dying smile. One was of Bobbi-Lee rock climbing in New Mexico. Another photo is of Bobbi-Lee on a cross country bike somewhere in the high desert. A third picture showed Bobbi-Lee in a kayak on the Cape Fear River with Candi and Ellie Scott in boats next to her.

The fourth picture on the wall looked highly modified, showing Bobbi-Lee, Jackie Gregory, and Johnny Mason when they were in high school. Oddly enough, Bobbi-Lee didn't look at the picture. Instead, Bobbi-Lee reached up and traced a finger over a tri-angle box, which hung on the wall. She pulled her hand away and shook her head.

"Bobbi, what are you doing? It was eleven years ago," Bobbi-Lee said and turned away from the wall.

Bobbi-Lee walked away and went to the front window. She missed the snow; having snow was a nice change. Alas, the snow was gone, and the front lawn was back to the grass's winter green and the hazy of the skies.

We are all being used
Our lives have been abused
Still no one resists
I guess
There's nothing to lose
I am no longer confused
You're killing my dreams

Bobbi-Lee pulled out her smartphone and pressed a few buttons. She listened to the phone ring and finally the other end connected.

"Hey, Bobbi, what's up?" Jackie Gregory asked.

"I was wondering what you're doing this week," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Working, what else do I do?" Jackie asked.

"I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Getting lonely again?" Jackie asked.

"Yeah," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Why don't you head into the office tomorrow? I'm sure Brooke would love to see you, and she could use the distraction with all the Scotts in town," Jackie said.

"That doesn't help me, now," Bobbi-Lee said.

"I see. Have you talked to Billie about this?" Jackie asked.

"Yes, and I've gone to extra meetings, too," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Hmm, have you considered a dating app?" Jackie asked.

"I'm not sure about that," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Your cats are alive, happy, and well adjusted; your plants are thriving," Jackie said, "Just go out to meet people."

"Well, I'm not too sure about that," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Just think about it," Jackie said.

"Okay," Bobbi-Lee said.

"You better," Jackie said, "Anyways, I have Saturday afternoon off; we can hang then."

"Thanks, Jackie," Bobbi-Lee said.

"You're welcome; well, I have to get back to work," Jackie said.

"Alright, see you Saturday," Bobbi-Lee said.

"See you then," Jackie said and disconnected.

My heart cries out for the touch I will never have
Before my eyes you've burnt everything I loved
I'm on the edge and you're forcing me not to fall
You'll never see me crawl

Bobbi-Lee nodded and looked over to her neighbor's house. She hadn't seen her neighbor since the snow, which wasn't uncommon.

Shrugging, Bobbi-Lee turned away from the window. She crossed the floor and returned to the couch and Custis. Putting her feet up, she regretted these moments; because she chose not to have a television.

Reaching over to her coffee table, she picked up a book. Looking it over, she ran a finger down the spine of the book. She didn't read a lot, but when she did, she would devour the book.

We are all being used
Our lives have been abused
Still no one resists
I guess
There's nothing to lose
I am no longer confused
You're killing my dreams

Bobbi-Lee wasn't the natural intellect of her brother, nor was she the hard worker of her sister. Bobbi-Lee did well in school but generally could be considered a lazy student, at best.

Looking at the book, it was a beach reading book that she never read on the beach. The past summer, she never took the time to go to the beach or even attempt to read the book. When she didn't work during the summer, she would take her mountain bike to her sisters to ride. Looking at the title again, Inferno by Dan Brown; she wondered why she picked that book to read. Also, she wondered why it was sitting on her coffee table.

We are all being used
Our lives have been abused
Still no one resists
I guess
There's nothing to lose
I am no longer confused
You're killing my dreams

Leaning back, she cracked the book open. The spine made the cracking sound of a new book that hadn't opened. Looking at the book, she started reading.

The adventures of a college professor in Rome started to bore her. Putting the book down, she picked up Custis, adjusted her position on the sofa. Bobbi-Lee placed Custis on her chest.

Why have ourselves abandoned us
Why they no more belong to us
Cries in the sky pray to believe
My heart and soul will never forgive

The cat gave her a look for moving him but quickly got over it. Custis got comfortable on her chest and laid down. Bobbi-Lee looked at her first rescue cat and smiled at him. Reaching onto the back of the couch, she pulled a blanket down and covered them with it.

Another cat gently came up on the couch. Rooney started pawing at the blanket. Soon, he finished and curled up between Bobbi-Lee's legs. Bobbi-Lee smiled at her second recuse cat as he joined them for sleep.

We are all being used
Our lives have been abused
Still no one resists
I guess
There's nothing to lose
I am no longer confused
You're killing my dreams

Bobbi-Lee looked down at Rooney. "Maybe Jackie is right, Rooney, maybe, I should put myself out there, again," she said.

"Meow!" Rooney said.

"Meow!" Custis said.

"Chiming in too, Custis?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

The cat on her chest shifted. Bobbi-Lee sighed and looked back to Rooney.

"So, what do you think, Rooney, should I start seeing someone?" Bobbi-Lee asked.

"Meow!" Rooney said.

We are all being used
Our lives have been abused
Still no one resists
I guess
There's nothing to lose
I am no longer confused
You're killing my dreams

Bobbi-Lee smiled slightly. She shifted about a little to settle in on the sofa. Bobbi-Lee closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep with two of her three cats, but alone from other humans.