rem·nant
[ˈrɛmnənt]
noun
remnants (plural noun)
a part or quantity that is left after the greater part has been used, removed, or destroyed:
"The bogs are an endangered remnant of a primeval landscape"
a piece of cloth left when the greater part has been used or sold:
"He sat sewing patchwork cushions with all the remnants."
a surviving trace:
"a remnant of the past"
scrap, piece, bit, fragment, shred, offcut, oddment
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1
Ianto Jones was standing in his four bed, two and a half bath residence, opening a tin of baked beans while half listening to the radio when there was a knock at the door. He sighed as he placed the tin opener down and reached out to turn off the heat on the stove, knowing that whoever was visiting had to have come for a reason. After all, his house was in the middle of nowhere, down the end of a mile long driveway that was unimposing with a simple letterbox with no name on it. That means, whoever comes, also knows where they are coming.
As he walked, he unrolled the sleeves of his white button up that he had rolled for the specific task of cooking, buttoning the cuff as he got to the door and taking a deep breath like he was steeling himself before opening it.
He opened the door and saw his old agent from his child acting days, which was a surprise as her daughter had taken over his account years ago. His living now as an author lucrative and, to his satisfaction, solitary.
"Sakura?" he asked with surprise then stepped aside as he was a gentleman. He led them to his receiving room… yeah… his living room was separate and not for the general public. OK… he didn't really like anyone in his little den.
Soon he was returning from the kitchen with refreshments, settling to listen to why they had come. Sakura knew he didn't suffer fools and had little time for beating around the bush so to the shock of her daughter, she went for the jugular straight away "The rumours are true. They are doing a documentary on what happened. Back then. Some of your co-stars, the other ones who came forward. They are recreating parts and having people interview first-hand accounts… that kind of thing."
"And you told them I am not available?"
"Yes. I told them that I don't even know where you are after all this time. They seemed… incredulous. Of course, the bank accounts we shuffle money through means they can't find you. Your stage name of David Loyd is simply that, no one ever knew your real name." she knew he needed to hear this as she added "And the pseudonym of Ifan Holmes you use now is not connected to you in any way."
"Or Gypsy Rose?"
"No, not that pen name either. I double checked to be sure" her daughter finally spoke "I did extensive online searches and used the government servers to make sure… you do not exist in real time."
"Toshiko" she scolded.
"They can do whatever they want as long as they don't involve me" Ianto rose and walked to the large picture window overlooking his beloved rose garden. The late afternoon sun gave the place a golden glow and he felt warm. Calm. He had worked so hard to achieve this feeling, this place of serenity and he did not want it invaded by any negativity. The comfortable old furniture, bookcases heaving with old friends and just the animals for company was all he needed. He did NOT need this. It had been years since therapy, needless recounting, and accusations. The repressed memories of that horrific day most of all… was a black cloud constantly following him around "That is a time I never want to re-live."
"No, I know. But at least now others might understand what happened and those who doubted you back then might see some new information that changes their minds" Sakura tried to lighten the mood.
"The book… the latest one. I… if we release now…."
"If we release the Gypsy Rose romance then it will not impact anything. The Ifan Holmes book can wait if you think it is too much, but you know Ianto…"
"I know" he cut her off "They will never connect either book to my former life… I know that. But me… personally… it is a lot to deal with all at once. Maybe I need some spacing between them so the book launches can be less… much."
"Whatever you want love. I will look into what is happening, also get ready some cease-and-desist orders that might need to be enforced to remind people that you are not to be part of anything to do with what happened back then." She assured him. "you do not even resemble that child."
As they rose to leave Toshiko hesitated and said softly to Ianto "She worries about you, she knows this is not something you need to know much about and yet… but you need a warning."
"Thanks Tosh" he touched her arm, then drew back. The moment of contact a rarity and sign of true affection given his inability to touch anyone or allow someone to touch him.
What had happened all those years ago when he was still a child… still lingered.
Like the last shard of the child that huddled in the back of his psyche screaming to be left alone.