Short Stories (without happy end)

Ruby part 2

    I observe the trees scrolling behind the window. The oaks have leaves that hesitate between golden, ochre, and brown.
I try to memorize the road my brother is taking so that I can return home without having to use a map but the landscapes are monotonous. The radio is on and my brother makes me laugh by playing the melodies at the top of my lungs. I laugh at him first but I can't help but accompany him when I hear a familiar melody.
So I won't hesitate no more
No more it cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours
My new life doesn't start so badly when I think about it.

We enter a suburban neighborhood with small houses surrounded by vegetation. We park in front of a small garage attached to a charming house. My house.

Zack, who accompanies us so that my brother can leave and leave my car with me, parks next to us and gets out.
Gabriel puts the keys in my hand. He makes me pass in front of him so that I unlock the door myself. I don't wait for anyone to do it and enter the vestibule. It is sober and contains only a shoe cabinet and coat racks. I advance to discover a cute kitchen fully equipped. The cherry color of the walls contrasts nicely with the pearl grey of the furniture and the ceiling.
The rest of the house is decorated in the same way. The tones of the walls vary between purple, burgundy, magenta on one side, grey, creamy white, and brown on the other.

Once my stuff is unloaded, Gabriel decides to take us to the nearest fast-food restaurant. It was a Taco Bell. Zack opts for a keto, Gabe and I prefer to have a taco.
It had been a long time since I had felt the taste of fatty oil dripping down my throat. I know for a fact that the few leaves of salad in the sandwich won't be enough to fill my daily intake of vegetables but at that point, I don't care, nothing matters anymore. The only thing that matters is that I finally have to live for myself. The only thing I have to do is enjoy the moment. That's what I do when I savor the perfectly seasoned chicken that marries marvelously with the colorful bell pepper slices.
* * *
    I am alone in an unknown place for the first time in a long time. I don't know what to do so I take out my stuff and start putting it away. I try to take my lairs in this place which is now my home. I have something to cook tonight but since my fridge is not very full, I decide to go around the local shops in my free time.
I take out my phone and look at the list of stores within a 5-mile radius of my home. A Kroger, a Giant Eagle, and some other supermarkets. I look at the list of small grocery stores and decide to go to the nearest supermarket first. It's about ten minutes by car and my passage through it remains fast. It's nothing exceptional, it's a simple suburban supermarket.

    On the road, I am intrigued by a store called The Sweet Praline. I'm sure I've seen the name several times when I was in university two years ago. I think for the two minutes I have left before arriving home. It was later while I was putting away my groceries that I remember that a friend of mine gave me chocolates from this store for my birthday in our fourth year of school. He gave me more the following year to invite me to the ball organized by the university. With my new job as a translator, the death of my parents, and my move, I had completely neglected my friends. Over time, I had managed to connect with other students in my class and had received many messages of support yesterday and today, but I haven't read any of them. I don't have the strength to dwell on it all.

    On a whim, I take my jacket and go out on the porch. I look at the houses around, they all look more or less the same. I walk on the path I took only half an hour ago. I walk for about ten minutes along with the lawns before arriving at the store that I noticed earlier. The Sweet Praline. The name is written in gold calligraphic letters on an azure background. The large windows are surrounded by gold moldings and let you see treats ranging from lollipops to chocolate and marshmallows.

When I push the door, another world presents itself to me. The sweet smell assails my nostrils and I can almost feel the taste of caramel on my tongue. The walls are painted in pastel tones and covered with shelves filled with boxes and huge plastic tubes containing almonds.
A voice can be heard on my left. This voice is warm, soft and deep. I know it and it pronounces my first name. At this evocation of my identity, an image followed by a name makes its way into my mind. A boy with brown hair and eyes hesitating between brown, green and gray. This changing look brings me back to happy memories filled with rays of sunshine.
"Ruby?" he repeats. "Josh? What are you doing here?  "I ask. "This is my parents' store. But you, what are you doing here?" he continues. "I just moved a few blocks away and I was walking around and I noticed this store. The name sounded familiar, and then I remembered that you gave me chocolates of that brand. I decided to take a look around. I don't know what I was looking for here but I'm glad I found you here." I answer. "I didn't call you for a few months so that you could find your rhythm with your new job, but I wanted to call you back. I heard about your parents and wanted to come and see you but you didn't answer any of my messages or calls." he says. I'm sorry, I...", I'm trying to keep going but I don't know what to say. The words are stuck in my throat and I can see my vision blurring before I feel the tears silently running down my cheeks. Josh doesn't say anything but comes to take me in his arms. I start crying when I realize that I missed him and that I hadn't done anything to reach my friends.

We stay like this for a few long minutes before, embarrassed, Josh stands up and offers me a box of 'special chocolates for the heartache' and asks me for my address. He promises to pick me up the next day and take me to a place he is fond of.

*          *          *

Last night, for the first time in a long time, I collapsed and fell asleep without any worries. A restful sleep full of dreams accompanies me to the land of Orpheus.