GIRLS BREATHE FIRE - Paul Lahote

Chapter 32

Song: To Be Loved (Jackie Wilson)

RAY'S POV

"That girl..." I looked down at the envelope she left me with tears in my eyes.

"it's not much but call it a fee for your troubles.

I hope to see you soon."

- R.R

Rory had left for her wedding with nothing but a letter and a $1000 check for us as a goodbye and to say I was upset would be an understatement.

Jasmine and Bree sobbed into my shoulder as we all supported each other in the staff room.

The staff room she had decorated.

The walls were adorned with framed photos from fights the both of us had attended as fighters and viewers, contrasting the brick wall or other three grey walls. It had this homey touch to it but still, it didn't feel that way without Rory here.

We needed to get her back.

Because this cloud over the town wouldn't leave unless she came back.

***

CHARLIE'S POV

Rory had left me money, calling it 'rent for her stay' but I wanted to tell her she was wrong. She made this gloomy town feel like a community which it hadn't been in a while.

Not since her dad lived here.

And now that she was gone, the air seemed so much thicker. the rooms seemed smaller, the forest seemed darker, and the people seemed paranoid.

"So this was the effect you had on us." I almost laughed at how much her being here changed everything and one thing I knew for sure was that we needed her home again.

We needed our sunshine back.

***

JENNIFER'S POV

I was too late.

I thought we had more time but alas, she had already left and now I was stuck sitting here cradling a sobbing Maxi.

"Mama I want Aunt Roro." She cried but it only made me cry harder every time. I could hardly bear to see her like this. Maxi and Aurora had this connection. Like they were always able to understand each other. And it made me happy to know Maxi had someone like that but now that Rory was taken away, I knew Maxi would be heartbroken.

So I made her a promise.

"We'll get her back."

"We will." Maxi all but sprung up from her state of previous sorrow.

"Chika, Roro isn't just your aunt. She's my sister, Shes Chief's Neice, Ray's God Daughter, Paul's Love, Emily's best friend, and everyone else's family. And we never leave family behind. So yeah, we will get her back. I promise."

***

EMILY'S POV

"Paul I-"

"What's wrong."

Currently, we all stood in my kitchen trying our best to comfort one another as we broke the news to Paul. But in reality, I don't think any of us had processed it ourselves.

Kim comforted a crying, yes crying, Jared as he wept on the couch. Leah and Seth held each other close and Jacob had his head in his hands. I cried into Sam as I handed the envelope to Paul. None of us had opened it but by Pauls reaction seemed to be all we needed to figure out that it was from Rory.