Marshall, You're Not Alone (GxG)

Chapter 26

Things have been different ever since his passing. Vanessa dealt with it like an adult, but you could tell she was hurting just as much as her daughter, who has been unable to come to terms with the situation. We agreed to give her time, however she began to develop some rather odd behaviors, which I wasn't sure were healthy.

At first, I told myself it's a coping mechanism, it will pass. Oh, I've never been so wrong in my life, instead of easing up, it only got worse. Amira became distant with her family, but not me. Just the opposite, she needed me in a way that wasn't healthy, and my lack of any sort of experience led to irritation.

She was zoning out frequently, her random babbling a lot more concerning. She was making up stories and describing places that didn't exist, yet she asked to go and visit as if it was a possibility.

Vanessa told me to stay away for the time being, but it didn't seem right. My absence would only upset her further, so I allowed myself to disagree and continue to stand by her side.

"Amira..." my voice afraid.

She's been watching a cartoon not listening to anything or anyone, switching off from reality, and entering the state of absence.

The only way to pull her out was to turn off the TV which usually led to a tantrum, and ended with cuddles. Holding her steadily, she grabbed onto me in fear, I just didn't know what kind. Sometimes she would begin to talk about Felix, how much she missed him and how he was the only one to calmly listen to her stories without getting bored.

I wasn't able to relate to anything she said, if I lost a pet I would probably cry for a day and get over it eventually. Or maybe I couldn't possibly understand the bond and relationship they had. She did find him when she was just a little girl.

"I've been thinking, we should go on a date." I blurted out, she raised her forehead from my chest and looked at me with utter confusion.

"Date?" she questioned.

Gulping I chuckled nervously. "Yeah... I would like to take you out on a date. W-" I hesitated, but told myself to stop being a bitch and say it. "Would you want to go out with me? On a date I mean..." I corrected not wanting to be misunderstood. "I wanted to ask you a while ago, but all of this has happened and-"

"-yes!" she interrupted with excitement. Her eyes finally sparkling, hope presenting itself in my heart. Maybe this could be the turning point!

"Absolutely not," Vanessa's stern tone and death stare made me angry.

"Why not!" I argued, strongly believing this would help.

Vanessa scoffed and sent Amira back to her room. "You and I need to talk," she hissed and walked me into the piano room. I swear at this point it needed a name change because everyone used it for secret conversations. "What's your goal, huh?"

I never saw Vanessa this serious and concerned, it wasn't easy to look into her sharp eyes and not budge. I understood she was worried about her daughter, but being treated like some sort of outsider wasn't nice.

"What do you mean? I want to make her happy again, she's been struggling for a month now," I explained through a clenched jaw, keeping my cool due to respect I had for the woman, and also not wanting to get in trouble with Daisy.

"Sit," the taller woman ordered and I complied in an instant. "Marshall, there's been something I noticed, and well... I will be honest here, only because my daughter's wellbeing is at stake."

The sudden shift in her posture evoked anxious thoughts. Did I do something wrong?

"O..Okay?" I stammered, anticipating whatever came next.