Floyd Charles Van Horn III

Chapter 10: Claude and Alex

Floyd sat there, and now he doesn't. A moment; it happened in one moment. He moved on from this world, to an unknown one. Claude gasped.
"He's gone," Alex says, her eyes wide, her body rigid.
Sobs wracked Claude's body.
"Why are you crying?" Alex says, scooting closer to Claude.
"He was my best friend," she says, "Mary was my other best friend, and I have been in this stupid dimension for longer than the both of them." She wipes her tears away on her yellow checkered dress.
"How do I move on?" she shouts, "Am I just going to stay in this stupid dress in this stupid graveyard forever?"
"It's ok Claude." Alex says, wrapping her arm around Claude's shoulder.
"It's really not. I miss my daughter, I miss Mary, and I miss Floyd already."
"Just be happy for them." Alex says.
"You don't get it," Claude says, "I've been stuck here for over fifty years, seeing people come and go. I can't take it anymore. What can I do?"
"Why don't we," Alex says, "talk about how you died. Maybe that will help you move on.
Claude meets Alex's eyes.
"You think that'll work?"
"No use not trying." Alex says.
"But- but you'll have nobody if I'm gone. Nobody will help you figure out how to move on." Claude takes Alex's hand.
"I'm sure I'll find somebody," she says, squeezing Claude's hand.
"Okay," Alex begins, "how old were you when you died?"
"19," she says, her yellow checkered dress clenched tight in one of her hands, the other grasping Alex's. "
My husband," she gulps, "strangled me in my sleep."
"Oh, Claude," Alex says.
"My 20th birthday was in 3 days," she sobs, "he- he didn't want a crippled wife."
"Claude," Alex holds Claude in her arms and lets her weep.
"Alex,"
"Yes, Claudey?"
"You're so kind,"
"You are too Claudey."
"You have been so sweet to me, since Floyd had been all tied up with Dolly and now him, my only friend moving on- you've been there for me, and I'm-"
Alex kisses Claude then, and Claude kisses back. They move on, their lips never parting.