Our Scars

Is It Light Where You Are?

75

Is It Light Where You Are? (Title by Artschool Girlfriend) 

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"You are my today and all of my tomorrows." (Leo Christopher)

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"I guess I'm still processing you know? Knowing all this would have really made a difference years ago!"

"Wow, so I'm gone for a week and your world's been turning at twice the usual speed!"

And that usual speed had been pretty impressive already, at least in the last eight months.

Stella had been listening with rapt attention to the stories Rianne had to tell about her mum's recent visit and the family 'secrets' that had been spilled during that time. Her friend's life was obviously destined to be everything but boring.

After starting into a new SUP season on Lake Michigan together on that first Friday afternoon in May, Stella and Rianne had decided to go for lunch afterwards and enjoy a little quality time together at 'Beatnik on the River' on North Upper Wacker. At 63 degrees, a mix of clouds and sunshine, it was a really lovely spring day. Thank God for not having a straight nine-to-five job, so that besides all the downsides of doing what Stella did for a living, she got to enjoy days of leisure like these without having to put in furlough or a personal.

"Thank God you turned down Elise's offer to go to Amsterdam with her this week, or I'd never have gotten the chance to catch up with you." Stella had felt like a bad friend anyway for going away on that Lieutenant's training in Springfield, when her best friend was going through such a tough time at the moment.

As a matter of fact the woman sitting opposite her on that colorful outside bench of the establishment, wearing a funny combination of one of obviously Jay's ball-caps draped over her for once open curls, black-and-white striped cullottes, a plushy red crop-sweater and glasses, seemed a little more light-hearted that when Stella had last seen her. She didn't really know why that even surprised her.

Rianne had always had the ability to get 'back up and running' more quickly than anyone she knew. That girl was a survivor!

"Chicago's where I need to be right now. Jay and I need to figure this out together. Besides: My mum and I still really need to take it slow, so it's better we left things on good terms for now!"

Stella had to admit though that Elise suggesting a change of scenery and that Rianne should break from everything, had sounded more honestly concerned and motherly than ever. Like she really wanted to be there for her. So maybe people could change after all.

***

"Thanks for helping me out, man! I really appreciate it!" Halstead's head surfaced from under the hood of the old van for a second to nod at him gratefully, while Kelly handed over the requested wrench.

Severide was always happy to help out, especially today, when he had nothing better to do and needed to take his mind off other things:

"Yeah, sure. Glad I could help and that you don't mind my company!"

"What' you mean by that?" Clear green eyes were watching him in that typical questing way.

The fellow man wiped some sweat off his brows and thereby some grease all over his forehead. Kelly guessed he didn't look any better after they had been working on Rianne's VW camper all day, in a scrapyard of a friend of his, to get the old lady running again. It was a welcome distraction from his recent 'troubles at home':