In Another Life (1993-1996)

With Love From Me To You

After New Year's Eve, things only got worse. For one, it was snowing. Maybe it was me being awkward but what was the point of snow in February? Secondary, I really didn't know how to act normal around Ben. Noel and I had decided not to talk about what had happened on New Year's Eve; I had seen him since and it had not really affected how we were. I guess there had always been that aspect there. Ben hadn't clocked on to anything, having been rather hung over on the 1st of January, and I wanted it to stay that way. I had bigger problems on my mind. My very bones seemed to be drawing a chill, making me feel like I was living in a freezer. It was more than the cold wind that whipped scarfs and coats around in the day. This was like I was dying. Or, the blindly hopeful part of my brain persisted, like I was waking up. Maybe hope wasn't lost. Maybe I could see my family and friends again. I didn't like to think of this world as a permanent set up. But I had been here a year and that funeral thing back in July... I didn't like to think about it. I guess I could stay here a little bit longer, but the past was growing old and taking me with it...

The amount of things going wrong tipped through the roof on the 8th of February. The particularly chilly afternoon found Ben and me sitting at either ends of a sofa, drinking tea whilst a hysterical Arthur sat opposite. Living alone was not treating Arthur well. From what I had gathered, he had been living off Pot Noodles and gingerbread men, the only thing he had learned to make, for the past week. His friend who had been letting him stay had to have his mother over, leaving Arthur homeless. His wavy brown hair was now covering his ears and heading towards shoulders, the light layer of stubble that usually coated his chin was now quickly growing into a forest and his clothes now consisted of a pair of jeans held up by braces with a t-shirt that looked about 20 years old and was covered in bleach and paint stains. I noticed that there were little bald patches in his beard.

"Arthur, what are those things in your beard? Did you cut yourself?" I asked, worried.

"They're tears." He sniffed. Ben and I exchanged glances. The poor man had actually shaved tears into his beard. All I was wondering about as how he shaved them that accurately, as I had a closer look. They were very neat and all in uniform, but I guessed that was the side effect of being OCD. Even Arthur's self-loathing art work had to be symmetrical.

"Come on mate, it's going to be fine." Ben said, trying to sound convincing.

"Oh yeah? You don't know Liz, she can hold grudges for years!"

"Now that I can believe." Ben muttered, but everyone's attention was drawn to the door where Noel had walked in. I went out to meet him as Ben kept on trying to calm Arthur down. Noel smiled as I met him.

"Alright, love?" He asked, leaning against the door frame. I had to admit, there was something quite appealing about it. I noticed that his lips were nice, and his face looked friendly when he gave me a certain look. I felt myself, leaning on the other side of the door frame, getting very close in the process. Noel didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't mind.

"Yeah, everything is fine. Well apart from the fact that we have a depressed Watson sitting on the sofa crying because Lizzie doesn't seem to be coming back." I said. Noels eyebrows met and he looked round the door to look to see if I was right.

"Jesus, he's in a fucking state. Do you want me to leave and come back later?" He said, genuine concern in his voice as him and Arthur had always been okay.

"I think what he really needs is some guy chat, which isn't going to come from Ben. He's not really the type, is he?" I found myself insulting Ben and inviting Noel to stay in the same sentence. What was happening to me? Noel nodded and walked into the living room.

"Alright, Arthur?"

"Not really, Lizzie doesn't love me anymore!" The poor man wailed.

"It's alright, mate, she's just a bit of skirt. There'll be someone else." Noel said, thinking that was safe to say, until Arthurs eyes flared with rage like he was about to shout, but instead he slumped forward and sobbed,