Leave What Was Found

38: Things Fall Apart

After a long day, Mark Davidson found himself at the place he spent quite a lot of time at: the alumni hall. He stared at the photos of the Class of '98. His graduating class. At first, the pictures were painful to look at, they stung, then the pain became tolerable as he grew used to the sensation, but now he was numb. Somehow, that only made him feel worse. He ran a hand through his hair as he read the words he already knew by heart.

Grace Culver.

Class of '98.

Most likely to leave and never come back.

Keith Davidson

Class of '98

Most likely to play basketball professionally.

Mark Davidson

Class of '98

Most likely to stay in his hometown.

Mark was not sure why he always found himself in this hallway. He knew what the photos looked like, he knew the words; yet, every time he came here, he stood lost in his thoughts as memories filled his mind.

He had done horrible things. Things he was embarrassed to admit to. However, the living reminder of all his mistakes roamed these very halls. Avery Davidson. His niece, the little girl who was caught in the crossfire between three adults and their senseless war. Mark did everything he could to make up for his mistakes through her. He hoped it would ease his guilt. He was wrong, as she began to ask more questions, his guilt only increased.

Going to see Gracie was wrong. He knew he had to move on, he had to do the right thing. Even if his brother was gone, for once, Mark needed to do the right thing. He knew where he would find her, if she wasn't working at the diner, she would be drunk at the bar across town. It saddened him how well he knew her. Mark found her in her friend's arms being carried out of the bar that he knew she would be at.

"Oh great, Mark, you're here. Can you take her home?" The fiery redhead had asked Mark. "I have to get to my shift at the salon."

Mark took Gracie in his arms and brought her back to the place he knew she stayed at. It wasn't hard to do, it was typical. So, typical in fact that as he wiped the vomit from the corners of her mouth, Mark knew it was time to move on.

He told her that he was not going to come back. He told her that he was done. He told her to never contact him again.

"You have got a great kid," he had said to her. "Everything she has become is because of the people around her who love her and support her like you never did. She deserves my attention, not you."

"She has my eyes," Grace had said quietly.

"Don't go near her," he had warned. "With the way you are right now, you'll only ruin all the progress she has made."

Mark had hoped that Grace would listen to him. However, in the years that he had known Grace, she had never really listened to anyone.

When Mark finally came back to the school ready to be the uncle and family that Avery needed, he realized that Avery had already found her own family. Among her friends, Avery thrived. She was growing and blossoming into a young woman that Mark knew his brother would be so proud of. Merriwether and Coach had told him just how much progress she had made. Even Doctor Hopkins was pleased to see how well she was doing. Mark was proud, he hoped he could help Avery further that progress. It made him happy to know that she had overcome so many problems that had all really stemmed from the bad choices he, Grace, and Keith made.