Subtle Endearment

25. So Far Away

Ian

"I'll take over on one condition," I state. I'm at Stubborn Elites headquarters just a day after the ball. Madam Melanie was eager to have this meeting after learning about Kira. Madam Melanie sits at her desk arms folded waiting for my response. "Don't show yourself to Kira. Ever again," I demand. "How are you going to tell me to not see my daughter? It's none of your business," she remarks. "I don't know what you did but Kira isn't the same. You didn't see her in the ER refusing to leave. You didn't see the way she'd said she wished she'd jumped. Even now she refuses to see me or go back to the company. I'm asking for one thing, don't appear in front of Kira," I reiterate.

"Is she really doing that badly?" Madam Melanie asks slightly irritated. "When she lets you back in make sure she gets connected to her grandparents. I can't guarantee I can leave the area since our headquarters are here... do we have ourselves a deal?" Madam Melanie asks unfazed by all I'd said.

"Who says she"ll forgive me?" I ask.

"You're a good man, she knows this. Do we have ourselves a deal?" she presses. "We do," I say. "Good. If that's all, get out. I have a meeting to discuss expansion later on," Madam Melanie says waving me out the door.

"How'd it go?" Landon asks outside of the door. "Were you eavesdropping or waiting for me?" I ask. "A little bit of both, " Landon admits. "While you're still here, wanna deliver a case with me? It's about an hour away," Landon asks. Who're the clients?" I ask suspicious. We don't normally deliver on Saturdays. "Nobody special, just a couple of our regulars borrowing money," he says sweeping back his hair. "Oh really? Well I'm headed to the hospital right now. I wanted to talk to Violet before Kira gets discharged," I say. "It wouldn't kill me to stop by and check up on them. I'll go too," Landon says cheekily. "Leave the gun," I say nodding to the pistol at his hip.

"Sure," he agrees. He leaves and returns shortly after unarmed.

"Man, you should let me drive. You're slower than a turtle," Landon jokes. "habit," I remark. We've been driving for a while and I haven't hit the halfway mark. "So did you really accept the position?" Landon asks. "Yeah, I did. It's the only way Kira will heal," I say. "When are you going to tell her that what she saw was real?" Landon asks. "I won't and neither will anyone else," I warn him. "That's not a good idea," Landon says. "It's the only thing I can do right now. Do you suggest I just tell her she's alive so she can put her life in danger again?" I ask irritated. "No, it's just- forget about it. How about you? How've you been the past few days?" Landon asks. "I heard you guys were at the bridge," Landon says his voice deeper as he talks, a clear indication that he's serious. "I'm glad you didn't. I couldn't handle seeing you like that again," he says before turning up the radio on the car effectively drowning out his voice.

So I was right, it was you.

***

"Are you coming in?" Landon asks from outside the car in the hospital parking lot. "No, I'll watch from here. You can go see Violet. Tell her I agreed to the deal but don't let Kira know," I tell him. "Sure thing," Landon says before waltzing into the hospital. Shortly after I see Kira walking out of the hospital with Violet and Landon at her heels. I'm parked a row behind Violet's car so I can hear them talking.

"I appreciate it Violet but I don't need you to follow me. I'm fine, really," she says offering a weak smile. "Are you going to walk the entire way?" Landon asks dumbfounded. "No, I'm calling a cab," Kira states walking further down the rows away from the car. "Wow, you really don't want me to take you home do you?" Violet jokes. Kira gives a belated customer service smile. "I just want to be alone," Kira reassures them. The three of them walk further down the aisle until eventually Kira is in front of my car. "You're here," Kira says surprised by my presence.

I step out of the car brushing off my shirt. Kira's face is evidently puffy from crying and she looks as if she'll wither away at any second as she leans on the car for support. "I wanted to make sure you get home okay," I say. "You can't catch a cab on this side of the hospital, you'd have to walk all the way around to the entrance," I add. Kira lies against the car clearly weighing her options. "I'll go with Violet then," she says firmly before taking a step away. "Wait, I never got to tell you what I needed to say that day," I whisper so that only she can hear. "It doesn't matter now; I'm not staying here long," she clarifies. 'What do you mean?" my voice trembles as I speak. "I'm leaving in six months. My brother graduates soon so I'll be going back with my grandparents and finding work there," she informs me.

"Can I follow you?" I ask. "No, I don't want any part of you Ian," Kira says before covering her mouth in an attempt to stop herself from crying. Before I can object Kira's already walked away. Her fragile body disappears into the distance as she walks further and further away slipping from my grasp once again.