She has always been alone, if you exclude her grandpa and books of course.
He has always been surrounded by people, never mind them not being good for him.
One little mistake at fifteen has brought him to her stomping ground.
She's a bibliophile...
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"Did January speak to you since this morning?" I ask Lana as I drive her home.
"I sent her a couple texts but she didn't answer." Lana replies.
"That's weird, she usually answers fast, no?" I worry.
"Please don't become one of those uptight boyfriends, she's probably just reading, you know how she gets when she reads." Lana throws me a smile as we reach home, "thanks, bro." She laughs as she gets out of the car.
"Welcome," I reply as she closes the door, I'm so glad that the sparkle is back in her eyes, her break up done her wonders.
I drive to When The Page Turns, but when I get there the door is closed and the lights are off, weird.
It's three thirty, the bookstore should be open by now.
I call January.
"Hey," she answers, her voice is raw and there is sadness dripping from her voice.
"What's wrong, where are you?" I ask.
"Um, in the hospital." She replies.
"What? Why?" I start driving to the hospital.
"Pops is," she starts crying, "can you please come?" She asks between sobs.
"I'm already on my way, baby." I tell her.
He crying gets louder.
Please don't let it be what I think it is, please.
"I'm almost there, baby, just hang on." I try to soothe her.
"I can't breathe, August." She cries.
"I'm here, baby, where are you?" I ask as I put my car in park and get out.
"In front of the hospital, near the gate." She says.
I start running to her, and when I see her sitting on a patch of grass with her back to the gate and her knees to her chest my heart breaks into shreds.
"I'm here, baby," I sit and pull her into me.
"He is," she sobs, "he is dead, August."
"What?" I ask. "What do you mean he is dead?"
"He was laying there," she hiccups, "he wasn't breathing so I called nine-one-one, they couldn't save him." She deflates in my arms.
"Where is he now, Jan?" I ask.
"He's in the mortuary." She starts sobbing uncontrollably.
"It's okay, baby, everything is gonna be okay." I kiss the top of her head.
"I lost him," she whispers as she looks up at me, her eyes red and her cheeks blotchy. "I'm all alone."
I tuck her head to my chest as my eyes start to burn, "you're not alone, and you never will be alone either, I promise you that."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She mutters.
If I have anything to do with it, and I do, January Jade Arlington will never be alone. Ever.
But I don't say that, it's not the time.
Instead, I kiss her head again and tuck her even more to me.
If I can't say it, than I damn straight will make her feel that in no way is she alone.
***
Hey, hi, hello.
I know I disappeared for a while but I'm here now, yay.
How are you?
I hate this chap bc of what happened to pops but this is life.
K guys I love youuuu
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