𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐘 → original

twenty

Three months. That is how long it had been since the group's funeral for Vallie. Still, no tangible traces of her had ever been found.

The October air was cold across the country, chilling Lou as she walked to class, Amory as he stepped out onto the field, Nadia as she hobbled down to receive her mail, and Ophelia, Caspar, and Marc as they found each other throughout the city.

Amory was not cut from the team, but rather bolstered up as a story of strength in the face of adversity. He continued to play each game, an arm band with an embroidered 'V' on it, and blow a kiss to the sky each time he made a touchdown. He wasn't doing it for the fans or the press, but really for Vallie. Wherever she was, he hoped she knew that she was always on his mind.

Nadia's assignments were transferred to the UN's branch in Washington, D.C. She had argued endlessly, but her supervisor told her it was for the best. That way, she could be nearer to family and work closer to her home. Nadia hated D.C., though. She found herself constantly missing Europe, and hating the small bit of distance between her and what once was the Wright Cabin. Still, she threw herself head first into work and excelled, because that's what she did best.

Marc had been granted a leave of absence from work from his family. They did not coddle him by any means, but rather told him they thought it best that he took time away from his internship and instead focused on studying for the LSAT. Marc did not argue, not even slightly. This gave him more time to work on his cooking classes, though his family did not know that. He felt more free than he had in years, and he hated himself for it entirely. The only cost had been Vallie's life.

Caspar continued his work at the local public school. During his first week back, the elementary school's art teacher had tasked her students with drawing cards for Caspar. He now had a slew of artwork, all titled to 'Mr. Pollock,' in various different crayon shades. One in particular remained on his desk in the library, a large frowny-face with cartoonishly large tears pouring from the eyes, with a large sunshine in the corner. In messy scrawl, they had written "Ples bo not cry Mr. P, the sun wants yu to be happy." Sometimes, reading that card was the only thing that made him smile all day.

Lou was back to work in her masters program, though it was more evident than ever before that she was struggling. Her guidance counselor and professors tiptoed around what happened, all knowing what she had been through from the news. Lou assured them that she was fine. She was always fine. Only now, they really didn't believe her, and she was starting not to believe herself. For the first time in her life, withdrawing from classes to take time to herself seemed like a rational option.

Ophelia started her graduate program. She was passing, though she was not excelling. That was foreign to her, because she had always been so smart. She did not think she was any less smart now, but she did think that perhaps her mind was too full all of the time. Hours spent writing were no longer enough to pour out the bad and make room for the necessary. Her grief was never-ending, a pool that continued to fill and nearly drown her. She could only tread water for so much longer.

✩✰✩

Ophelia wrapped up her day of classes, only to receive a call from Marc. Those seemed to be few and far between these days, so she excitedly answered without a second to waste.

"Hi." Marc answered almost immediately, a smile on his face that matched her own, though they could not see each other.

"Hi."

"Guess what?" Marc was nearly buzzing with his news, his knee bouncing as he talked. He was sitting on his couch in his apartment, phone in hand and talking to the first person he thought to call.