Yours Truly, Austin Post - Post Malone

7

Ava helps Gracie clean up the kitchen and then helps her put her wig back on. "Austin says I don't need it but, I see the worry in his parent's eyes when they visit and my head is exposed. I don't want to make them worry more," Gracie says softly. Ava smiles at her, she is sweet and her heart is kind. She is the one battling a tumour that is slowly stealing her but she worries about those around her. Gracie is selfless and Ava finds herself liking her even more than she did only moments ago. "Hello, darling," a large man with a big furry beard says walking into the kitchen, he has the same happy smile Austin does and Ava recognizes him as Austin's father. "Hi, Dad!" Gracie says hugging him tightly then hugging a sweet-looking woman who appears from behind Austin's father, again Ava recognizes her as Austin's stepmother. It's a little intrusive Ava thinks, how these people are seemingly normal but, given who their son is - she feels like she already knows them by just being a fan.

"Ava these are Austin's parents, Rich and Jodie," Gracie introduces them. "Ava is the home nurse I was telling you about," Gracie says. "Hi, Ava, welcome," Rich says then catches Ava off guard as he gives her a hug, his smile bright. Jodie is just as sweet, hugging Ava too but she is a little more reserved. "What is in this pot?" Rich asks lifting the pot lid. "It's the dinner I made," Austin says walking back in. He looks grumpy. "You made Gracie eat that?" Rich frowns and pulls his face. "It was really good, I loved it," Gracie says as Jodie wraps her arm around her again. Rich smiles at Gracie, it's a fond smile. "I bet it was, darling," he says.

They retreat to the den and Ava offers to make coffee while they sit with Gracie and ask about her day in detail - they are also measuring time now in memories. "Would you like me to wash the fruit and put it away?" she asks as Austin walks into the kitchen just as she finishes making coffee. "No," Austin says reaching for a pack of biscuits from the cupboard and then turning to walk out but, then he stops and his shoulders slump slightly as he turns back to look at Ava. "I just..." he starts and then shakes his head as he takes a deep breath in. Ava does not push him, she knows why he said no - she will just stand quietly while he gathers his head.

"I just... it's stupid."

"These days even stupid has a place."

Austin looks at Ava a little shocked, a little bewildered, and shakes his head. "I forget you know what this constant burning in your chest feels like...you know know," he says softly.

"I wish I didn't. I wish I was like one of those people who get to just say they understand or that they are sorry."

"I hate that. When someone says they are sorry for what's happening. I hate it."

Ava nods she knows what he means. She also knows people are only trying to be compassionate when they say that and it comes from a good place. But, death is unfair so save your sorry for worries that can be fixed.

"The fruit...I am scared to let you wash it...if today was the last day I could take her to pick fruit it's the last day that I could wash the fruit we picked together...if I let you wash it... it's something I will never get back...I will never get a next time."

Austin looks sheepish. But, Ava gets it. On the day Carter slipped away Ava had forgotten to tell him what the joke was on the morning radio show. He had listened to it every day on his way to work and would tell her the joke when they had dinner. When he got sick and needed his sleep Ava would turn on the radio just to hear the joke and then tell him when he woke up. He would laugh every time. She had done it every day but on the day he died, she was so focused on telling him that she loved him that she forgot about the joke. She will never forgive herself, maybe he would have stayed a little longer to hear the punch line. 'What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches?' the joke is burnt into her brain.

"I would not wash the fruit even if you asked me. I am not your maid," Ava says turning back to the coffee and placing the cups on the tray. "Thank you," Austin whispers with a soft laugh and then walks behind Ava as she carries the coffee tray. Gracie is telling Rich and Jodie about the plans she has for the pool. She wants to drain it and paint stingrays on the sides and bottom of it. "That's a big job," Rich says smiling at Ava as she hands him his coffee, "Thank you," he hums. "Not that big. It will take a weekend," Austin says sitting next to Gracie and putting his arm around her as she leans on him. "You should paint one with tattoos and one with a flower crown," Ava says. Everyone stops and looks at her, she had not meant to say that out loud. Then Rich starts laughing and so does Gracie, Jodie has a smile on her face and Austin does not look so tortured for a second. "I love that idea!" Gracie says. "Maybe we could have a family BBQ and invite everyone to paint their own stingray," Jodie suggests. "Oh, I love that even more!  Can we do that?" Gracie asks turning to face Austin. "Of course, baby," he says kissing her lips.

"Thank you for the idea, Ava," Gracie says looking very happy. "You will fit right in here," Rich says to her. They turn their attention back to Gracie and spend the evening caught up in her laughter. Ava retreats to her bedroom to give them some privacy, making memories is all they have left. She unpacks the rest of her stuff and then showers. The bathroom is much fancier than she has ever been in before and when she slips into bed she has to take a moment at how amazing the bedsheets feel and how soft the bed is. Money can't buy happiness but it can sure make life comfortable and promise a good night's sleep. She leaves her curtains open and looks out the huge windows, the moon is full tonight and she can make out the rolling hills across the road - this house and the lands surrounding it have a calmness to them.

She hears Gracie giggling and chatting as she and Austin walk past her bedroom and then the house is quiet. She hates quiet so she rolls over and taps her phone then chuckles when Post Malone's voice comes through her music app. She puts another song on - just doesn't feel appropriate right now even though he is who she usually listens to. With the song filling the quietness she rolls over and falls asleep.

Ava's eyes pop open and she sees the sun has just started to peep out from behind the hills. Then she hears a woman crying, it must be Gracie. She knows with her tumor the pain is like a rollercoaster - sometimes it is nothing and sometimes it is everything, it must be bad this morning. She wants to go check on her but, Austin would not be happy with that and he is no doubt right beside her.

"Ava!"

She snaps up in bed at Austin shouting for her. Is her mind playing tricks on her?

"Ava!"

Nope, that's him calling her. She throws back the covers and jumps out of bed rushing to their bedroom doors and pushing them open. Gracie is not crying anymore but, only because she is having a Tonic-clonic seizure. She is jerking and shaking as her muscles twist her back into an arch. Austin is standing by the bed hovering his hands around her to make sure she does not fall off or hurt herself - there is nothing more he can do. He is also watching the clock on his bedside table. When Gracie suddenly goes limp and whines his hands are on her, trying to soothe her. "How long?" Ava asks. "Three minutes," he mumbles helping Gracie sit up. That's good, anything over five minutes and they would be on their way to the hospital. "Today is a winter day," Austin mumbles as he gathers a now crying Gracie in his arms, rocking her gently. She gets sick all over him and the bed, but he does not flinch as he holds her. "Go clean her up, I will fix the bed," Ava says softly. Austin stands and lifts Gracie gently then walks slowly into the bathroom.

A winter day?  The air does feel colder today...