A Silent Melody

Sexy Sadie

Things got better in the weeks that followed after Melody reawaken from her catatonic state.

Matt quit working at the grocery store, arriving the Saturday morning before classes started and collapsing on Melody's couch, sleeping through the weekend. He only awoke to grab a bite to eat or to check on Melody, who'd tell him to go back to sleep.

Melody was able to resume her usual activities and went back to school the following week. She insisted on going alone, promising Matt and Lia that she'd be fine on her own. They'd been worried at first but acquiesced once they saw how quickly her recovery had been.

Matt and Lia would occasionally ask her about her time in her catatonic state. She told them she truly didn't remember much. It was as if it had been a bad dream. She would obviously see and hear them moving around, but it was as if she had no discernible perception of the world around her. She was completely unaware of the events occurring around her.

Matt and Lia had told her about her mom's visit soon after she awoke. Melody had been furious at first but calmed down once she realized Matt and Lia were willing to support her financially in any possible way. She couldn't thank them enough, telling them they were the best friends she could have ever hoped to have. Matt and Lia had smiled back at her contently, happy to see she was taking things in stride.

Melody still insisted on finding another part-time job so they'd have some extra income on which to rely.

She found a job as a public library assistant soon after classes started. Matt and Lia had been worried it might be too physically straining for her, but she insisted that it wasn't. She explained to them that she worked with an older lady called Anne, who would have her rearrange books and do other similarly light stuff. It wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

Matt and Melody were able to resume their usual activities, going to the beach and taking walks in the park, talking quietly to each other. Melody was ready and willing to talk about their past. She'd explained to Matt that she'd fought through enough to be able to confront it.

Matt understood, but couldn't bring himself to talk about it. It still weighed too heavily on his conscience.

Despite their guilt, everything returned back to normal. They went back to their regular flow of going to classes and studying after. They continued spending their weekends together. Matt returned to his apartment with Peter, Diego, and Jonah.

Melody's recovery went completely fine aside from one incident.

It occurred a week after Melody awoke. Matt and Melody were snuggled on the couch watching TV. Lia was upstairs taking a shower. Everything seemed normal, but out of nowhere the door slammed open and Melody's mom burst in, furious. Lia had called her to let her know Melody was fine, despite Matt and Melody insisting she didn't. Lia had done it out of spite. She wanted Mrs. Amano to know that Melody could manage without her.

Mr. Amano followed behind her, standing by the door.

Mrs. Amano rushed up to Matt and Melody sitting on the couch, staring down at them, her face red with anger. Matt and Melody remained snuggled in silence, not minding her.

She started furiously, going on a tirade.

"Look what we have here! You gain consciousness and you don't even think to call your mother?! I gave birth to you, Melody, for God's sake! You prefer to spend your time with this good-for-nothing?!"

She pointed angrily at Matt, who stared back confusedly.

"You know what he did! You know what he's capable of doing. I don't want you to come running back to me with your tail between your legs when he hurts you once again! I warned you before that this young man is trouble! It's all he's ever been. You're a fool if you can't see that. Stay away from him, I told you. And did you listen? No! Joey didn't listen, and look where that got him!"