Fire and Silk

Prologue

     Walking through the front door of her empty home, just to be met with silence, had to be the worst part of Talia's day. Slipping off her shoes with a sigh, she slowly made her way into the dark empty home, the only sounds to greet her being her footsteps across the oak flooring, and her breathing as she struggled to control her rising sorrow. 

     Entering the living room that had barely been touched since the funerals, she looked around breathing deep as memories played behind her eyes. If she focused hard enough, she could still smell them both as though they had never left. The smooth, freshness of her husband's cologne, and the sweetness of her daughter's lotion that was applied every morning. 

     Becoming a widow would've been one thing, at least she still would have had her sweet girl to live for. But to lose both of them? At the same time in the same tragic accident? Fate was cruel for no damn reason. They had been headed out to get ice cream and dinner, since Talia was on her period at the time and could barely stand. If she had just...got up to make dinner they would still be here. Would've never been T-boned by some idiot running a red light. The only consolation Talia had was that the man had died just like they did. She knew it was wrong to be happy about someone's death, her friends had told her more than enough times to know she was fucked up for it. But she couldn't help it. He didn't deserve to live.

      Now here she was, nearly a year later and the pain hadn't lessened in the slightest. Gently touching the stone on her necklace, a beautiful white cremation ash gem that she had custom made from her daughters ashes, she allowed herself this moment to simply feel the grief in silence. God, she missed them so much. 

     Sighing once again she glances over at the clock. The screen blinks back at her as the time rolls over to 10:30 pm. She had been staying longer and longer at the lab these days. If she wasn't at work she was at the park, if not there then usually the bar. Anywhere really that allowed her to not have to come home yet. To not be reminded that her world had been ripped from underneath her and that nearly a year later, she hadn't found a way to right herself to this new reality. 

     Turning away from the living room, she made her way down the short hall to the bathroom. Tonight required a distraction. It was time she did more than wallow in her own self pity. What better way to do it than shower, shave, moisturize, order in take out, and play what used to be one of her favorite games?

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     After her long shower, and a quick call to her favorite take out place, Talia decided to add to the ambiance of her game time by lighting a few of her pine scented candles and turning off all the lights. Now she sat, bundled up in a warm fuzzy blanket, on the couch while the TV and Playstation console both booted up. It had been months since she had used either, the memories always keeping her from turning them on. Tonight however she was determined to experience some sense of normalcy and had powered through her grief to finally use them again. 

     The takeout would be delivered in about 40 minutes. More than enough time to immerse herself in the rolling hills, and wide open plains of Red Dead Redemption. It was such a heart wrenching game to play, one that never failed to bring her to tears. The main character, Arthur, had come to be one of her favorite protagonists. With his deep timbre, and heart of gold beneath his tough exterior, he had managed to make a special place in her heart from the first time she had ever sat and watched her husband play the game in it's entirety. Losing Arthur and not having any way to save him was such a bittersweet feeling each time they both played after and right now, she could use the sarcasm and dry humor from the broken outlaw.

     As the game finally loaded up on her screen, the familiar music and signature red of the main menu gave her a sense of nostalgia. "Yea, I needed this." She said quietly to herself. Adjusting the strap of her black tank top, and making sure her black jean shorts hadn't ridden up her thighs, she checked her phone for a moment to see how much longer on the take out, 30 minutes. Grabbing the game controller from the table in front of her, she pressed the x button to start a new game, and her world was thrown into darkness.