AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 44 - JUST ANOTHER DAY by JON SECADA

Hello my patient darlings! Only 1500 words, but I just had to get a chapter to you. Just to let you know: this chapter deals with drug and alcohol abuse. Ideally, anytime a person is severely detoxing from alcohol and drugs, they should be taken to the ER, or taken by ambulance. I took some liberties here that you should not. Because Farlan took care of Kuchel, a meth addict, for years, he can take care of Levi too. Please see this as fictional only, and nothing you should ever do in these circumstances. Always take care of yourself first. Thank you for waiting for me. I love you. <3 Mags

SPOTIFY LINK: https://open.spotify.com/track/5AoBNJQDXXEnIJGjJjZu3y?si=0dae28b9a01e4d2c

Farlan sat at the kitchen table, eating cereal and listening to Isabel sing a string of songs in the shower. Her voice was comforting and kept him grounded. He was worried about Levi. How much he was drinking, the fact that he wasn't showing up for work or for shows. He'd never seen him this devastated. More and more he reminded Farlan of Kuchel. He couldn't lose him, but he couldn't save him either.

Isabel walked into the kitchen and ran her hand across the back of his neck. As she drank her coffee she watched him. Levi was the hub of the wheel, and everyone else the spokes. It was amazing how much his behavior and his absence affected each of them so profoundly. She opened her mouth to say something...anything...that would comfort Farlan, but there was knocking at the door.

Farlan stood and answered the door. When it opened, Erwin, Armin, Hange, and Jean came through, all looking determined, but dire. Farlan sank into the fear of bad news. Erwin came around him and put his hands on his shoulders.

Erwin addressed the group. "Jean hasn't heard anything coming from Levi's apartment in a couple days except music playing over and over again."

Hange turned to Jean and asked, "Which song?"

Jean grimaced and shook his head. "Just Another Day?"

Armin gasped. "I love that song!"

Hange frowned and said, "Jon Secada?"

Farlan covered his eyes. "This is really bad."

Erwin surveyed the group. "We have to go in there, regardless of how open he is to it." His voice shook. "We have no idea what state he is in. Are you guys truly prepared to see him this way?"

They nodded, grimly.

Jean leaned in. "Also Farlan, there's a weird smell coming from his apartment. It's probably a mess in there."

Hange huffed a laugh. "Okay, I think we should get going." They stood up. "I think Farlan and Erwin should handle Levi, while the rest of us stay out of the way and get the place together."

The rest nodded and got up, filing out into the hallway. They walked slowly, Armin holding Erwin's hand, as they crept toward LEvi's door. They could clearly hear the hi falsetto of Secada's voice. Armin started to unconsciously hum the tune until Jean elbowed him.

They could clearly smell the odor Jean had spoken of. Farlan held back, his eyes welling up and his face crumpling. Isabel's eyebrows rose with concern. "Babe?" she whispered. "What is it?"

Before he could answer, Erwin started banging on the door. The longer they stood there, the more scared they got. After what seemed like a year, Farlan reached forward and slipped the house key into Erwin's palm.

Erwin let out a big sigh and unlocked the door. He stepped through the door, and they all followed, immediately covering their noses. The place was completely upside down. Guitars off of their stands, albums strewn across the living room, open and sometimes broken bottles of beer, wine and root beer. Hange gasped. There was cereal all over the kitchen floor, ashtrays crammed with smoked cigarettes, and worse, vomit and unwanted food spilled in each room. "Levi?" Erwin called.