Life, Death, Together

Chapter 24

Get yourself together Thorn!

You hadn't seen her for what, 10 years? And now you're her boss? What have I gotten myself into! I didn't think she would be in Dubuque! I figured somewhere like, Iowa City, or Demoine! I mean, when I first saw her, I thought it was just someone similar to her, but after she told me her name I freaked out. 

Maybe she doesn't know it's me? I mean I told her...

What did I tell her?

I said I would stay in Iowa and here I am, but..

I said I would find her. I failed. She found me. Y'know, maybe it's not too late to get fired. I let out a breath and grabbed the paper in front of me. Straightening out my suit, I started getting to work.

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Finally! My shift was over and life seemed fine, until I spotted her again. I glanced at the car she had, it was my old jeep. I stared at her and the jeep for a second and she looked back at me. "Do you have a problem with me or my car?" I quickly shook my head. "Oh! No, ma'am. Just, a familiar jeep." She raised her eyebrow and I dashed towards my car. 

I raced out of that parking lot and went back home. 

Thorn get yourself together! She still has my jeep, she looks like she did 10 years ago, and she's sweet. Wait a minute. That's it. I need to ask her on a date! Tomorrow. Wait a minute. What am I thinking? Ugh. Life is so confusing when you live alone. 

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I groaned as I stopped my timer from waking me up anymore than I already was. Tuesday mornings suck. I got up and went downstairs to eat something, cereal. My beloved cereal. Quick, delicious, full of sugar, and gets me going. 

I went back upstairs to change and slipped on a jacket. I brushed my hair and my teeth and then grabbed my keys and started heading to my car. 

After arriving at work and quickly sprinting to my office before spotting Rein, I started planning what I was gonna tell her. What would I say? I heard a knock on the door, quickly fixing myself, I straightened my posture. "Come in." The door opened slightly and I watched Rein peak her head in the room. "Th- I mean uh, Sir, I would like to talk to you about something." 

What would she want to talk to me about? "Sure? Close the door behind you." My deep voice was shivering a little, I was nervous and I could tell she was too. "I was wondering, if I could get a raise." She wasn't here to confront me, which led me to give out a breath of air, although, I was wondering what she would do with a raise? Then the idea popped into my mind. 

"Miss, I would love to give you a raise, on one condition." She seemed a little taken aback, but gave out a little nodd. "What is it?" I motioned for her to come closer to where I was sitting, and she gently walked over, confused and alert. "You, have to go on a date with me." 

She grabbed the neck of her shirt, she really was taken aback. 

"Ah, i'm sorry, i'll give you the raise next week." I was stuttering, my heart felt like it was dying, her being right in front of me. "I told myself not to find you.." She muttered, I could barely make out the words she was saying. "Thorn."

"Uh- Yeah?" My mind was racing faster than a race car. "Do you remember, when you were 1, and sick, you were seated next to a newborn baby?" I thought for a moment. "I know this story, yes, I do. The newborn died after I was separated from her, and I stuck with the sickness.."

"Yeah, Thorn, I was that newborn, and I 'died' but the thing is, the doctors chucked me in the trash, with a group of others, thinking I was dead meat. Thorn, it was me and you in that pile of rust, and we were the only ones to stay alive, my adoptive parents found me with notes from my parents, and they brought you to your family.."

"Rein.." I ran out of my seat and rushed toward her, hugging her. 

"I knew it was you."