In times of need, we all need somebody to lean on. It may be a friend, a parent or sometimes a complete stranger. But for Payten, it just so happens to be her best friend, aka her old crush.
Will old feelings arise in this new and scary time? Or we...
Nothing prepares you. It can happen in a split second, and there's nothing you could do about it.
The wind was howling and the rain hit the roof at a steady pace. Thunder rumbled in the distance as she shut off the kitchen lights, and headed up the stairs towards the bedroom, a golden ball of fur following closely behind her.
She walked into the bedroom, the dog jumping up into the bed and making itself comfortable. The red haired woman giggled at the way her dog lay, sprawled out. She slipped under the covers, turning the bedside table lamp off and rolling over to pet the dog, looking at the empty space next to her.
She didn't know how long she'd slept before she awoke to the sound of fierce knocking on the front door. The dog, Marty jumped off the bed and started barking. She flung the covers off, slipping on her slippers and made her way out of the bedroom.
She walked hurriedly down the stairs as another set of knocks erupted on the door.
"I'm coming!" She called out, as she rounded the corner and headed down the foyer towards the door. She unlocked the door and swung it open.
She was faced with two male police officers. One looked no older than she was, and the other one looked around the same age as her father.
"Hello, ma'am. Are you miss Payten Larson, Aleksanders wife?" The older gentleman said, and Payten nodded. The older and younger policemen shared a common look and they took their hats off from where they rested on top of their heads.
Payten immediately clued in to why they were at her door. She had seen and written about it in many movies and shows.
"No." She mumbled in disbelief. She clasped a hand over mouth, the other one finding her necklace, the one he gave her. Tears stung her eyes as they began to roll down her cheeks.
"Ma'am, there was an accident. I'm sorry to tell you but your husband didn't make it." The older gentleman said the words that no person wants to say or hear. Payten fell to her knees, the two policemen kneeling down beside her.
"No!" She screamed and she began sobbing, each one shaking her body more than the last.
"Miss, we need you to come with us." The older policemen whispered out, as he was still knelt down beside her. Paytens sobs die down, and she brings herself up onto a sitting position on her knees. She looks at the older gentleman, and for the first time, she really looks at him. She sees the faint wrinkles covering his face, his bushy salt and pepper mustache and his dark brown eyes.
She brings her sleeve up to her eyes and wipes away the excess tears. She looks down and find his name tag. 'Callahan'.
Callahan grabbed her hand and helped her up. Payten looked around and then spoke.
"I need to go grab my phone. Were his parent called yet?" Payten asked, her stomach dropping again.
"You were his next of kin, but we did try but there was no answer." The younger police officer spoke, and Payten took a glance at his name tag. 'Jack'.
"Uh, where is he? Aleksander?" Payten spoke, thinking about what she would tell his parents.
"He's at the hospital, we had to take him there. Do you want one of us to escort you to get your phone?" Callahan spoke softly, and Payten shook her head. She walked away from the two police officers and headed back to their room, where he laid not even 24 hours ago.
Payten looked at the clock, reading the numbers 3:52am. She sighed, and looked down the hall where Mr and Mrs Larson stood talking to the police officers.
Payten looked back at her phone, unlocking it. She opened her phone app, and searched for his name. She clicked his contact, and she hesitated before hitting call.
She put the phone up to her ear, and listened to it ring. She heard a click, and then a raspy voice.
"Payten? Why are you calling at this ungodly hour." The man's voice rings out, and Payten puts a hand over her mouth.
"Adam.." she mumbles out, her voice shaking. She heard ruffling on the other end.
"Payten, what happened?" Adam says a little more seriously, and a tear rolls down her cheek. It still feels unreal to say it.
"Aleksander was in a car accident. Adam, Alek is dead." Payten blurted. She could almost imagine Adams facial expression.
"Where are you? Are you okay?" She heard him moving around.
"I'm fine, I wasn't with him, but I'm at the Columbia Hospital." Payten looked down the hall again, and then focused back on the wall in front of her.
"I'm on my way." Adam spoke hurriedly, and she heard a door slam shut. Payten wanted to protest but she knew there was no need, that he'd come anyway. She hesitated for a moment before replying.
"Okay. Please hurry."
"I'm already half way there."
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