The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Fourty-Nine: Unknown Visitor

Alessia's knuckles rapped softly against the wooden door of Beau's house, her hand trembling with each gentle knock. The weight of the world seemed to press down on her shoulders, and her vision was blurred from the tears that had yet to cease falling. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a reminder of the chaos and pain she couldn't escape.

The door creaked open, revealing Beau's little sister, Lily. The young girl blinked up at Alessia, her eyes wide with concern. Lily's small frame was dwarfed by the oversized pajama shirt she wore, her hair a tangled mess of curls from a recent nap.

"Lessia?" Lily's voice was soft and curious, her eyes darting to the tear-streaked cheeks and red puffy eyes that told a story of deep hurt. "Why are you crying?"

Alessia tried to muster a smile, but it faltered. She shook her head slightly, not trusting herself to speak without breaking down further. Lily's concern deepened, and she stepped back, opening the door wider.

"Come in," she said gently, reaching out a small hand to guide Alessia inside. "Don't cry, Lessia. I'll get Beau. He'll make it better."

Alessia followed Lily into the warm, welcoming house, her movements mechanical and devoid of energy. She waited in the entryway, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as Lily scampered off to find her brother.

"Beau!" Lily's voice rang through the house, high-pitched and urgent. "Beau! Lessia needs you!"

A groan echoed from somewhere upstairs, followed by the sound of footsteps. Beau appeared at the top of the stairs, looking mildly annoyed as he made his way down.

"Lily, what is it?" he asked, his expression shifting from frustration to worry as he took in Alessia's disheveled state.

Lily pointed at Alessia, her small face filled with concern. "Alessia's crying. You need to help her."

Beau's annoyance melted away instantly. He crossed the room in quick strides, his eyes filled with worry. "Alessia, what happened?" His voice was tender, filled with concern.

She shook her head, unable to form the words. Beau didn't press further. Instead, he led her towards his room, his movements gentle but firm. "Come on," he murmured. "Let's get you somewhere quiet."

Alessia allowed herself to be guided, her steps heavy and unsteady. Beau closed the door behind them, offering a semblance of privacy from the rest of the world. He gestured for her to sit on the edge of his bed. Alessia collapsed onto the bed, her shoulders shaking as she tried to suppress her sobs.

Beau watched her for a moment, unsure of what to do. He sat beside her, careful to maintain a respectful distance. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to," he said softly. "Just... try to relax, okay?"

Exhausted from the emotional turmoil, Alessia curled up on Beau's bed. The weight of her pain, the betrayal, the loneliness-all of it was too much. Without another word, she drifted off into a fitful sleep, her tears soaking into the pillow.

Beau watched her for a moment longer before sighing. He pulled a blanket over her and left the room, giving her space to rest. He returned a few hours later to find her awake, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Feeling any better?" he asked gently, taking a seat at his desk.

Alessia sat up slowly, the exhaustion still evident on her face. "Not really," she admitted, her voice hoarse from crying. "I just... I feel so lost, Beau. Everything's a mess."

He nodded, waiting for her to continue. Alessia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Rory and I had a fight. A really bad one. She kissed Jess, and I... I can't get over it. It feels like a betrayal, and I don't know how to move past it."

Beau's expression softened. "I'm sorry, Alessia. That sounds really tough."

"It is," she said, her voice breaking. "Rory used to be my best friend, and now I can't even look at her without feeling this... this anger and hurt. And Jess... he was supposed to be different. I thought he cared."

Beau leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "People can really suck sometimes. But you know, it's okay to feel like this. You don't have to have it all figured out right now."

Alessia nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I just don't know how to fix things. Everything feels so broken."

"Maybe you don't have to fix everything," Beau said gently. "Maybe you just need to take care of yourself for a while. Let things settle. It's okay to be hurt and angry. Just don't let it consume you."

Alessia took a shaky breath, Beau's words offering a small measure of comfort. "I wonder how long it would take anyone to notice if I just... stopped talking. It feels like no one really cares, Beau. Not really. Not when it matters."

Beau's expression grew serious. "I care, Alessia. And I know things are hard right now, but you have people who care about you. Don't ever think you don't matter, because you do. To me, and to others."

Alessia's eyes filled with fresh tears.
She whispered, "Thank you, Beau. I don't know what I would have done without you tonight."

Beau gave her a reassuring smile, even though she couldn't see it. "Anytime, Alessia. Anytime."

As Alessia lay there, drifting in and out of sleep, her thoughts became darker. The pain and betrayal felt insurmountable, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being utterly alone. The comforting presence of Beau couldn't chase away the growing shadows in her mind. Each tear she shed seemed to drag her deeper into a pit of despair.

When she finally woke up, her heart felt heavy with an overwhelming sadness. The brief moments of sleep had done little to alleviate her distress. Instead, she felt a gnawing emptiness inside, a void that seemed impossible to fill.

"I just don't know how to keep going," she whispered to herself, staring blankly at the wall. "Everything hurts so much."

Her mind was a turbulent sea of emotions, crashing waves of sadness, anger, and hopelessness. The betrayal by Rory and Jess had left a scar that felt like it would never heal. As she sat there in Beau's room, the world outside seemed distant and uninviting.

Alessia realized that she was in a very dark place, and the road to recovery seemed impossibly long and hard. The weight of her struggles pressed down on her, and for the first time, she wondered if she had the strength to endure it all. The darkness in her mind loomed larger, threatening to swallow her whole.