Rod - The Weapon

Chapter 11: Closure

I drive my car into the city, it's 8 in the morning. I'm trying to make it in time for breakfast in my mother's house. Well, to be honest, she isn't my biological mother but she took care of Rachel when she was a child in an orphanage. Over the years I got to meet her and I visited her a lot of times with Rachel. I just feel that the ritual shouldn't end because Rachel isn't here anymore.

So I have decided to check up on her like once or twice a month, I'm pretty sure Rach would want that too. I'd still like to keep in touch with relatives.

I pull up in the driveway of the orphanage and go inside. There she is, Maya, Rach's mum, more like my mum too. I go in and call her with a big smile. She comes rushing in for a hug. "Oh my sweet child, how have you been?" she asks to which I reply with the same energy, "Well, I've been hanging by the thread. How are you Maya? How are the kids?"

"Oh you know them, they're the same mischievous little kids. I'm doing fine I guess. You have lost so much weight since the last time I saw you," she says.

Yeah, her statement proves how much of a mother she is, the last time she saw me was at the funeral but apparently I have lost weight already.

We go inside and I see Eddie, a 17 year old guy who used to live at the orphanage. He was always Rach's favorite. "Hey Aiden! How are you doing?" asks Eddie to which I reply with, "I'm good, but starving. Can we eat as we talk?"

We leave the room and go towards the dining area where all the children are seated. I wave them a 'Hi' and they all start giggling. I love kids, they male me happy. I sit down, ready to devour whatever they're going to throw onto my plate.

One of the other care takers comes in with some omelettes, bacon, toast and some classic orange juice. On top of that she also brings Mac n cheese. I swear to god, if you think of Mac n cheese, the first person who'll come to your mind is Rachel.

We eat and catch up, which very nice to be honest. Hadn't had a personal conversation like this in a long time.

Eddie asks, "How is work? Got new cases?" to which I replied, "I sent in my resignation letter, I don't want to work anymore."

The both of them look so shocked because I absolutely loved my job. Then Maya asks, "Why honey? Do you not like being a detective anymore?" I just reply, "Well, its not that I don't like the job, I obviously love it but I think that I'll just keep on thinking about my years of work with Rachel. It might distract me, so I'm trying to pave a new path."

There is no way that I'd tell them about the podcast, I'll maybe tell after it gets released. They just nod and we continue to eat in silence. After finishing the meal we go into a room and I sit down. It is kind of peaceful without the noise.

Maya says, "Did you talk to her again?" I look at her confused and say, "Who?" Then she looks at me hesitantly and says, "You know, your biological mother."

That is a touchy subject to me. Once, like five years ago I guess, my actual mother tried connecting with me. I met up with her, not to forgive her, but to hear her excuse on why she abandoned me. She said few things and I listened. She then said some stupid things and I listened to them as well. I'm a very patient person by the way. She then asked for some money, and I asked her to go back in the direction she came from because she wasn't going to get a penny from my wallet.

So yeah, a touchy subject for me. I looked at Maya and say, "Well, my money is in check, so no, she didn't visit me again, even for borrowing money." The both of them just look a bit off and I say, "Why talk about someone who we don't even care about? Let's drink some wine, I'll just substitute the wine for juice since I'm driving."

Eddie nods and goes to one of the rooms to get a bottle of wine. I turn towards Maya, the 60 year old beautiful woman in front of me, and I smile before asking, "Is he set for college?"

She replies, "Yeah, his first semester is over actually. He is on holiday break."
I ask, "Oh, which college is he going to?" Maya replies, "Oakwood Pine College of Arts."

I think for a moment, I have heard this name somewhere else. Oh, Henry and Guy go there. Eddie walks into the room with some cranberry juice and wine. I ask him, "Do you know any Henry or Guy in your college?"

He thinks for a second, and it felt like he was going to tell 'no' but then he nods affirmatively. "Yeah, they're my seniors. They're quite nice to me, how do you know them?"

I look at him and think for a second, I can't tell them that they're doing a podcast about Rachel. I'd rather tell it as a surprise when it gets out. So I say, "Oh they live near my neighborhood, I met them in a cafe."

He just nods and says, "They're really cool and popular. You might think that since they're really popular, they're stuck up, but no. I couldn't fit in with any group in the beginning, but they hung out with me."

I felt proud of them both, I'm to tally going to tell them this when I get back home. Eddie continues, "Recently they were talking about making a podcast about a lady. Not sure who though."

Well, I'm sure I know who it is about but I don't show like I know about it. I just no db to whatever he says. I feel this slight happiness in me, I'm excited to surprise them with the podcast.

We talk for some more time and then I say, "Well Maya and Eddie, I think I'll get going now. Its a two hour drive you know, and I don't want to be exhausted tomorrow." Maya says, "Come on, don't be like that. You're the closest person I have to Rachel, other than Eddie, now."

I just look at them with the 'I'm sorry' eyes.

They both give me a sad look as I pull my car out of their drive way and start driving. I wave back to them and a sense of closure fills my heart.

I guess Rachel's death still makes everyone upset.

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Hey y'all! Sorry for the late chapter, I was a little busy with work. This is a small chapter, more like a filler to the story. I'll try my best to upload one more today, so please vote, comment and follow for updates!