Walks like Rain

Rest In Peace

"Are you sure this is their house?" I asked as he pulled up to the curb. He nodded as he got out and walked over and opened my door for me. We walked up the steps to their porch and I rung the door bell. Liam breathed heavily next to me. I took his hand and squeezed it. "It will be okay."

A middle aged woman answered the door. Her eyes were red from crying. She squeezed her eyes closed from the daylight, her eyes not adjusting to the brightness of outside in contrast to what seemed like the darkness of her house. It was overcast out, but even so it was still bright.

"Liam? Is that you? I haven't seen you on forever."

"I hate to be reunited like this." He said, embracing her.

"Who's this?"

"This is Bay. We were out together with Veronica the other night."

"Oh. I see. Well it's nice to meet you."

"I've made you dinner. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through right now."

"Oh, thank you. Please, come inside. It looks like it's about to storm any minute now." I smiled at her as she welcomed us into her home. " Adam, Liam is here." A man with dark, graying hair came out from a room lit only by a computer screen. He was in a band t-shirt and sweats.

"Oh! Sleeping with Sirens. I love them!" I said, trying to brighten the mood.

"So did Veronica." Back down again.

"Shall we go into the kitchen and eat? Please, stay for dinner. After all, you cooked it." Her mother spoke.

"Thank you."

We sat down and ate. Liam and her mother planned out her funeral. I added in a few things here and there but I had just met Veronica a few days ago, I didn't know much about her. The funeral would be in four days at the small church her family attends every Sunday. She invited me for courtesy I assume.

* * *

It was the longest day of my life. Liam wore a black Ralph Lauren suit. I had on a fitted black dress. It was hard seeing Liam like that; weak and broken. He tried not to cry during the service, except when her mother spoke him, Willy, and Edward all lost it. I held his hand the whole time. He watched solemnly as her casket was lowered into the ground, the blank expression on his face stone hard. Afterwards we said goodbye to her mother and father and got into Liam's car, the black color fitting the occasion perfectly.

"I'll drop you off at your flat."

"I'm not leaving you."

He sighed, emotionally drained from today and drove off to his house. When we got there we both changed; Liam into sweats and an undershirt and I in one of his t-shirts that came down to the middle of my thigh. I took out the clip that held up half of my hair, which I had curled for the funeral. I retrieved a wash cloth from Liam's closet in his bathroom and wiped off my dark make up. I met up with Liam when I walked into the living room. He had been laying on the couch, blankly staring at the ceiling.

"What do you want to do?" I asked, climbing on top of him and resting my head on his chest.

"Nothing." He blankly replied, his gaze still set on the ceiling.

"We can just lay here." He didn't say anything, he just started running his fingers through my hair as his gaze was still locked on the ceiling. I could have laid there forever with my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his chest rise and fall.

"What are we going to do for dinner?" I asked many minutes later.

"Nothing."

"Liam, we have to eat." I said, sitting up to face him. He followed my lead and sat up too, breaking his stare from the ceiling.

"You can. I'm not hungry."

"Babe, please."

"You know where everything is at in the kitchen."

I had given up and got up and trudged into the kitchen. I went into his freezer and looked around at all of the frozen food. I decided on a hot pocket, not exactly in the mood to cook. I popped it in the microwave and got myself a glass of water. I sat down at the table and waited for the microwave when my phone rang.

"Bay! How have you been? It's Aunt Leigh!"

"I've been good, I guess."

"Can you do me a favour?"

"What is it?"

"I need to go on a business trip for a week and I need someone to watch Austin. Could you do that for me?"

I took in what she was saying and looked at Liam. Would he be willing to help me take care of my Autistic cousin? Could he handle it during these times? Then again, he needed something to get his mind off things.

"Sure!"

"Thank you! I'll be by tomorrow at 12 to drop him off! See you soon!"

We hung up and I grabbed my food out of the microwave and quickly ate it. When I returned to the living room, Liam was sitting on the sofa mindlessly flipping through channels on the Telly.

"I need to be home by noon tomorrow." I said.

"Okay."

"My cousin is staying with me for a week. I need your help to take care of him."

"I-"

"He's six years old and autistic. I just need help while I'm at work and all."

"Fine."

"Thanks."

"I'm going to bed." He said.

"It's a bit early."

"Stay out here then."

"I'm coming."

He went into his bedroom and threw off his shirt and climbed into his black sheets, laying on his stomach. I climbed in next to him and tried to snuggle into his arm, but he gave me the cold shoulder. He turned his head to face away from me, and when I heard him sniffle I almost knew he was crying. Veronica's death affected him more than I had seen death impact anyone else. He was taking it pretty hard. I ran my fingers up and down his back, trying to calm him down. When that didn't work, I started singing to him. I hadn't sang a note ever since my sister died. I pushed that thought into the back of my head and concentrated on the lyrics I was thinking of for Liam. I made my own little song for him.

"Please don't cry

She's in a better place

Please don't cry

I don't like seeing you like this

Be happy

She would want you to"

He turned his head back around to face me, his face red from crying, tears still streaming down. "You have a beautiful voice."

"Shhh. Go to sleep. Don't think about anything. Everything will be okay when you wake up." I spoke, remembering the same words I had spoken to my sister when my mom would be having fights with one of her many boyfriends she brought home. I wiped Liam's tears as he closed his eyes, and I continued to run my fingers up and down his back until we both fell asleep.