Lauren Cimorelli

Chapter 10: When Reality Sets In

Lauren's POV

"Im sorry for your loss, there are still the matters of their possesions, life insurance, and last will and testaments but ill discuss those with you at a better time. Now as for immediate family it appears that you don't have any blood relatives so according to law any person 17 years and younger with no existing family or gaurdian will be placed in the hands of the United States Foster care System. I don't mean to spring this on you so ill come back tonight after youve had some time to yourself. Im sorry."
Detective Morgan hobbled back down the stone sidewalk, and as quickly as he came, left in his LA police vehicle. Once again it was quiet, dreadfully quiet, but what was i supposed to do. How are you supposed to behave in a situation like this?
I had never even met his parents and yet i could still feel small tears begin to gloss over my face. I couldn't even begin to fathom the despair he mustve felt in that moment.
"Skylar?..... Skylar?......
Skylar please say something......."
Nothing he just as catatonic as ever with no indication of moving anytime soon. I started feeling restless and more desperate.
"Skylar?" I grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook him hoping to get some kind of response. Nothing. He just kept standing with his head bowed and his limp arms at his side.
What was i supposed to say to someone who had just lost his entire family?
"Come on Skylar lets go sit down."
It was like trying to push a car in neutral, it was tough to get him going but after that he didn't really resist. He sat down and for the longest he still didn't say anything.
I was sitting in the same chair i had fell asleep in the day before. I felt a small sense of deja-vu as stared at Skylar sitting on the same couch. The only difference was that he wasn't asleep. He could've been though, i hadn't seen him move in almost fifteen minutes.
Finally, I made up my resolve to do something, i had to stop waiting for something to happen. I made a mental countdown. 1... 2... 3! No turning back now, i sat down on the same cushion as him and placed my hands in my lap. It was very subtle but I'm sure i caught a glimpse of him look over at me. At least now i knew he was awake.
"Do you need me to get you anything?"
"No." His words caught me slightly off guard i was expecting silence and maybe if i was lucky a shrug. I was making progress, that was the first thing he had said in over an hour.
"Well how about i-"
"Can i have a minute to myself?"
Truthfully i wanted to stay right beside him until he could smile again but i just couldn't bring myself to say "no" to him right now.
"Okay" i replied. "Ill be back in a minute just say something if you need me. And with that, i left. I couldn't even bare to look back at his dread-stricken face without beginning to cry myself.
How could something so horrible happen to someone so sweet? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Mom, Lisa, and Dani were anxiously waiting at the top of the stairs. I didnt want to take the risk of him hearing me so i pulled them into our room before telling them what happened. Apparently mom had already told them the story she heard over the phone but i assumed none of them had heard the part of him having to go into foster care because they all gasped when i told them that part.
"Thats horrible..." They almost said in unison. I cant speak for them but i felt so hopeless, like nothing i did could really help. And it was like that for the rest of the day. Everyone else gave Skylar a lot of space except for me. I continually stayed right beside him trying to get him to talk, open up, or even cry but he held everything in. I wish i knew what he was thinking...

It was 6:35 when we heard the knock at the door.