Second Chances

Chapter 6-Guidance

Hey you guys! I sincerly apologize for not updating this story sooner. I totally neglected it but I hope that you forgive me and keep reading :) I know this chapter is short and again I apologize but I promise that the next few chapters will get interesting. A different change in plot line....if I do say :) Thank you again sooo much for staying with me even though I've been horrible about updating this story. I hope you can all forgive me! :)

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Chapter 6-Guidance 

As months passed, I got inside Henry’s mind.  It was one thing to know absolutely everything about his life but it was another to know the kind of person he was.  Henry was distraught with grief and so that is why he turned to spirits as a way to drown the pain he felt over losing Holly. 

It was understandable.

You must understand that I don’t condone drinking-I can see it in your eyes how much you disagree with my last statement-but I understood why he needed to turn to something like alcohol to numb out that pain.  Grief is a powerful emotion and it takes time to let that feeling out of your system.  Everyone deserves a grieving period but a person shouldn’t lose themselves and sink into depression.  The person who they lost wouldn’t want to see that happening.  Believe me, I know.  That’s why I was called to be his guardian angel; to save him.

It took months to convince Henry to throw away all the alcohol in his apartment.   But when he did, I was exceptionally proud of him.  I watched as he went rummaged through his cabinets and took each bottle out and set it on the counter.  After all the bottles from the cabinets were found and set on the counter, he moved on to his room taking an empty box with him.  I stayed in the kitchen idly running my hand through the glass bottles, my hand going through the object.  When Henry emerged from his bedroom he carried the box filled with bottles of beer and wine.   Lastly, he gathered all the empty bottles from the living room and headed to the kitchen where I leaned on the counter.

I saw the determination in his eyes like this moment was finally the moment to take full responsibility of his actions over the past few months.  He needed to turn a new leaf and get his life back on the right path.  As he started to pour the contents of the bottles down the sink, images of the day he got fired from his job filled his mind.

Those images were shared with me and I saw how Henry was called to go into his manager’s office.  Henry was drunk that day and everyone could see the effects of the alcohol affecting his work performance.  His co-workers whispered about how dysfunctional his life had become since Holly’s death and they pitied him.  Henry didn’t notice the whispers.  He was too drunk to know that they talked about him.

When he reached the office, he was unaware of what was to happen.

“Witmore!  Get in here and shut the door behind you.”  Henry did as he was instructed and sat down on the chair in front of his manager.  The office was small and cluttered.  Papers were scattered all over the top of the desk and there were piles and piles of newspapers stacked on the floor.  His vision was hazy and he could barely make out his boss’ face. 

“Don’t know what to tell ya kid.  You were one of my best men and then tragedy strikes and you become one of my worst.”  Charlie shook his head in dismay.  “I don’t know what to do with ya.  You have become a danger to the company and to my men.  I’m sorry to say this but,” Charlie stamped a piece of paper in front of him and handed it to Henry, “you are fired.”

Henry took the letter with trembling hands and looked at it flabbergasted.   “I’m fired?”

Charlie stood up from his desk and came over to lay a hand on his shoulders.  His voice was apologetic and sincere.  “Sorry, son, but I have to do this for your own good and safety as well as for my men.  Come back when you are on your feet again.”