A Long Walk Home (Sequel to Left Alone in the Dark)

Chapter 9

I walked back into the locker room in frustration.

Everyone noticed me right away. "Patrice left" Torey said making me sadly look at the ground.

I sat down next to Torey.

"Do you think I lost him" I mumbled.

"I think that if you keep on trying you'll get him back. I just think that Patrice is shocked from this whole situation" Torey suggested.

"Should I go to his house?" I ask.

"I thing you should do what ever your heart says" Torey said.

I nodded my head and walked up the street to Patrice's apartment.

I knocked on the door, and Patrice opened it.

"Claire I have nothing to discuss with you, it's over"

"Patrice I don't care if it's over. I want to leave Boston knowing that you're not mad at me. I want to at least be friends" I responded.

"What do you mean when I leave Boston" Patrice said with a confused look.

"I'm moving to Buffalo tomorrow" I mumbled.

"Wait why" Patrice asked, his eyes becoming glossy.

"My mom... She's um really sick" I said.

Patrice's emotions drained out of his face.

"I'm sorry to hear that" he said.

"yeah" I responded.

There was a few minutes of silence.

"Why are you here Claire?" Patrice asked breaking the silence.

"To get my best friend back" I said, making Patrice look up at me, "I don't get why you are pissed at me" I added.

"Because I'm shocked alright!" Patrice said raising his voice once again, "I was preparing myself for life after you" he claimed.

"Patrice can't you see that I was doing it for the safety of both of us!" I yelled.

"No because if you actually loved me you wouldn't care about the safety. You would care about being with me no matter what. You would care about how I felt" he yelled louder back at me.

"You are so damn ignorant Pat" I screamed.

"Back to you. At least I don't let my partner almost kill themselves" Patrice snapped.

"At least I wouldn't be happier if my partner actually would die then be sadder when they would be alive" I responded walking out the door back to TD garden.

I didn't even bother going inside, so just got into my car and drove back to Marilyn's apartment.

I started packing up my suit case and went to sleep, preparing for the long day tomorrow.

I need this.

• • •

I woke up the next day and Marilyn made me breakfast for a going away gift.

"How long will you be gone?" She asked before we said our goodbyes.

"Until my mom gets better" I said, giving a sympathetic smile.