Unwritten

Chapter 2 Part 1 - Grave Decisions

My eyes gradually opened and I realised I was back in David's Armchair.

"How was it? Great isn't it?"

I looked at him, but didn't answer.

"Don't be like that, tell me what happened!" He said excitedly.

"How long have I been out?"

"Maybe an hour, maybe two?" He said dismissively.

I wished it had been a dream, but I knew it wasn't. Flashes of images of Gracey in the bathtub re-entered my mind. Her unwavering dead-eyed stare and gaunt face crept under skin and into my stomach. This time I knew I was going to be sick for real, I dashed for the closest toilet but only found the kitchen sink.

"It can be quiet a ride-" David started with a half mocking tone which quickly changed to concern , "Atticus, are you okay? What happened?"

Again, I didn't answer. Instead I ashamedly wiped my mouth in my sleeve and left.

~

A day had passed since the events of the book, but I was still finding it difficult to accept what I had seen.

My landline rang, I knew who it would be before I had even picked it up. It was David. He had been relentlessly calling me throughout the day, but I wasn't ready to speak to him just yet. But I knew we had to meet soon as we didn't have much time and I knew I would need his help.

"Attic-"

"We need to talk, sorry for walking out and leaving that mess in your sink, but I there is something we need to discuss and soon, Are you free in the next hour?

"Err, sure. Where shall we meet?" For once, I could tell his voice sounded almost concerned.

"Come, to mine and bring the book."

"Good, I was worried you would want to come to mine again. I had to pay the cleaner double this morning. See you soon," he said jovially and hung up the phone.

While I was waiting for David to arrive, I thought of Gracey. It was unfair, that she had been robbed of her life at such an early age. But then I remembered she hadn't been robbed, she had taken her own life. The Gracey I knew would never have done that, but off course I know she would have changed in time. I wondered what had been going on with her that would have led to her wanting to commit suicide. I thought back about what I had seen, in my dream-voyage. All that I had seen must have played an important part of her life story otherwise I knew the book wouldn't have shown it to me it in the first place. The park scene, whilst I knew it must have affected her, many years had passed since. The graduation was obviously a happy occasion, so I knew there was nothing to be concerned about there. It had to be related to her work. It must have been about the case she had recently undertaken. It was her first case and seemed an important one at that. It would've been make or break at the firm for her, hinging on the result of the court case. Maybe, I thought solemnly, she lost.

I closed my eyes and focussed inwardly. My mind collected together my memories and the office formed in my mind and the people contained within it. I moved to Gracey's desk and looked at the files she had carefully and excessively annotated. I scanned for a name on the files, but I only saw a haze of letters which meant I must not have seen the name within my dream walk.

I switched on the TV and passively watched a family sitcom, while I waited for David to arrive.

I heard a knock at the door. I'm not sure how he managed, but somehow David seemed to possess an otherworldly power to always be on time. A power which unfortunately I seem to lack considerably.