RAISING SUMMER

NO ONE LEFT TO TAKE

It had been a couple days without a word from Luke and my frustration was starting to become evident. We were both grieving. I understood it took time but I was starting to worry about him. I had called around to different bars and places he frequented when he was in town to no avail. Since Summer wasn't sleeping much these days either, I attempted to ride around town to see if I could spot him.

I finally found him walking the streets a couple of steps from Ronnie's. I pulled over with my hazards on.

"Luke!" I called after him."Where the hell have you been!" I shouted. He turned his eyes and continued stumbling. "You couldn't have just texted or called to let me know you're alive!" I shouted in the rain.

"Go home Jane." He leaned up against the wall pulling out a cigarette that wouldn't light. Since when did he smoke?

"No!" I gritted my teeth and the chill started to seep in. I was just wearing sweatpants, a hoodie and slippers.

"I said go home!" He gritted his teeth continuously trying to light it. I yanked it out of his mouth. Before throwing it onto the ground. He let his head fall back in annoyance.

"Jesus Luke! Rachel wouldn't want this! Look at you, you're drunk off your ass and wandering the streets, smoking. I ground his fresh cigarette to dust under my slippers. He started pulling out the box for another before I grabbed them, opening the box and snapping them all in half. He picked up a small half and attempted to light it.

"For Christ sake!" I pulled the lighter from his grasp, tossing it into the garbage in the alley.

"Wow, you litter now, that's new." He chuckled.

"Get in the car, now!" I shook with anger or maybe the cold who the hell knows.

"Why should I?" He countered standing toe to toe with me. His eyes wandered to my lips as he towered over me before I lost all sanity.

"Because I haven't slept in days, your niece is in the car and I can't do this on my own!" My voice cracked. The dam was about to break but I was determined not to show him. He looked at me, really looked at me and kicked off from the wall without a word to my car. I stood there soaked and stunned. Willing my tears to soak back up as I followed.

*******

We stood in my kitchen silently as Luke rummaged through my fridge. He held an opened bottle of beer that he found deep in the refrigerator. Opening it, I snatched it from him and dumped it down the sink. Handing him a glass of water instead.

"Okay mother." He chuckled.

"You aren't the only one that lost her, you know." I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Jane." He huffed.

"No you don't get to just leave and disassociate, Rachel's gone I've postponed the funeral as long as I could."

"You don't think I know that!" He shouted pulling at his hair.

"You can leave me high and dry all you want. I know you've never been my biggest fan but you can't leave Summer! And you can't go around drowning your sorrows like you have a steel liver, Summer needs you!" I scolded. He averted his eyes, his adam's apple bobbing.

"When is it?" He asked.

"When is what?" I asked.

"The funeral."

"Well since it's officially five o'clock in the morning and today is Sunday it will be tomorrow Morning." I explained. I gathered myself to head to my room. Before he stopped me.

"How many times are we going to have to do this Jane? How many times are we going to have to say goodbye?"

"I have no one left for them to take." My eyes filled with tears. There is nobody left to grieve, nobody left to love for the both of us. "Sleep on the couch or in Rachel's room and sober up." I wiped a stray tear before leaving him alone with my soaked clothes squishing the whole way to my room. I'll be damned if I ever give the universe someone to take from me again.