Within months of being at Arlington Highschool Quinn had learned nothing more about Elijah than he had about her. They got as far as first and last names. All thanks to teachers whos names Quinn barely cared about enough to remember. She had become close with Chasity as well as a few of the other eleventh graders. No one her age. Then the news came. Crashing into her life like a pound of bricks crushing her fraile heart.
Her brother had died.
She hadnt spoken to him much since her parents split up and she had to move here. To live with her aunt.
She didnt speak of it alot. Her parents werent in love anymore. So they left each other. Quinn's mother didnt want her , her dad was a drunk who couldnt keep a steady job. Not a place for a still legal child. So she was shipped to Quebec for awhile. Her brother hadnt come. He was 23 after all and didnt need someone to take care of him. Quinn and him had been so close when they lived in the same city. Always hanging out. Always talking. Always texting the same things.
Charles: Morning sunshine!
Quinn: Dont call me that! ;p
Charles: But you light up my day little sis!
Everymorning before she went to school. Everymorning before she woke up he would text her on his way to work at the police station. God. He had always wanted to be a policeman. Wanted to protect his city. Do things his father never could. Be a hero. Quinn wished for the simple texts. But after the move they grew apart so torn with their parents.
Charles: Hey
Quinn: Hey
Never anything else. Yet deep down they still cared for each other deeply. He still knew all of her secrets. He still knew her ACTUAL favorite color. Her plans for her future.....And vise versa. November 12. The day she was taken out of ELA by the principal. Various whistles and laughs could be heard as she exited the door. Elijah giving the 'Goody two shoes fucked up!' the teacher silencing him with a death glare.
'Miss Abernanchy your brother Charles Drake Abernanchy has passed away this morning in the line of duty.'
At first she didnt believe the principal. His dark brown eyes staring blankly at her as if giving her this news was a chore. His dark hand reached out to grasp hers but she simply pulled away. The smile her face held as she walked into the office faded.
'You must have the wrong Charles. H-he was good at his job theres no way...'
She could remember her recent fit she threw insisting it wasnt her brother someone elses. The void that was becoming her slowly took over.
'Im sorry for your loss.'
He was so emotionless. SO uncaring. As if he had done this a thousand times before. Her heart was breaking. A thin line her lips formed as she stood storming out of the office tears slipping down her pale cheeks.
She busted through the class rooms door quickly walking to her shared desk. Everyone stared at her in disbelief as her tears soaked her face. Elijahs mouth hung open as she threw her stuff in her bag stopping ever so often to wipe her cheeks free of the tears. The pain was so imense.
'You alright?'
He managed to whisper through her fits. No. No she wasnt ok! How could she be? How could she be ok when the last thing she truely cared about was gone?! Ripped from her hands like a memory from an elderly woman. Thats all he could be now. A memory in her mind. A faded worn out memory that would replay until the day she died.
She didnt speak as she walked out the door despite various teachers protest. Didnt speak as she hopped down the concrete steps into the parking lot. Didnt speak as she walked home. Didnt speak as her aunt tried to consol her and explain at the dinner table. Didnt speak as she showered. Didnt speak as she walked to her room and crawled into the hray bed. But she did speak as the tears began to flow. As she allowed the sobs to wroack her body. She allowed herself the single sentence as she stared at the picture on her wall.
"Im so so so so sorry."
She fell asleep his smiling face hugging her form on her winter formal day. That picture was her favorite of them. Him hugging her. Them laughing. His words flooded her broken soul as she awoke.
'good morning sunshine'
