One More Day (H.S.) #wattys2016

Fifteenth Day

This chapter is dedicated to Infinitely_In_Love

Dolly

"It's great to have such supportive friends, Bert." I mutter sarcastically.

"I'll keep that in mind, Dolly." Bert sassed.

"You should have been such ages ago! And, I beg you, stop taking me to fancy bars. You know how well I am when I get drunk."

"But you always say you're not drunk so I just keep on letting the drinks coming." Bert snaps back.

"But that's obviously because I am drunk, Bert!" I say through gritted teeth. "I am saying I am not drunk when I already freakishly am!" I say this last part a little louder, feeling my face grow hotter by the second.

I can't believe that my idiosyncratic whim overwhelmed my will to stop being an escape artist when it comes to my problems.

It was the work of the alcohol in my system, I tell you. Besides, if I ever was sober, I would never ever dare sign that damn contract.

"You're not making any sense." Bert says in a sing-song way. "Anyway, your family seems proud of you because of what happened."

Now you've done it, Robertrude Amigo.

"Whoa! Did I just hear something snap?"

"Yes, Robertrude!" I emphasised his name and he takes an involuntary step backward. "That was my patience thread snapping."

"What did I do? All I said is that everything is for the best." He states in a carefree tone. "The least you can do is thank me."

"Ugh! You ill-besotted--" I began but he shushes me down.

"Shush, Dolly! Will you keep it down? What if the dead wakes up because you can't keep your bloody trap shut?" Bert gives me a look of mischief. He knows how much of a scaredy-cat I am.

"Stop it." I hiss.

We were in the middle of a graveyard -looking for my father's headstone- when I only just remembered to lecture Bert about making it a habit to take me to bars when I'm in the state where I can't say no to him.

I know. Not a good place to have an argument. Then again, was there ever a good place to have an argument?

"Was it this way?"

"Don't tell me we're lost." Bert curves one brow up, tapping his foot.

"Of course not. I'm sure it's here." I scheme each stones inscribed with weird phrases, names and dates.

"Dolly. Over here!"

Mindful of the circular band of flowers I bought from a nearby shop, I carefully run towards Bert who I didn't notice was already far ahead of me. When I was at least five feet away from him, he points to a headstone I've never once visited.

"That's not dad's." I shook my head.

"Yeah, I know. But it says..."

"Carly Deveroux." My sister's grave. "I... I never knew she was buried here."

"I can't believe your family never told you." Bert pouts. He was more angry than surprised when he found out about me having another twin. And that she died even before she was given the chance to live.

A sudden intuitive inkling tells me to look to my left. I crane my head to my side and there I saw my father's grave. It was juxtaposed to my sister's.