One week later..
Bryan's POV
"Bryan, this is gonna be good for you, I know it. Packing up all of Rory's old stuff will hurt but at least you will gain some form of closure." Joan says, continuing to chatter on without my eyes on her. She barely even has my attention as it is so I don't see why she won't stop talking, especially since I'm staring aimlessly out the window of the diner with my fingers clutching my near scalding hot mug of coffee.
A kick from under the table proves that I've completely begun to ignore her, looking over at her earns me a glare that could kill. "Sorry." I mumble, looking down at my mug and bringing it to my lips for a sip. Joan rolls her eyes and shakes her head, no longer bothering to speak up anymore upon realizing that my head is up in the clouds. I have to say that I really appreciate her patience with me these past few weeks. I've faced the fact that I'm kind of being ass to everyone outside of my work place. It's like I don't even have to try to be mean and that so much as looking around can give someone the wrong impression.
"Here's your check, dears." An older graying waitress says with tiredness lacing her tone, sliding our check across the table to the center. I give her a nod in thanks and she takes off with her short cut curls bouncing. The woman must be retired and just in need of something to occupy her time with how much enthusiasm she puts into the job. I try to pick up the paper but my hand is briskly slapped away, the receipt now in Joan's hands. "It's only a few bucks." She states, unzipping her purse and pulling out a few bills to pay from a pocket within it.
One thing that I am getting tired of is the seemingly endless sympathy that people have been showing me. My mom constantly texts me each day and others who are aware of what happened to Rory are calling me. I have no clue how they even got my number! Joan has been playing babysitter to me since she first got here and it's been good to see her but everything has its expiration and or limit. Like eating a favorite meal over and over until it eventually loses that so very special taste that made it so appealing in the first place.
Joan slides out of the booth with the waitress coming up and taking the check. They exchange another thank you and then the older woman disappears back into the kitchen. It's a Sunday morning so it's quite slow, but the after church crowd should be here soon and I want to get out of here before that. I get up from my place, groaning and heading towards the exit with haste in my steps. I can't handle being surrounded by a large crowd again just yet. I'm in the front passenger side seat within minutes, buckled up and waiting on Joan.
Now that we've eaten like she insisted, it's time to head over to the apartment Rory resided in before his death. This in one word to describe it shall be interesting.
xxxx
The card board box slips from my grasp, dropping to the ground and almost crushing my foot in the process. For a box labeled "Memories" it sure is pretty darn heavy. The label only drives my curiosity to its end and I can't wait to tear it open at its taped top and look inside. It's gonna be painful to look over things that were once Rory's and that had a significant value to him but Joan is right. I need closure because as humans, we crave closure. That's why it's more painful for example if a solider is reported missing in action than rather dead in action. It'll drive you near mad not knowing what happened exactly.
Switching out the blade from the box cutter in my jeans pocket, I drive it into the clear tape at the edge of the box and drag it downward. It takes some careful maneuvering of the blade but it's worth it when the thick layer of tape cuts away and the box lays half opened. My next breath is shaky and my heart is already set up to jump out of my chest. Should I really be doing this now? What if I find something I don't like or that makes me break down? I know I've been improving with counseling and time but the grief is still surprising me with how it manages to creep into my everyday routines.
My hands burry beneath the folds of the box, lifting them up and revealing the contents, I exhale a breath I didn't know that I had begun to hold in.
The box is filled with older photo albums that have collected a fair amount of dust over time. I guess they sat in the attic somewhere for far too long before Rory took them away with him in his move with me. He never did show me or talk much about his childhood and I've always been a curious person and crave to know more information, especially about those I care about so this is a gold mine. My fingers brush over the smooth material of the top photo album and a pinch of guilt stabs me in the gut. Maybe he didn't want me to see these for reason? The few times that Rory shared about his past were very hard on him and normally ended up with him crying in my arms or getting angry. The pain in his eyes is something that's branded into my memory like it was from an iron.
I don't even finish my thoughts and come to a decision when an unfamiliar voice fills the room.
"Hello Bryan." It says, the tone smooth and certain with a clear feminine sound to it. I turn around and am met with the very same eyes that once caressed my soul but now all they did was scorch it.
Katherine.
Author's Note.
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!
So there you have it. I know it's taken me a while to update but I'm back and over my little case of writer's block. So I will be trying to update weekly but with school coming to a close, I've been busy.
Here's the important part of the note. This story is now going be jumping around with the POV's of Bryan and Katherine. I plan to fill you guys in on more about Rory and Katherine's past and her present so you shall not be left hanging forever. This story will be flashing back to a lot of crucial moments that will explain Rory as a character.
Keep in mind that we are not all born perfect, neither are we born bad or good. A lot of how we see things is based on our environment and what we take in around us. You will see more of this case in future chapters.
Please do leave a like and or comment if you feel this chapter deserved it. I love interaction with you guys and it really does help me continue my writing that I love so very much.
Until next time.. Stay strong.
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Love's Sins (Sequel to Silent Cries)
General Fiction"He's cheating on me I know it.." I say, my voice shaking along with my body as I wipe my blood shot eyes in front of the bathroom sink. It's been precisely ten years since Bryan and his lover Rory moved out of their hometown in Ohio and into the bi...
