Kairi & Erik (My Alien Romance)

Kairi & Erik Chapter 5 Part B

So this one is of course a little sad too :( but the next one's better I promise! Vote and comment!

Chapter 5 cont...

Time passed I wasn't sure how much. I was in a daze as I found myself sitting on the couch in Gramps home when I had no memory of the trip from the airport to here. The pain had blinded me to what was going on around me. I blinked looking around for the first time and realized I was surrounded by family, lots of family that I usually only saw once a year, at Christmas time. As if everyone realized at once that I had snapped out of my daze people started coming up to me, telling me how sorry they were. I would mumble something back to each person that stopped to talk with me and they would hurry away feeling uncomfortable with the glazed look in my eyes. I knew they must be wondering why I hadn't cried or at least shed even one tear. Would they think I was heartless? I didn't really care. Gramps was gone. What could compare to that?

As the procession of relatives died down I got up hoping to escape the forced conversations. All I really wanted was to curl up in a corner somewhere and let the waves of grief wash over me. I knew this was what Gramps had wanted, that it was his time but selfishly I hadn't wanted him to go. I needed him here. I had already lost Erik the guy I was falling for. I didn't know if I could go on now that Gramps was gone too.

I went outside and just started walking aimlessly. I had no idea where I was going. I just needed to walk. Grief wasn't exactly new to me but I still didn't know how to handle it. I thought of the promise I had made to Gramps that I would cry for him when he was gone and then move on. Would I end up breaking that promise I wondered? I strolled down to the harbor and walked to the edge of the dock. I stared down into the deep depths filled with a sudden desire to jump. Maybe the water would wash away the pain that was tearing me from the inside out.

"There you are" a voice said. I turned and looked to see Andrea staring at me a worried expression on her face. Had she been at Gramps before? Was I really that unobservant? I merely stared back at her not replying as I tried to figure out if I had seen her at the house with all the other relatives. If I was being honest with myself it was possible she had even talked to me and I wouldn't have noticed.

"You've been gone for hours; everyone's been worried sick about you. Honestly wondering off at a time like this" as she said this she eyed the water as if trying to judge whether I'd jump in or not.

"Come on, let's go" she said taking a hold of my arm and pulling me away from the edge. Did she think I was suicidal? I mean it wasn't like jumping in would even be that dangerous, not here in California, back home maybe where the weather was getting colder. I let her pull me away off the dock and onto solid ground again.

I looked over to see that Andrea was on the phone "Ya" she said "I got her she was wandering down by the docks. I'll bring her back right away. She paused listening to whoever was on the other end then replied saying "she seems okay physically at least but I'm a little worried about her." Did she not realize that I was standing her and could her what she was saying or did she think I was to out of it to even care? Did I care though, not really. I felt chagrinned on the ride back to Gramps as I realized that I hadn't even said hi to Andi yet somehow though I just couldn't put out the effort to do it now. I could function a little better now. The pain wasn't coming in waves anymore. It was more like a constant throbbing that wouldn't go away.

When we got back everyone surrounded us scolding me for scaring them like that. My Dad just came over and gave me a big hug, holding me tight then letting me go. I felt guilty making everyone worry about at a time like this.

I made my way to the kitchen suddenly aware of the fact that I had not eaten yet that day and it was approaching three. Anne was in their of course cooking food for everyone. I grabbed an Italian roll and ate it tasting nothing then I put an apron on and settled in to help Anne out by making some chocolate chip cookies. Anne merely smiled at me and handed me a mixing bowl, to busy making enough food for everyone for supper that night.