The Heartbreak Factor - Part Four

Chapter Seven.

Sat at the kitchen table at mum and Michael’s house, I reached over for the local free newspaper that Michael had picked up on the tube yesterday. As I flicked through the pages of the same old drivel, something caught my eye. 

“In loving memory of Rio Sanchez. You’ll be greatly missed. Love Nana Pat x”

I placed the newspaper down on the kitchen table and re-read the little message in the memorial section of the paper. 

“Funeral will take place at St. James’ Church on Monday 14th July at 1pm”

I sunk back into the chair and sighed. A part of me wanted to shut the paper and get on with my life, but there was another part of me wanting to go. 

“What’s up?” George asked as he walked into the kitchen and placing a chocolate covered Katy in her high-chair at the table before sitting down opposite me.

I turned the paper around and slid it across the table towards him, keeping my finger pointing to the little box with Rio’s funeral information in it. 

“You seriously can’t be considering going, can you?” he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders as I began to clean the chocolate off that had managed to be smeared all around Katy’s face and neck. 

“Sammy, you can’t be serious.”

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “She didn’t really do anything to me though.”

“She didn’t do anything to you?” George asked in shock. “Have you forgotten how she split us up with her lies? Have you forgotten how she made us call off our wedding? Have you forgotten how she held you hostage? Have you forgotten how she kidnapped Katy? Have you forgotten how she managed to get you and Katy sitting on the edge of the bridge over the River Thames? Have you forgotten how she made our lives hell?”

I looked at Katy as she chucked her rattle toy across the room so it landed in the sink. As the toy made the water in the sink splash, I looked at George, who was still looking at me with an expression of disbelief on his face. “I’ve not forgotten,” I paused. “I’d never forget, but I’ve forgiven her.”

“Who’s a messy little princess then?” mum grinned to Katy as she walked into the kitchen, carrying a plate of melted chocolate, answering my concern as to why she was covered in chocolate in the first place.

“Forgiven her? Are you stupid?”

With that, I stood up, scraping the chair legs on the tiled floor as I pushed the chair backwards and stormed out of the kitchen into the lounge. Slumping down on the sofa, I let out a huge sigh. Nobody was ever going to understand why I had forgiven her, so why did I even bother?

“I didn’t mean that,” George said, sitting down next to me on the sofa. “I just don’t get why you can forgive her so easy, especially after what she put you and Katy through.”

“I’ve forgiven her because she and I have a hell of a lot more in common than people realise. She’s just not had the chance to change her life around like I have. I’m going to her funeral today, with or without you. I promised on the bridge that I would be there for her as nobody has really been there for her before, and I keep my promises.”

"You're too nice for your own good, Sammy," George smiled, kissing my cheek. "That's your problem."

I lifted the corner of my lips up to form a half-hearted smile. I couldn't help but think about Rio and that night on the bridge. I still felt so guilty. I had the chance to save her but I couldn't. All she really wanted was somebody to be there for her - she wasn't messed up or psycho like the newspapers had reported after the incident got into the media world, she was just lonely and upset. 

*

Walking down the path towards the church, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Rio as I noticed three people standing outside the church, waiting to go in. Although she nearly ruined mine and George’s relationship and put Katy’s safety on the line, I couldn’t hate her. I, of all people, knew exactly what it was like to feel alone. Each step that I took down the church path passed all the forgotten and overlooked gravestones made me feel even guiltier than I was for not being able to have helped Rio sooner. I still blamed myself for her death, regardless of how many times people attempted to convince me that none of it was my fault. 

“Are you okay?” George asked, gently squeezing my hand as we got closer to the church doors. 

I nodded. 

As we stood holding hands beside the path, an old woman slowly approached us with a smile on her face. 

“I didn’t think you two of all people would be here today,” the old woman smiled. “I just want to say that I truly am sorry for what Rio put you both and your little girl through. She wasn’t well and..”

“I know,” I said, interrupting her. “I just wish I could have helped her as she seemed like a lovely girl who just had some problems. I know she didn’t mean to do what she did.”

“So you’ve forgiven her?” the old woman asked, looking slightly startled at me and George.

I looked up at George, waiting for his response. “Um,” he hesitated before wrapping his arm around my shoulder and smiling at the old woman. “Yeah.”

I smiled at him before resting my head on his chest. The woman was dragged away by another member of Rio's family, leaving George and I alone.

“I just want you both to know that I really am sorry for everything that happened because of Rio.”

"It wasn't your fault, George," I said, looking up at him. "I just wish I did more to help her. She still could have been alive if it was for me."

George shook his head. "We can't keep blaming ourselves."