Close As Lovers

Twenty-Four.

Song: Memories- Harold Faltermeyer 

Grief. A road that I knew like the back of my hand and had walked down about a hundred and one times, but an unfamiliar path for Wes. He had never known the emptiness that laid in your heart, a shear of nothingness that somehow took over and held your soul in its tight grasp, its venom seeping into every part of your body, nor the hole it carved into your heart in the shape of the loved ones you lost. Wes didn't know how it threw the entire weight of the world on your shoulder and expected you to get out from under-- expected you to carry it as if you had been training your whole life.

Never in my entire life had I seen Wes shed so many tears. I comforted him as best as I could, but he started growing distant, and when he locked himself up in his room, I knew he needed his space. He needed time to process everything. But it still killed me that I couldn't be there for him in the way I wanted to be.

Nova, on the other hand, didn't exactly understand, but she knew enough to know her parents weren't coming back. She and I were laying on her bed, her head of curls resting on my chest as her small arms wrapped around my waist. "Molly," Her soft voice whispered. "Why did mommy and daddy leave."

I sighed as I played with her curls. How did you explain such a complicated topic to a six year old? How could you give comfort to their young hearts and make it all better for them? Just the thought of having to find a way to give her comfort made me want to cry with her.

"They had to do their job, Nova. I know they wanted to be here with you instead."

Nova glanced up at me, her green eyes glistening with tears. "Do you think they're happy in heaven?"

A lump formed in my throat as the tears I had been holding in finally released. I smiled softly at Nova. "Of course they are. But they miss you as much as you miss them."

Nova finally smiled, and I hugged her tightly against me. She clung to me, her little arms wrapping around my neck as she buried her head in my shoulder. I brushed my fingers through her hair, wiping away my own tears with my hand.

"Is Wessy gonna be okay?"

I held her tighter. "He will be. He just needs time."

Nova eventually fell asleep in my arms, and once her breathing steadied, I tucked her in, pressed a kiss against her forehead, and walked to Wes' room. His door was still closed, and I prayed that it was unlocked for once. I blew out a breath of relief when the door opened, but the sight inside brought tears to my eyes once again.

His room was a complete mess. All over the floor were pictures of Wes and his family, and him and I. Wes was curled up on his bed, staring straight ahead at his wall as silent tears cascaded down his face. I carefully walked through his room until I sat beside him on the bed, running my fingers through his messy hair. He flinched as his blood red eyes bore into mine.

"You shouldn't be in here, Molly." He rasped, closing his eyes, and a jump formed in my throat. I brushed his hair out of his face, pressing a gentle kiss against his temple.

"Who would I be if I wasn't here with you? You were there for me when Nikki died. Let me be there for you." Wes remained quiet for a couple minutes, but then in a flash, he had flipped over and held me in his arms. His head was buried in my chest, and when I glanced down at him, I saw how broken he had become. His eyes were dark, sunken, and the light that once lit up those piercing green eyes was no longer there. His lips had turned down in a frown, his bottom lip trembling, and his jaw was lined with stubble. I wiggled down in his arms until we were face to face. His eyes glassed over once again, and I held his face in my hands. "Please talk to me, Wes. Let me help you. I can't lose you."