Florecer

...

        Because she felt it was necessary, Tracy stayed at Lily's. She threw away the deadly blade that was nearly a murder weapon, cleaned up the apartment a bit, and tried to keep Danny in the loop but without too much information. She loved her sister dearly but she genuinely thought that Lily wouldn't ever delve back into her darker self. To see her hit rock bottom again was a punch to the gut.

     Mood low, Tracy drove Lily's car everywhere because she didn't trust Lily to stay at home. Lily had the tendency to wander off and do unsavory things when she was in her dark space. Tracy hated it, but she would do her best to keep her sister out of harms way. Even if that meant putting Lily on lock-down for the unforeseeable future.

     The only saving grace about the whole situation was that Danny was a neutral zone. Tracy absolutely trusted that Lily wouldn't do anything harmful with Danny around. That was true for the first time Lily got bad, so she thought it would be the same the second time around. It seemed to be the case so Tracy felt safe in leaving Lily alone with Danny during work hours or when she needed to go to the store and the like. Once or twice she left just to be alone, to process all that was happening. It was draining to tend to Lily, especially when Lily was no longer trying to get better. Her and June had broken up, officially, and Tracy thought that was the true breaking point for her sister. Lily could have come back from the attempted murder of her father. But without June... Lily was a complete wreck.

     Tracy rubbed her eyes tiredly. She was out on her own, after work, and wanted something soothing in her belly. It had been many days since her last calm state, so she had stopped at a little cafe and was sitting in the corner nursing a steaming hot chocolate. She wanted to see Danny but wasn't yet ready for Lily. She wanted at least ten minutes alone before she had to go back and try to pick up the pieces that were Lily. She was glad to do it, to an extent, but this wasn't Lily being actively suicidal. This was Lily... decaying. It was different and nastier. She hated to admit it, but it was exhausting.

     "Can I sit with you?"

     Looking up, Tracy was surprised to see June standing there, looking just as awful as she felt. She sighed and nodded. "Yeah." At least she'd get a few more minutes away from the dreary apartment.

June sat. "You look terrible."

     "You too."

     Neither was offended, and neither said anything after that for minutes. Tracy stared into her hot chocolate and idly wondered if someone had liquor she could mix in it. She could use a good shot of something bad for her. Something that would numb her, if only slightly. It wasn't as though Lily would notice.

     "How are you?" asked June softly after some time.

     Tracy shrugged a shoulder weakly without looking up from her drink. "Managing."

     "Haven't seen you around much."

     "It's get in and get out these days. I've got more on my plate."

     June bobbed her head as though she could relate. "Danny?"

     "Same." Tracy glanced up. "How are you?"

     "Managing."

     "Christina?"

     "Less so."

     Tracy exhaled through her nose, squeezed her cup. "I should get back to-"

     "How is she?" June interrupted.

     There was no need to say a name. They both knew who she was. Tracy disliked that June wouldn't say her name, but she would respect the distance. "She's still alive."