The Story of Silence (Book 3)

Chapter 11

Saturday afternoon. March 11th:

Silence went straight home after his 'chat' with Susan. He wished she would just see and leave the past alone, but she didn't see, and Silence couldn't show her. He didn't have the power to. Well he had the power, he just didn't know. So many years of distraction had made him forget, but one thing remained and that was his reminder that no-one must know. Hah! He thought as he walked home. Not even I know what it is. I'd love to find out though if I could remember it.

The rain didn't ease up as he walked. It had started shortly after he had left Susan. With it constantly pouring down, and even with his umbrella, Silence was soaked by the time he reached his apartment building. He had tried to stay out of the rain but no taxi had stopped for him.

It was lunch time when he entered the lobby so no-one was there to say hello, but he didn't mind. For once he was glad he didn't have to talk, well, write to somebody. He hated not talking. There were times when he needed to say things and all he could do was write them out, but they were never the same written out. There were some things better said spoken.

He entered the elevator, and the doors were about to close when Thomas bounded across the room out of nowhere and slid in between the doors and slammed into the back wall of the elevator just as the doors closed. Silence helped him to his feet.

Thomas shook himself off and smiled at Silence. He waved his hand which was clasping a thick bundle of letters.

'Thanks for that,' he said. 'I just came down to check my mail and saw you entering the elevator and decided to join you.'

Silence nodded. Thomas came downstairs once a week to check his mail.

Thomas stood by Silence's side as he proceeded to check his mail. He made some weird noises as he shuffled through them, laughed at one and without opening it, threw it to the ground. He placed the rest in his pocket and stood quietly, occasionally hopping from one foot to the other.

Silence could tell he wanted to say something, so he decided to make it easier and to start the conversation for him. He pulled out his notebook and asked Thomas how he was and what he'd been up to.

Thomas read the note and then let it drop onto the floor and turned to Silence with a serious look on his face.

'So, I'm going out tonight for a drink with some mates and I thought you might like to join us,' he said coming straight out with it, not even bothering to answer Silence's questions.

Silence wasn't sure what to say. He'd say no, but he'd been saying no a lot of the time Thomas asked him if he'd like to go out with him and his mates.

Look, wrote Silence,it's not that I have anything wrong with your mates, or you, or going out drinking, it's just that I have lots of things to do. I'm busy and I don't have the time to go out and relax.

'And this is why you should come out with us, Silence!' exclaimed Thomas after he'd read the note. 'You've got to relax and chill, and then I guarantee that you'll feel better. You'll be able to do everything you need to do with a fresh mind!'

Silence shook his head. I don't have time to go out.

'You had time to go out this morning!' pointed out Thomas.

Silence didn't reply. He did have time to go out this morning, and if things hadn't gone off between him and Susan he would probably have spent the rest of the day with her. He did have the time. He'd lied, he just didn't want to admit that Thomas's mates were all asses and he didn't like being in their company. And also he didn't like being in a busy bar trying to get drinks from a bartender who didn't like having to read things even though it was easier for him to understand what was wanted.