Taking It

5.9

5.9

I shouldn't be here. Taylor would definitely break up with me if he found out that I actually went snooping through his room while he wasn't in.

It was pretty easy really, one of the once a week workers let me up. It was harder to find a letter this time around. They weren't stuffed in his shoe box anymore.

When i found one idling on his desk I took a gamble and snapped a quick picture of the address and left as fast as I could.

The drive wasn't as long and tedious as I expected. She lived in a simple two story house, closer to Journey. There were toys and bikes and balls scattered about the front lawn. The panels of the house were a in the middle of being painted a very soft lavender.

I pay no mind to the cat arching its back and meowing at me as I approach the front door. Taking a deep breath I ring the doorbell, heart hammering behind my chest.

• — • — •

Laura is elated to see me.

Her health looking a lot better than the last time i've seen her.

"I would ask you how you found me but I have a hunch.." She murmurs. I have no idea how to respond so I stay silent. "Are any of them opened?"

I shake my head. I do recall one being open but I don't get the chance to tell her when she speaks again.

"That's okay. I figured. He hasn't come to see me." Her voice is broken, melting in the tears pooling in her eyes.

"That's why i'm here. If you tell me what happened then maybe I can convince him to reach out to you." I offer her comfort, wrapping an arm around her.

"No offense, but..Taylor listens to nobody." Laura sniffs, wiping her eyes. "Look at me." She laughs weakly. "I'm 42 years old and I'm crying like a baby."

"While he might not be gone, you lost your son. It hurts all the same." I rub her arm, giving her a soft squeeze. "Taylor doesn't listen because he's had no one to tell him. If you could just—"

"It happened after his brother died." Laura cuts in, straightening her posture as she stares off into the distance. "I wasn't feeling good. It hurt to move every now and again and I found it harder and harder to not get winded upon walking up the stairs. Most nights I wound up sleeping on the couch.

His father insisted that I go to the hospital, having known my families history with cancer. So I went."

"Was it cancer?" I question and she shakes her head, more tears pooling over his eyes.

"I wish it was cancer." Her voice is soft, shaky. "Do you know what Lupus is?" Laura turns to look at me. I shake my head. "It's an inflammatory autoimmune disease. There's treatment for it but it's just delaying the inevitable. I was going sooner or later. So i left sooner. I knew he was waiting up for me, he always did. So i knew he heard the lie I told his father. I didn't mean to hurt them. I just...I didn't want then to have to deal with another death."

"Taylor adored you." I tell her.

"I know and I wanted to take him. His father threatened to sue for full custody if i tried. He was always welcome to come visit me and vice versa. I just...i knew he was mad and I wanted to give him time to cool off. When he was ready he'd come seek me out."

"Why didn't you seek him out?" I don't believe the whole 'i was giving him time' spiel.

"Because I didn't know how to explain to him what really happened. My life was wearing thin when his brother died and it's getting thinner. I'm scared Charlotte." Her bottom lip quivers as she wipes her face. "I just..i don't want to miss out on the chance to say goodbye."