The Drummer's Boy

Chapter 23. In Loving Memory of Sylvie

It wasn't long until Roy & Mikey left. That's when Barbara & Jon decided to go looking for George. It didn't take them long to find him. He was standing on the sidewalk, remaining still, his eyes locked on the ambulance that was parked beside the house he was standing next to.

Jon ran over to George, Barbara close behind. When he approached him, he wrapped his arms around George's waist, burying his face in George's coat. "I'm sorry George! I'm so sorry! Please don't be mad!" Jon pleaded. 

George never hugged him back. He just stared forward at the horrible mess that laid in front of him. "It's not fair y'know. I know it was her time to go but, I just wish I could have replaced her. I wish we could have traded spots. I should be the one dead, not her." His eyes began to water.

Jon released his hold on George to kiss him on the lips. "Don't say those things." 

George walked away from Barbara & Jon to approach the Emergency medical technician. He was rather pretty. He had dirty-blonde hair, pale skin, & crystal blue eyes. He saw George approach him & smiled. "Well hi there. Do you know this woman?" He pointed to her house.

George shook his head. "No, but I probably met her at some point." 

The man frowned, not understanding what George meant by that. He saw the confusion in the man's eyes & shrugged. "She was a fan of mine. If I saw her, I might remember her. I just thought I recognized the name, that's all." 

The man bit his lip. He hesitated a few minutes before he reached in his coat pocket to reveal a small photograph. He carefully handed it to George. 

George took the picture. He smiled weakly. I do remember her. She went to one of our concerts not too long ago. I remember the smell of alcohol when she hugged me. But, I also remember the smell of her perfume. It was lovely. She seemed like a nice, friendly woman. How could God be so cruel to take such a fragile life away from this Earth this soon? Even though, she wasn't the youngest pea in the pod. 

The man shook George's shoulder slightly. "Sir, are you okay?"

George snapped out of his thoughts & nodded. Even though it didn't sound sincere. He cleared his throat & handed the picture back to the man. "I'm sorry for asking this, but, what was her name again?" 

The man shoved the picture back in his pocket. "Sylvie. Her name was Sylvie. At least, that's what people called her."

George nodded. He bit his lip to stop the tears from falling down. She was just a fan, so why was he crying?

He wiped his eyes & stepped back. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I should be going now. Thank you, by the way." 

The man smiled & patted George on the back. "No problem. Take care."

George nodded back to him & started to turn around when the man called for him again. "Oh, and, I'm so sorry for your loss." 

George only could nod again & left to join Jon & Barbara. Jon saw the look on George's face. "Are you okay George? Who was that man?"

George shrugged, still crying. "I don't know him. I was just watching. I got so mad at you & Barbara that I had to get away, only to end up here. Than I saw her and I just coul-" He burst out crying. 

Barbara rubbed his back & pulled him into an embrace. "Shh it's okay George. You'll be fine. If you don't mind me asking, do you know her?"

George pulled away, wiping his face with his coat sleeve, & slowly nodded. "Yeah. I think Jon remembers her. I think they all do." 

Jon raised his eyebrows. "She's a fan? I wouldn't know her. I encountered lots of fans at concerts." 

George shook his head. "You know her. Sylvie. Her name was Sylvie."

Jon gasped & then quickly covered his mouth. "SYLVIE?!"

George nodded. This time, Jon began the waterworks. Barbara groaned. "Oh come on, get a grip on yourselves. She's JUST a fan. What was so special about her anyway?"

Jon suddenly laughed, remembering. "She was the one who jumped on her seat & screamed 'I LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH BOY GEORGE!' & started stomping hard on it just so George would see her." 

George smiled. He remembered it all too well. 

She was so beautiful that night. She was so full of energy, thanks to the fact that she was undeniably drunk. And now, she was gone. The pretty face in the crowd became a pretty tombstone in the sea of a graveyard. 

And yet, he didn't know. He was so caught up with his own reality. It's funny the little things that slip past when you don't pay attention. You miss so much. So little time.

Barbara tugged at Jon's sleeve. "Can we go home now? I'm freezing my ass off out here!" She demanded. 

For once, George didn't mind the bitchiness of Barbara. And he didn't mind that she was carrying his boyfriends baby. And he didn't mind that they slept together. 

No, he was so overwhelmed with grief & sadness that the only thing he wanted more than anything was to go home. And that's where his feet led him, home. 

In a matter of seconds, he began to run. His feet slapping on the pavement. He could hear Jon & Barbara screaming at him to wait up, but he didn't. 

He just wanted to run. To run from it all. He wanted to run until there was no where else to run to.

He ran so fast, he was home before he knew it. He stopped at the door to catch his breath. He then turned around to make sure Barbara & Jon were nowhere in sight. 

He opened the door & walked. Before he closed it, he checked to make sure they weren't close. After he was satisfied they weren't, he closed the door & locked it. 

He sunk to the ground, leaning against the door, with his knees pulled up to his chest & hands covering his face. He sat there & continued to cry until Barbara & Jon came home. 

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A sad night for me. This chapter is dedicated to a fan of George Michael & Boy George who just recently passed away at age 46. She had cancer. I was not aware of this until I logged onto my Twitter earlier this afternoon. I am heartbroken & filled with grief. We weren't close, but we followed each other & any fan of George's is a friend of mine. I pray to her family. R.I.P Sylvie, may you be singing up in Heaven with the other legend, George Michael. "Little things slip past when we don't pay attention." I wish I could have been more closer to her. A friendly face gone too soon. A terrible tragedy. xx

-Zoey