Dear Mr Sheehan,
I haven't got much to say today. I got the job. It's just a small thing, I'm the new cleaner at Billy's school. Nothing fancy, but it gives us an income. Not enough to keep us fed though. I've been relying on Billy's friend's mums to take him back for tea. They know our situation, and are more than happy to lool after him. Me, however, I'm going hungry most nights. But I don't need sympathy, not that'd you'd give me it, but anyway. On with the story.
The next day, I was still mad at Jack. I wasn't talking to him, I avoided looking at him if I could, and I wouldn't stay in the same room as him if I could help it. He was in a grump, so I don't think he even noticed if I'm honest. And the next day was the same. And the next. On the fourth day, I decided to do something. I decided to take Billy out. And secretly, maybe I was hoping Dylan would be there. So we went back to town. Sat in the coffee shop he'd taken us too for hours, praying and hoping. But he didn't show up. The next day we tried again, still no luck. So then the day after, we went to the park. And that's where he was. Sat on the bench, his back to us. But I still knew it was him. That feeling was back.
"Uncle Dylan!" Billy called, letting go of my hand and running towards him. Dylan stood up and held his arms out.
"Little man!" He laughed, picking him up and swinging him around.He eventually put him down and turned to look at me.
"Hey." I said awkwardly.
"Hey." He smiled.
I walked over to the bench and sat down, Dylan carefully sitting next to me.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"I know."
"Like really, really sorry."
"Yup. I knew that."
It was silent for a while.
"Like really, really, really sorry."
"Oh for goodness sake." I sighed, pulling his face closer to mine and kissing him.
"There. I know Dylan!"
He laughed, slightly shocked.
"So does that mean...?"
"I forgive you. Yes."
"So can we...?"
"Be back together?"
He nodded.
"Well. In a while. Let me leave Jack first."
He nodded again.
"Ok." He grinned, "I love you Anna."
I hummed.
"Love me too."
He smiled, the lopsided grin I loved.
"And you, of course."
His grin grew.
"Come here." He laughed, giving me a hug.
We spent the entire day together, being careful to avoid Jack of course.
And that was my life. Cheats and lies. Secrets. Billy seemed to prefer Dylan though. After all, he was the one who'd let him play his drums and watch Doctor Who. That's all he really needed to be happy. As far as Jack was concerned, we needed space from him. It wasn't an official break up. Not yet. But I suppose that made me worse. The worse person in existence.
I'd place a hundred pound bet on that being how you felt about Glen during his last days. Thinking about it, I'm no better than your wife actually. Would you kill me? Have you actually become so mad you'd kill anyone? I wonder sometimes what you're like now. If you still have that humour we all loved. You probably don't. You probably lost all of that when they locked you away. Instead, maybe you only have a survival instinct. That's all you do. Fight to stay alive. Well good luck, Mark. That's right. I might start calling you that again. So yes, must get going now. Can't be late for work again. They might fire me, and I need all the money we can get.
From
Anna
