Lady Luck (A Chase Elliott Fan Fiction)

Chapter 7

I have to work very hard to keep my mouth from dropping open at Livi's revelation.

I'm shocked. That's honestly the last thing I was expecting her to say. I look over and tears are streaming down her face. She's also sobbing softly. 

My brain is screaming at me to say something! Anything! Silence hangs thick in the air over us.

"Livi, I'm so sorry," I tell her earnestly. I've never wished that I could take away someone's pain as much as I do at this very moment. Instinctively, i grab her hand and interlace our fingers. I want to give Livi some comfort and let her know I'm here for her.

"How did it...?" Shit. Stupid question Chase! What the fuck brain? Now you decide to come up with words?

"You don't have to answer that," I quickly backpedal. I have no idea what possessed me to ask that. The question seems almost...morbid?

Livi squeezes my hand. "Car accident," she utters, curling in on herself. "It was so sudden," she stares off into space. "He was in his truck on his way home from meetin' up with some buddies when a semi truck collided with him. He was killed instantly," she confesses.

Livi takes a shaky breath before continuing. "I'll remember the sheriff at our door till the day I die. Mama fell apart..." she trails off, wiping furiously at her eyes with her sleeve. It's like the dam has broken and she can't stop the tears from flowing. I sit silently for a moment while she cries.

"Livi...," I start. I don't know what to say or how to make this better for her. The pain she's going through is unimaginable. Hearing this story is like a punch in the gut. It knocks the wind out of you and leaves you feeling shaky. I've never been more happy in my life to be sitting down. It feels like the floor has dropped out from under me.

She swallows past the lump in her throat. "Luke and I, we were like two peas in pod. Growin' up, we got into so much trouble but I couldn't of asked for a better brother. When he was gone, it was like my world came crashin' down. I couldn't cope. I had to get away. Everything there reminded me of him. I quit school, packed up some stuff in my car one night and just started drivin'. I kept goin' until I finally made it here. Luke always wanted to see the mountains," she sighs. "I figured here was as good a place as any to start over. Forget about it all, ya know?" she concludes, turning away.

I nod in agreeance. I know all about wanting to start over. That was my goal after I came to terms with the fact that Bill was never coming back for us. I wanted to prove that I could become someone great without him.

"Tonight was the one year anniversary of his death," Livi confides, sniffling. "That's the reason behind my meltdown from before. I just really miss him, Chase."

Slowly, I unwrap my hand from hers and turn her so I can cradle her face with my hands. "Livi," I reply, brushing her tears away with my thumbs. "I'm sorry for your loss," I express sincerely, looking her in the eye. I can see so many emotions swirling there. Pain. Sadness. Grief. All of them break my heart. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I can't even imagine how difficult it's been for you."

I gather my thoughts before carrying on. "It's normal to miss him. He was your brother and you were close, real close from what you described. It's unfair to think you wouldn't still be hurting after such a tragedy. But I'm sure Luke would be so proud of how far you've come."

We sit in quiet reflection for a moment. Hearing Livi's story is sobering. I don't know my half-siblings at all but I would never wish ill on them. Same with Bill, no matter how angry I am at him. I wonder now if thing's could've been different. If I had tried to reach out to them a long time ago. Would I have let go of all of this hurt? I don't know.