Reprieve.
"What's that?" Frank asked.
"Reprieve?" I said. "It means 'to cancel or postpone a punishment'. I've always liked it."
"Hm," he said, eating his cheerios, "that's kind of a metaphor for life, isn't it?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well you see," he started, "it's like every day that we're living, we are just postponing our death. Reprieve is everyday until the reaper comes."
"Do you actually believe in the reaper?" I smiled.
"No," he chuckled. "It just sounds punk rock."
"That it does," I said. I sipped on my coffee, which had grown cold since we'd started talking.
"Reprieve," he sighed, drawing it out. "I like it too."
"You like anything based off of some silly, made up metaphor."
"No, it's not just that," he said. "I like to say it. It's one of those words that you just want to say over and over until it doesn't sound like a word anymore. Because you like the way it feels coming out of your mouth."
"Like Frank," I replied.
He looked at me and smiled.
"Like Gerard."
Sip.
"I have to go to work again today," I said. "I think you oughta stay home."
"Why?" he said.
"It's raining out," I said. "You'd catch a cold or some shit. And honestly, you're too nice to whack birds."
"I'm not nice," he pouted. "I'm punk."
"You're too punk to whack birds then."
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" he said.
"Yeah," I sighed. "Just stay home, stay in this dry, warm, and tiny apartment. I'll be back soon."
"Okay," he said. I kissed him on the cheek, and slipped my coat on. Then I was out the door.
++++++++++++++++++++++
"Gerard!" A little girl's voice called. I turned from the headstone I was cleaning. Little blonde Ellie was running to me.
"What are you doing here squirt?" I asked. "It's cold and wet and you should be home."
"I wanted to see you," she told me.
"How did you even find me?"
"It's not that hard," she said. "You're the only scary goth Gerard in this town."
"I'm not goth," I scowled.
"You wear black."
"Kid," I said, "you obviously don't have a clear understanding of what goth is."
"Well what is it then?" she asked.
"I am working," I sighed. "And quite frankly, not in the mood for this shit."
"What shit are you in the mood for?"
"Don't say shit," I scolded.
"Sorry," she said.
"Go home," I said. "Your parents will be missing you."
"No they won't," she replied. "Mommy said I can do whatever as long as I stop bothering her."
"Well you're mommy is a piece of shit for a mother."
"Don't say that about my mom," she said.
"Tell your mom that," I said. "Tell her she's a shitty mother."
YOU ARE READING
When We Part (on hold)
Fanfiction'He was different, right off the bat. You could just tell there was something wrong with him. His eyes were too sunken in, and glassy. He was oddly pale for the burning summer. He was too jumpy, and anxious. He was so... Strange. Normally I didn't...
