The Space Speculation: Book 2 ~Painful Past~

Chapter 22: My Broken Life

Jace got a new job that should pay more. I was so nervous for him; maybe because he didn't look nervous at all. 

"Be sure to have a great day," I said, furiously straightening his suit with my hands.

He stopped me and grabbed my hands.

"With you on my mind, any day is a great day." 

I let out a quivering sigh and kissed his cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you too." 

And he was gone.

Almost all day I paced around the house, each step causing more worry to creep into my mind. 

Why was I so nervous? Nothing could go wrong! 

But I had a painful, uneasy feeling in my gut that something wasn't right.

I just shook my head and headed to the kitchen to start food.

I was cutting cabbage when I heard the doorbell ring. It was around three o'clock. 

I rinsed off my hands and answered the door.

"Hello?"

On our doorstep stood a tall older man. He wore a pitch black suit and pale blue tie. His hair was gray and his overgrown stubble was grayish white. His eyes were gray and foggy and his lips curved into a frown. 

"Mrs. Parker?" he questioned.

My heart pounded.

"Yes. That's me." 

He took my hands and looked me in the eye.

"I am so sorry, my dear. Jace-" he dropped his head.

"He's dead."

"Dead?" I whispered under my breath, the word sounding like poison. My legs wobbled uncontrollably and I stumbled back into a dining room chair. A familiar numbness overcame me. 

I swallowed hard and covered my face with my shaky hands.

"How?" I barely gasped out.

"A bullet, I'm afraid. We believe he was getting robbed and took the thieves by surprise. We found his body in a dumpster in an alley by his building." The man shook his head, then stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

"I-I didn't catch your name." I sniffed, wiping my eyes.

"Oh, my apologies. I am Calvin; Calvin Lane."

Calvin pulled out a stool and sat in front of me. 

"If there is anything I could do-"

"No. Thank you."

He put his hot hand on my cheek and I allowed my head to rest on it. My lip quivered. My eyes fluttered. My heart snapped in two. 

"I know what you're going through." 

"Do you?" I snapped, clenching my fists. My life, my perfect life, was almost complete. Now, it was falling apart. 

Calvin must have eventually got up and left because when I opened my eyes again, I was alone. Completely, utterly, alone. Again.

I got up and stomped around the house. I didn't know what to do with myself. I would kick over anything and everything. I would roll and cry and fling my body against the floor, the furniture, the walls, anything. I felt hopeless. Useless. Loveless. 

At last, I flung myself on the living room carpet and screamed an earsplitting cry of doom. I pounded my fists on the floor and smacked my head down too. I felt no pain, and if I did, I didn't care.

That's when I noticed Paisley had been standing right behind me. Her hazel eyes were wide with fright. Her white knuckles were squeezing tight around her backpack. She just came back from school.

I must have terrified her because she spun around ran up to her room.

Why was this happening again?

This section was written by Amity