Darker: Sequel to Harder To Breathe

Without You I'm A Lost Boy

*Adam's pov

"Daddy! Someone's at the door" Molly said poking my head. "Hmm, right" I said sitting up. "Lay down baby, I'll be right back" I said and kissed her head. I headed downstairs yawning and opened the door. "Isabella" I said shocked to see her so early. "Hi" she said in a shy, nervous, way. "I wanted to surprise you guys with breakfast but I dropped my keys in the drain and now I'm stuck" she said. I looked down and noticed the bags in her hands. "Oh thank you" I said and stepped aside, "come on in" I managed. "Thanks" she said and blushed bright red. "I'll get your keys, Molly is still asleep, at least she was when I came down" I said. She nodded, "thanks Adam" she said and went about heating up the food. I slipped back outside and looked at the drain by her car, lo and behold there were her keys. I went to the garage and grabbed Molly's old grabber and went back to the drain. I eyed it and deemed it big enough for the grabbed and knelt down. The grabber slipped easily through and I grabbed the keys pulling them out. I sighed and put the grabber back and headed inside. Molly was smiling at the table eating her fair share of pancakes.

I handed Isabella her keys and sat down with Molly. "Thanks" she said smiling slightly. I nodded silently, how could they be smiling? My wife is dead. Molly's mother! And she's smiling! "Adam? Are you okay?" Isabella asked. I nodded and pushed away from the table. "Daddy you didn't eat" Molly said staring. "I know little girl, I'm not hungry right now" I said. "Is it because you miss mommy?" I nodded. "It's okay to miss her" she said. I looked at her and that sweet yet sad smile, and I fell in love all over again. She is the best thing to have happened to me since meeting Jaz. "How did you get so smart?" I asked. "I talk to nana" she said simply and smiled eating her pancakes. Leave it to mom to teacher her the basics in life I thought. "Yea nana is pretty smart" I said and kissed her head. "We have to leave by 3, I'm gonna..." "go, I've got this. She'll take a bath and be completely set by the time you have to leave. Relax" Isabella said. "Thanks, I honestly don't know what I'd do without you right now" I said and slipped upstairs into my room, our room. I looked at the picture of us on our wedding day on her dresser. She was so... healthy. It all seemed to go bad so fast. I laid back in bed and held the picture. I set it down on the end table and picked up a pad of paper from the drawer. "I wonder where were you when I was at my worst down on my knees. I wonder where were you if all the roads you took came back to me, so I'm following the map that leads to you." I wrote and laid the paper back down and took the picture. "God I miss you Jaz" I whispered and laid back holding the photo.

I must've fallen asleep because there was a knocking on the door and I had to open my eyes to register where it was coming from. "Adam" Isabella said opening the door a crack. I sat up and rubbed my eyes and realized I was crying in my sleep. "Can I get you something?" she asked. I shook my head and looked over to see the picture of us on the floor. The frame was cracked over Jaz. I started crying unable to control myself any longer. "Oh, the frame" she said picking it up. "I'll get another one" she said. "No, I'll just take the picture, you can toss the frame." She nodded some and sat beside me. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "Yea I'm fine Isabella" I said. "Adam I've been around for 4 years, call me Bella, everyone else does" she said attempting a smile. "Bella, sorry" I said controlling myself. "I'm a great listener if you need it" she said and touched my shoulder. Her touch was warm, soft, and gentle. I had to take a deep breath to get my emotions in check. "Not now, but I appreciate it" I said. She nodded, "anytime, really day or night" she said and got up. "I'm gonna get Molly in the bath and all settled and then I'll change and be available if you need me" she said. "Thank you. H...how... how is she? She seems so strong with me" I asked. "She's taking it hard. She told me she wants to be strong for you because you're so sad" she informed me. I sighed, "can uh, you let her know she doesn't need to be. We can both be weak for now" I said. She nodded and left.

I got up and stared at myself in the mirror. "Damn Adam" I mumbled staring at the ghost of myself. I washed my face and stared at myself, still I looked tired. I stripped and got in the shower. It wasn't the same without Jaz. "Shit, how am I going to move on from you?" I shook the thought and finished up and got out. I wrapped the towel around my waist and went to the closet. The smell of her hit me hard. I dried off quickly and slipped on my briefs. I found my suit in the back and pulled it out. I slipped out the pants and examined the shirt, it seemed clean enough. I sighed and put it back and found my dress pants and another button up and pulled them on. There was a knock as I was tucking in my shirt. "Come in" I said. "Wow, you look..." "Rough I know" I said as Bella walked in. "I was going to say nice. Jaz would be impressed" she said and I finally took a good look at her. She was wearing a knee length black dress. "Thanks" I mumbled and went to get a tie.