Shadows From the Abyss

Moving Day

Shawn sat in the window of his apartment, feeling the sun heating his back as he scrolled through his phone. Today he was turning the keys over and loading the last of his things into his grandfather's car and moving into his mother's old bedroom at her childhood home. He knew he needed the extra support his grandparents could provide but was bummed the freedom to drink and fuck all he wanted was being pulled away from him. "God damn, not a single match," He muttered, checking his inbox again. Nothing. It's difficult to find a partner when all anyone on a dating app seems to want is an easy lay.

A car door closed outside and Shawn heard a light tap on his door downstairs. "It's open," He called out.

"Hey buddy!" His grandfather's voice floated up the stairs as he entered the loft apartment.

"Hey Papa Dave," Shawn pocketed his phone stood up, watching his grandfather's afro bound up the stairs. Their soft blue eyes met and they embraced. "Thanks for helping me out today."

"Anything for you, kiddo," Papa Dave smiled warmly. He suddenly looked past his grandson and gasped. "Hey Bayley!"

Shawn rolled his eyes as his grandfather became more absorbed in his Granddog than he did his grandson. The dog was adorable, yes, but damn! Whatever, it would be easier to load the truck if they were both distracted. Papa Dave didn't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon but why risk him hurting his back, anyway? "Keep the dog occupied, I'll get this knocked out."

"Can do," Papa Dave said as he and the dog began a game of tug of war.

Shawn made several trips up and down the stairs, loading what few boxes were left and his mattress into the U-Haul truck outside. After pulling the roll door down and locking it, he turned and sat on the bumper, staring up at his apartment one final time. This truly was the end of a chapter. This was the only place he had lived in this state since his mother passed away down the street, the safe haven he had built for himself his senior year of high school and the hiding hole he ran back to when college had proven to be too much. The smell of coffee from the coffee shop below him woke him up every morning, or assured him he would be okay after he had paced the floors all night amid a mental meltdown. He sighed, fighting back tears. Instead he would be in a drafty condo, in a small back bedroom that used to be his mother's. There's no escaping your grief when you're at the center of it all.

The apartment door opened and Papa Dave strolled out with Bayley on her leash. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Just...not looking forward to this change. I'm tired of moving." Shawn sighed as his grandfather and dog sat beside him.

"I know, bud. But hey, better parking and a pool you can use."

And thin walls so you can hear every move I make and every breath I take. Shawn thought and then winced, knowing that stupid song would be playing in his head on loop for the rest of the day. "Yeah I know. And it beats going back to California."

"Have you talked to your dad today?" Papa Dave asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah. I had an episode this morning..."

"What did he say?"

"That this is for the best but he wishes I would come home," Shawn rubbed his eyes and ran his hands through his shaggy dark hair. "I know he just wants to help but I wish he'd stop asking me to come back."

Papa Dave laughed and shook his head. "Oh kiddo. You have no idea how much like your mom you are."

"What do you mean?"

"Y'all did the same exact thing; she left straight out of high school and ran across the country with Billie. And any time she would call home I would drag as much information out of her as I could to make sure she was safe and taken care of. And any time I asked her to come home when she would be upset it was like talking to a brick wall. She didn't want to hear any of that, even if she was bawling her eyes out about how much she hated everything out there."