Nightly Behaviors

Chapter 18

"Welcome back Vannessa honey." The cheeriness in her voice is completely drained out. I can tell she tries hard to make it unnoticeable, but it is, and she plasters a fake smile on her face to make up for it. I acknowledge the effort.

"Hey." I smile gently and step forward to wrap my arms around her. "I'm so sorry." I whisper into her dark brown hair. When I pull away the smile that she held up is long gone and is replaced by a deep frown and a few tears. Dear god I did not mean to make her cry. Thankfully Chres takes over and pulls his mom into a tight hug as well. "Don't you dare cry another tear Ma." He holds her head with his hand and signals me to go around her and in the house. I do as I'm told and take my self into the hallway that I remember being the one that lead to the kitchen.

When in there the sound level now compared to just a few weeks ago is unrealistic. The family two weeks ago cheered and sang together, but the family I saw now, barely uttered a word towards each other. A few puffy eyed faced looked up to see me but others, remained staring into blank space. I don't really know what to do at this point. I didn't know him that much so I find it hard to cry, but I also feel bad about being the only one truly untouched by the tragedy.

Chresanto returns next to me and when I look to him his eyes are rimming with red and slightly glossy. He'd been crying too. I know he would eventually, it's in humane to bottle all this up without showing any physical emotion.

Debra walks back into the kitchen with yet another huge fake smile and brings her hands together. "Ok now that everyone's here, whose ready to eat?" The family moved slow but I don't mind moving slow with them. I pick up two plates, one for me and one for Chres and I turn to give Chres his plate.

Instead of seeing Chres I see what I believe to be one of his many Aunty dabbing her eyes with a with tissue. I move from my spot and search the room for him until I spot two shined leather shoes walking up the last steps I claim visible on the staircase.

I wasn't really sure about following him but I did. I approached the tall fleet of stairs and heard a door closing sound from the top of them. He must have just wanted some time alone in his room, I should let him have that. For some reason my body ignores my mind an begins to walk up the stairs. I could feel the strong beating through my chest as I was making my way to the top. This is ridiculous, I shouldn't be this torn about going to see if he's ok. Just walk up the stairs, open the door, and check on him. If he cusses you out don't take him seriously.

The journey up the stair is quickened when I get the slightest bit of bravery but slows again when I reach the door. I put my hand to the chilled metallic brown handle and open the tall white door. When it's fully opened I'm surprised to even see what I do and my heart drops instantly.

I struggled to speak, the words just wouldn't form in my mouth and I just kept watching him as I fumbled around to close the door behind me. He was on the floor by his bed, tie loosened, tears literally streaming down his face like a waterfall's with a picture frame holding a captured moment of his father in his tight grip.

"I-I came to see if you were ok." I stutter.

He doesn't stand he just keeps his face down and caresses the photo with his thumb. "Why did this happen?" My heart shatters into a million pieces when he says this. His voice was so timid, so childlike and innocent. I make my way over to him and lowered myself to his level on the ground. 

"I don't know but I promise the pain will go away. This isn't forever." I lie. Pains like this never go away quickly, In fact they tend to worsen as time passes. I pull him into my arms and pull his head down to my chest, in attempts to comfort him. We sit there in silence until for about an hour and I'm sure he'd fallen asleep.