Baby Blue (Sal x Larry)

-34-

*3rd Person*

    "Sal... Sal!", The Judge says, snapping Sal out of his trance. "Huh?", Sal says. "What happened after that?", The Prosecutor asks. Sal gathers his thoughts. Trying to remember all the events that happened.
    "After we found nothing, I went back home to my daughter. Ashley had left. Ashley had come in town to visit and watched Selene. She changed so suddenly. She cut off her hair and bought her own motorcycle. After that, she left. A few months had passed.
    I had told Todd what's been happening at the apartments. No sign of ghosts or anything. Todd had made some new gadgets to test out. Then I get some unsettling texts from Larry...

     My husband...", Sal says and pauses. He wipes the tears from his eyes. "What did they say?", The Prosecutor asks. Sal hesitates. Tears running down his face. Sal takes a deep breath.
   "The first message was 'Sal, I'm sorry babe. Dont blame yourself'. I thought it was him just... messing around...", Sal says. "Did you respond?", The Prosecutor asks. "I asked him 'sorry for what?' And what hes talking about...
    The next few texts started to worry me. He then told me it was time for him to go. I told him he better not be doing anything stupid...", Sal says.

    A faint sniffle comes from Sal. "What happened next?", The Prosecutor asks. "He said it's too late and that he'll be gone soon. He started to worry me.
    I told him to stop messing around and that it's not funny. After that, he stopped replying. I messaged him a few more times before I decided to call him... but he never answered...
    The call went to his voicemail. I panicked. I asked Todd to watch Selene. He knew I was in a panic. He didnt ask what was wrong but just agreed.

    I took off running back to the apartments. It was raining... thunder and lightning... I ran as fast as I could back to the apartments.", Sal pauses. He sighs. "I ran to larry's treehouse...
    there was a note for me... from Larry.", Sal says. "Ah yes. The note. His suicide note to you. What did the note say on it?", The Prosecutor asks. "It said 'Sal, I know this is gonna be hard for you to understand.
    I'm sorry... please dont blame yourself and please dont hate me. I was lucky to have you in my life.

    I couldnt have asked for a better Husband than you, babe. I know you're gonna do great things. You gotta keep going. Keep fighting the darkness. It's coming closer now. I can hear it whispering in my head...
    It's getting louder... I just need this to end. I cant take it anymore. I'm not strong like you are. I love you, Sally face. Always. See you on the other side.', signed by Larry himself.", Sal says.
   Tears falling down his face.  "And what happened after you read the note?", The Prosecutor asks. Sal takes a moment to collect his thoughts.

    "I went up into the treehouse. All I saw was a single empty beer bottle. No Larry. After that, I called Todd and Ashley. Todd came over right away. Ashley started to make her way to us.
    I sat up in the treehouse for hours it seemed. I wanted to know why he had killed himself... after all this time, I still dont know. Nor where his body went...", Sal says.
    The trial goes on for hours. They had Ashley take the stand. They expected her to go against Sal but did the exact opposite. She tries to help him.

    Neil is there with Selene. Selene has gotten big and is almost 2 years old. Sal takes his place back by the table with his assigned attorney. Ashley tells what she saw. She knew Sal better than anyone.
    Even Larry. Ashley was the one Sal would always go to for help or if something was wrong. "Okay, Ashley. Tell us what happened when you go the call from Sal.", The Prosecutor asks.
    "He had called me. I could hear in his voice the panic and how upset he was. Me and Todd tried to calm him down but, it was terrifying.", Ashley pauses.

    "Have you ever felt threatened or unsafe around Sal?", The Prosecutor asks. "Never. Sal always came to me if he needed someone to talk to or just needed someone.", She says. She sighs.
   "I couldnt bare to see Sal in the state he was. We had all gathered in the treehouse. He showed us the note and messages from Larry. We saw the empty alcohol bottle.", Ashley says.
   "Have you known Sal to drink?", The Prosecutor asks. "Not at all. He never touched it because alcoholism runs in the family and he didnt want to be an addict.", Ashley says.