LUXURE

25. SHOW YOU CARE

Over the weekend, Jordie and I read some books together and we even wrote our own little story. We were really just procrastinating the actual task we needed to get done: gathering our things and important documents from the apartment. Jordie was really excited to find out that we didn't have to live in our apartment anymore because he really loved Giovanni's place, I also think the memories in the old apartment hurt him more than he was willing to show. I on the other hand was dreading moving out of that apartment. I hated it so much, but it was what we called home, and it holds the last memories of mom. 

"Do you want any help at the apartment?" Giovanni said as he leaned his body on the door frame. Jordie and I were sitting on the floor in what we have deemed his room with some legos in front of us. Giovanni had gone out and stocked up on all the toys Jordie had ever wanted.

"I think we'll be okay, but thank you." I said with a warm smile, I was truly appreciative of everything he did for Jordie and I, but I didn't want to keep dragging him through my problems. This all already felt like way too much. I hated feeling like a charity case.

"Come on Jordie, we need to go pack a few things." I yelled as I waited by the elevator doors. When I told him that we needed to go to the old apartment he decided that instead, he wanted to hide in his closet.

"Jordie." I said in a stern voice. I wasn't excited about going back to the apartment either, but I needed his help packing up his stuff.

"Okay... fine." He said as he walked down the hall and towards the elevator to join me. 

I held out my hand as we made our way down. Giovanni offered to drive us, but he looked like he was busy with something. He had Mark on the phone and he kept running around his apartment speaking Italian, very angrily. I figured us going back to the apartment got us out of his hair for a bit.

We stepped off the subway and made our way through the station and up the familiar grimey stairs littered with years of gum and dirt build up. Jordie didn't say much the whole way back. When we walked through the doors that we've walked through nearly our whole lives, I visibly saw his shoulders sink down and his head lower. I could see his pain.

I rubbed his back in a soothing motion. I knew what he was feeling because I was feeling it too. 

When we walked through the doors to the apartment I saw tears well up in his eyes. 

"Hey. Look at me." I said sternly as I knelt down in front of him to be at eye level. "I know this is hard, but we need to do this. Grab anything and everything you want to keep and put it in a pile over here." I said as I motioned to the corner of the room. I had already decided that a lot of the furniture we wouldn't be keeping. Mark was going to help me take all the furniture to a donation center once we cleared out all our belongings. I let out a long breath and tied my hair into a ponytail as I made my way into my room. I pushed all of the painful thoughts aside and was working on auto pilot. 

I loaded all of my clothes into a few trash bags and piled my makeup and other essentials into a small bag. I tossed the clothes and makeup bags in the corner. I continued to throw all my valuables and belongings in trash bags to put in the corner. I probably could've used boxes, but honestly trash bags are easier for transport when you have a small amount of stuff. Before too long my room was cleared and the only things left were the bed, dresser, nightstand, and curtains. As I walked into the living room I swiped a bead of sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. 

"Jordie, how's it coming?" I asked as I poked my head through the door way. As soon as I leaned into the bedroom I felt a chill run down my back. I instantly wanted to throw up as the memories hit me. I tried to hold myself together as I looked at Jordie sitting on the floor in front of his bed. A few shirts were scattered across the bed but he was just holding a pair of socks in his hand.