Memory After Memory

Chapter 7

Viney burst into the door, no knocking. She looked panicked. "Amy! You gotta turn the TV on!!!"

I looked at her half like she was crazy and half startled. "Viney! Why-"

"Just look!" She grabbed my remote and turned it to the news channel.

I rolled my eyes and sat on the edge of the bed with Julian. I watched as the camera man zoomed in on a plastic cover. The news reporter was talking about it.

"The body of a young girl was found just outside this convenience store last night. Police say the girl looks to be the age of 10-15. Further details will be coming in soon."

I clicked off the news. "Okay? A young girl was found. My concern is?"

"Did you not see who it was??"

I shook my head. "Not really. It was covered in plastic."

"Look again."

"Viney, i-"

"Damn it Amy just look!" She flipped the news back on. "Just keep watching."

I sighed and watched again. This time, the police took out a wallet from the dead persons pocket. He then put it on a bag after looking for any ID. I looked at the face and I froze. My skin turned pale and cold. No fucking way.

I was in Julian's arms the next second. I stayed there for a moment before my sadness turned to rage. I pushed out of Julian's arms and walked out. I didn't care if anyone was following me. I went out the front door.

"Amy, wait."

I turned around and saw Julian. "Drive me there."

"Amy-"

"Just drive me!" I got in the passengers side of his truck, letting him know that I wasn't changing my mind. He eventually gave in and he drove me to the spot where the police were surrounding. The car ride was silent. There was nothing to say. When we got there, I got out and went straight to where the tape was. Julian called out for me but I wasn't listening.

An officer came up to me. "Ma'am I'm gonna need you to stay back-"

"I'm family. Let me in!" I pushed past him and went past the tape. I got to the body's side and knelt, suddenly feeling a hole in me.

Jeanette... An officer got me up and I fought for a minute. "Hey, do you want blood all over you?"

I looked down and realized I was so close to the puddle. 1 centimeter closer and I would've had her blood on me. I shook my head.

"Come on, I gotta ask you some questions."

"Can it wait until later?"

"Would you rather go somewhere else?"

I sighed. I figured later wouldn't really be an option. "No you can ask here..."

The officer nodded. "You know who she is?"

I nodded. "She's my sister, Jeanette Kathy Irvine, 12 years old and was doing sports and dance."

The officer room note of it. "Any other relatives we can contact?" I gave her my mother's phone number. "Anyone you know that might want to hurt her?"

I shook my head. "I just got out of the hospital a few months ago from a coma."

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"3 weeks ago. When she, my mom and my aunt came to surprise me. I live with my friend and...boyfriend."

She took note. "Okay. Where were you last night?"

"At home. You can ask Julian." I pointed to the truck.

The officer nodded. "Allow me to talk to him? Just to clear you."

I nodded. "Feel free. Can I go back to my sister?"

"Just make sure you don't get anything on you."

I nodded and we parted ways, I went to Jeanette and the officer went to Julian. I sighed as I held her cold hand. I'm sorry Jeanette... I put the plastic cover over her and tears stung my eyes.

~***~

I was covered in my blanket as I lay on the bed 2 weeks later. My mother gave me a picture of Jeanette to keep in her memory 2 days ago. I hadn't gotten out of bed for anything. Julian came in and checked up on me and gave me kisses on the forehead. I refused to leave my bed unless I had to go to the bathroom. I hadn't spoke a word to anyone for the past 2 days.

The door opened up a lite bit and someone stood in the doorway. I knew it was Julian. I didn't budge. I just lay there.

He sighed. "Amy...Can you at least say something?...Anything?..."

I contemplated that, heard the hurt in his voice. I gave in. "What is there to say?..."

My door was closed and he sad at the foot of my bed. "Anything. What's on your mind?.."

"My sister..." I stared at the picture.

I felt Julian's hand rest on my shoulder. He sighed."I know that there is nothing I can say to make this better for you whatsoever. I do know that maybe I can take you out somewhere? You can take the picture with you if you'd like."

"I don't want to go anywhere Julian."

"You've been in your room for 2 weeks."

"So?"

"So, you need to get outside."

"Why do you care that I go outside?"

"Because it physically hurts me to see you this way Amy..."

That got me to stop talking for a moment.

"I feel bad enough that I can't do or say anything to make this better for you or your family. The least I can do is take you out somewhere. Wherever you'd like to go. It's killing me, watching you stay in your room. It hurts hearing you cry yourself to sleep at night and me not knowing what the hell to do about it."

The hurt in his voice and his eyes were enough to get me to stop my little pity party and I sat up, giving him a hug. He held me close and didn't seem to want to let go. After all, this is the first time in 2 weeks he's gotten to hold me. "Take me anywhere..."

Julian relaxed a little bit, now that I had said that. A wave of calm hit us both as we just sat there many seconds, those seconds slowly turning into minutes as he just held me. Something in me wanted to find out what was going to happen 2 weeks ago before I was hit with a major depression. 

In that moment, I looked up to see him staring down at me. There was a pain in his eyes that I desperately wanted to take away right then and there. I thought I had seen him in pain before, but now I saw that I had been wrong. I realized I had been pushing him away for 2 weeks and had thought nothing of it. I reached my hand up to caress his face, but he stopped it midway. "Anywhere in particular you want to go right now?"

I took a moment to think about what he said. I want to know what was gonna happen 2 weeks ago. Of course, I know how that works though. I thought about the places we could go. After a few moments of thinking, I looked up at him again. "Maybe we can just cruise around town. Sight seeing maybe."

He nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me." He got up and stretched a bit.

I laughed a little. "If anyone should be stretching, it's me."

Julian laughed. "Yeah true that." He took my hand and got me out of my bed, though he really didn't have to do that. I may have been in my bed for 2 weeks, but I didn't forget how to get up and walk. 

We walked out to his car and I got in the passengers side. He got in on his side and when we were ready, he backed out of the driveway, going to wherever the road takes us as he had one hand on the wheel and the other hand holding mine. 

There was still something there between us and could feel it. Now I was curious to know if he felt the same.