Ashen Heart

The Laurens Interlude

(I'm really trying to keep this story going, I am, but it's just been hard cause of some mental issues. But here have this mini chapter)

Dear Diary

I finally was able to get through to Alex, the bastard hadn't picked up in over 2 months, I was beginning to think he was dead. I told him of the current situation and that me and Frances were going to Virginia, with or without him and Philip. I know it sounded harsh, but I've got a feeling that things will only get worse if we don't leave soon. I've been stuck in South Carolina for too long, and Frances deserves a chance to get better in a place without ash... though I suppose with her ailment the only way TO get better is to leave the ash.. Alex better get there soon, I don't have the patience to wait for I don't want to risk losing my daughter

I can't be left alone... I just can't. It's been hard enough having to raise Frances on my own, but she's one of the only things keeping me going at this point, I couldn't imagine losing her.. not like this-

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard Frances coughing harshly in her room, so I set my notebook and pen down before rushing over to her side. "Hey pumpkin.. you're ok, just deep breath" I said soothingly before noticing her empty glass beside her on the bedside table. "P-Papa did Philip hear me? You took the receptor too quickly.." She rasped as she craned her head to try look at the radio out in the kitchen. "Yes pumpkin he did.. But you shouldn't have gotten up and wasted your voice like that.." I said as I gently brushed her curls out of her face "I-I just wanted to say hi.." she said quietly and my heart ached to see my daughter so sad like this

"I'm going to go get you some more water ok Pumpkin??" I asked and Frances nodded slightly before nuzzling back into her bed. I smiled softly and kissed her warm forehead before taking the glass and going into the kitchen to refill it. After I returned I could tell that Frances was looking across her room to the picture frames she had insisted I move there when she was little. I couldn't help but stare at them too as all the memories they contained came flooding back to me

To a time before this nightmare..

"Mama Papa come on!!" Frances called, impatiently tugging at our hands. I couldn't help but chuckle at my adorable 3 year old daughter in her hot pink bathing suit and duck floaties as she tried to drag up down to the river. I looked over at my wife who was laughing softly before speaking to our daughter with her soft voice "We're coming baby, don't you worry" she said, causing our little girl to giggle happily with excitement. I smiled at the two of them, my two beautiful girls before Frances broke free from our grasps and ran the rest of the way to the riverbank "Pumpkin come back here!!" I called but it was too late, for Frances was already splish splashing around happily in the shallows of the river. I rolled my eyes and my wife elbowed my side "She's a rebel just like you are John" she said and I laughed softly before stealing a kiss from my wife's plump lips "It suits her" I said before my wife and I joined our daughter in the river on that perfect afternoon

"Papa?? Papa?!" I was snapped out of my memories and away from the pictures to find Frances staring at me with wide eyes. My fist closed in on itself, only to find it was empty, with it's contents, the glass I had filled for Frances, now split on the floor and shattered into a million different pieces. "Papa are you ok??" Frances asked worriedly "You weren't responding.. a-and you dropped the glass... I was so worried.." Frances said as I abandoned the broken glass, making a mental note to sweep it up later, before rushing to my daughter's side and pulling her into a tight hug

"I'm alright Pumpkin.. just got lost in my thoughts.. You lay down and get some sleep.. I'll clean everything up and get you a new glass" I said, gently rubbing Frances's back to try and calm her down. "O-Ok Papa.." Frances said with a small cough before I pulled away and gently pushed her down onto the bed "Get some sleep, I mean it" I said softly before kissing Frances's forehead again, this time hopefully for the final time so she could get some rest, and so I wouldn't accidentally drop any more glasses. "Ok Papa.." Frances said and I smiled softly "Good girl.. I'll just be cleaning this up if you need me ok??" I asked and my daughter nodded. I sighed softly to myself and got up before walking back out into the living room, eyeing my open journal as I did before deciding to pick it up and cap off my entry

Anyhow I'm going to cap this off here. Once Frances starts to recover we'll begin our trek up to Virginia. It shouldn't take too long hopefully, as long as Frances is healthy, and maybe we'll find an abandoned car that works. Anyways that's all for now, until tomorrow

John Laurens