Winning Is The New Losing

Send Me Your Amnesty Down To The Broken Hearted

-Several years later-

(Leon’s POV)

     I can’t believe I have my own music store. Gloria would have been so proud of me. It doesn’t seem like her and Claire had been gone for five years. I stared at the picture of Gloria, Claire and myself standing at the 7-11. I was leaned against the counter. I had Green Day playing. I’m usually not a big fan, but seeing how it was the anniversary of Claire and Gloria’s death I felt I should play their new cd. Gloria would have loved it; there were a couple songs with her name in it. She always wished and complained that there wasn’t a song with her name in it by them. Too bad she couldn’t hear it now.

“Hey girl! Yeah I’m getting it know I’m so stoked to go to their concert! Yeah I know totally! Alright well let me call ya back when I get home or something. Alright bye.” I turned to see a girl with short black hair. She wore a pink shirt with writing but it was cut down the middle so I couldn’t tell what it said. I couldn’t help but notice her cleavage was busting out. She laid 21st Century Breakdown on the counter and was smiling.

“Green Day fan?” I said smiling as I grabbed the cd scanning it.

“Yes! I’m going to their concert in a few months and I’m so excited!” She bounced biting on her lip with joy. The bell rang as someone entered; she turned back and then faced me again holding her money out.

“12.28, so who’s your favorite?” I didn’t really care, mostly because I didn’t really know what any of them looked like let alone their names. I just wanted small chit chat. She handed me the money.

“Oh that’s a tough one. hmmm…” she thought a minute as I pulled out her change. “I like them all.” She smiled I nodded and handed her change. I noticed something on her chest as she reached for her change and cd.

“Uh sorry to stare but is that a pig?” she looked at her chest and blushed slightly. She pulled her shirt back and exposed the top part of her breast. There was a pig tattoo with a container beside it.

“Oh yea… I was drunk and got dared to get a tattoo of a pig that had been sniffing glue, and of course no dare sounds ridiculous when you’re drunk.” She let go of her shirt and it slid back in place. 

“Oh.” I chuckled. “Very unique.” She smiled back.

“Yeah.”

“Well you have a good day and have fun at your concert.”

“Thanks I will, and maybe I’ll see you around.” She smiled as she stepped out I just smiled and waved. She was kind of cute. The man from before stepped to the counter and laid a Green Day Shirt on the counter; he had blonde hair and was rather petite.

“That all sir.”

“Yea,” His voice sounded a little rough. I rang the shirt up and pulled of the security tag. “Those girls look nice. They work here?” I looked up to see him looking at the picture I was admiring before. I looked back at it then back to him.

“Oh no, they’re my old friends; Gloria, and Claire.” I cleared my throat.

“You seem a bit sad when I asked.”

“Uh yea sorry, they died on this date five years ago.” I folded his shirt and bagged it up.

“How if you don’t mind me asking.” I looked at him. He seemed a bit curious but it’s not the first time I’ve been asked about them.

 “Uh they committed suicide. Their bodies were found washed up on the side of the bay. There was a small note under a rock on the rail of the bridge that was just above them. It said inseparable till the end. Needless to say it was a very sad day. The last time I had saw them they were happy and on their way to a Green Day concert. I don’t know what happened when they got back. I always wondered what went wrong ya know? Makes me wonder if I could have done more. I started blaming myself for awhile. I should have been a better friend; maybe then I would have known what was wrong.” He nodded his head and I took his money.

“Oh I’m so sorry, but you should never blame yourself. You only dwell over it and that will send your self through hell and back.” He seemed sad.

“You seem to speak from experience.” I handed him his change and bag.

“Yeah I lost the only person I truly loved.”

“Suicide?”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat. I nodded.

“It’s very hard, may I ask how.”

“Yeah it is, um… Slit her wrists.”

“Oh.”

“But hey you just gotta stay strong and know that eventually one day you’ll once again be reunited ya know.” I smiled and nodded.

“Have a good day sir.”

“You too.” He smiled back. He stepped out. I started wiping the counter and pulled a box to restock a few things on the counter.

“Oh my god Billie Joe Armstrong! Can I have a pic with you?” I heard some girl faintly yell outside. I looked up but didn’t see anything, so I continued my cleaning. Maybe one day I’ll find someone to love. Maybe that girl will come back in. I got to thinking about what that man said. I really hope Gloria is reunited with her parents. If there is a heaven at least I know she’s not alone. Then maybe many years later I’ll see my old friends again.   

-Later-

Danny finally came in so I could take an hour off for lunch, But i wasnt going to lunch at all. I went to the flower shop and bought two red roses. I did every year to drop them in the Bay. i wasnt the only one who did so, everytime I'd go there, there would already be a few flowers floating, stimless in the water. It warmed my heart when others showed respect. I made my way down to a bridge. I heard some mumbling. Some one was there. There was a black car with its back door open. I saw two men inside dressed in black wearing sunglasses. Another man in a black peacoat was walking to the car with his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a hat and I watched as he stepped in. He reached to pull the door shut, and his sleave raised a bit. I recognized the tattoos on his arm. It was the man from earlier. He looked at me with his dark sunglasses; the sun wasnt even out why would they need sunglasses? His nose looked a bit red and he was sad. He looked down as another man wrapped his arm over his shoulders. The door shut and the car pulled off. I walked to the edge of the bridge to see six stimless roses floating. I teared up and looked back to the car. It was gone. Maybe I made him feel sorry or something. I looked at the roses and dropped them. I watched as they rested near the others. I watched them float awhile before I got a chill. I best get back to work. "I love you Gloria."        

-Thanks guys once again for sticking with me through this story. I really hope you enjoyed it. Vote, Comment, Spread it around :) <3 Jezzabell