The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 9

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"Millions and millions of years would still not give me half enough time to describe that tiny instant of all eternity when you put your arms around me and I put my arms around you."

Jacques Prevert

"Today's her anniversary."

She was quiet for a moment, letting the thought sink in. "How long ago?"

"Five years. Five years without someone you love... It's a long time," he sighed, looking at his mother's gravestone thoughtfully.

"I wish I knew what that felt like."

Garfield turned to Raven in confusion, noting her gentle visage watching the sky and arms clinging to her knees. "What do you mean?"

Raven shrugged. "The only person I've ever loved was a maniac. My father could be in hell for all I care. My mother didn't even bother to care for her only daughter. I wish I at least had someone to mourn."

He scooted closer to her, and with some hesitation, he gently placed an arm around her shoulder. She flinched, and for a second, he thought he would pull back, scared she'd retreat into her mind like she usually did. But to his surprise, she leaned her weight onto him and her head fell softly upon his shoulder. Two ill-fitting puzzle pieces finding comfort in each other.

It'd been a month since the first time they'd met there, and every week since then, they showed up without agreement as if they knew this was their spot.

"It's okay. You'll find someone to love one day," he whispered in her ear, sending pleasant chills crawling throughout her skin.

"I hope you do too," she muttered.

I think I already did, he desperately wanted to tell her. But only time would tell.

"We should go. It looks like it's about to storm," Raven told him, and that's when he realized they'd been in each other's arms staring at his mother's gravestone for nearly twenty minutes.

"Okay."

The walk to his car was quiet, and when they got in, they sat there for a moment, the sound of raindrops falling on the car hood setting a sort of peace they'd both been aching for. A peace they could enjoy together.

"What are you going to do today?" Garfield asked.

"I'm probably staying in. It feels like a good day to do that."

"Do you want to come to my place?"

Raven glanced at him with a blank stare. He didn't look at her, instead played around with the ring of his car keys. "I don't know if I should, Gar. You know what happened last time. I... I don't want to hurt you."

"You're not going to hurt me, Rae." They locked eyes, and he placed a hand over hers. "And nothing's going to happen this time. I promise. Today's... not the day. I just don't want to be alone."

"Okay," she smiled gently at him, inciting a bubbly feeling inside his stomach.

And they spent the night together, holding each other, watching movies and laughing. No sex. No kissing. No making out. Just them both, enjoying each other's companies.

And for the first time, Garfield genuinely felt a sense of warmth and happiness... kind of like... like he had back when Tara had been around.

* * * * *

"You two have been spending an odd amount of time together," Victor pointed out one random morning as he prepared breakfast. Every once in awhile he slept over to make sure the green bean was doing okay, though recently he'd been doing it less often because his relationship with his girlfriend, Sara, appeared to be getting more serious by the day.