Present

9.1

Audrey

The time seemed to go by in a blur, and I only left my twin-size bed at my parents to eat and use the bathroom. The dress I wore to the wake was crumpled on the floor. I would never be able to wear it again, the memory of Gwen's made up, lifeless body was now woven into the threads of the fabric. I wasn't even sure I would take it home with me, maybe the dress would be destined to rot in my childhood closet with other formal dresses and old t-shirts I could never part with.

There was a knock at my door.

"Audrey, its nearly 11. Your breakfast is going to get cold," I heard my father's voice. I suppose they would expect me to eat breakfast with them, I knew it was a matter of time before I was forced to go back home. They wouldn't want to drive me back and forth to class, and who knew if I'd ever be able to afford a new car.

I threw the blanket off me and stretched with a groan. I didn't bother to change into clothes, instead choosing ot remain in my oversized sleep shirt and sweatpants. I slid my feet into slippers to hide the chipped nail polish that I didn't have the energy to remove, let alone repaint.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I called. I stepped around the clothes on the floor and opened the door, but Dad had already returned to the kitchen. I waddled down the hallway and through the living room. My Dad's cat weaved between my legs, her purrs vibrating her fat body.

"After breakfast, Oreo, I promise," I smiled at her.

I hopped onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island and Oreo curled up on the floor between the seat's legs.

"Sleep well?" Dad asked, sliding a plate of fried eggs and bacon in front of me. My dad had eyes even darker than mine and his dark hair was beginning to gray. His face had softened since I moved out, or maybe it was because he felt I was in a fragile state. Either way, my relationship with both of my parents had improved. Perhaps this was another perk of getting older.

I shrugged. "Like the dead." I took a bite of bacon and it was made just the way I liked it, somewhere between chewy and crunchy.

"You always could sleep through a hurricane," Dad laughed.

"You can't prove that, can't get hurricanes in a landlocked state," I said through a mouthful of bacon. "Can I get a fork?"

Mom was on the other side of the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. She shut the dishwasher door and rinsed her hands before grabbing a clean fork from the utensil drawer and handing it to me. Her caramel colored hair was braided down her back. Wisps framed her face as if she had slept in the braid.

"Thanks," I said, digging into my eggs. Silence filled the air as mom poured herself a cup of coffee and took a sip.

"You know we love having you around, and you're welcome to be here anytime. I mean, it is your home too," Dad started.

"But I have class tomorrow and do have to go back to the apartment eventually," I finished for him.

"Well, yeah. Your mom and I both work and can't take you back and forth. And we're still waiting on insurance money for your car," he said.

"I'll need to get a bus pass for groceries; everything else is walking distance from the apartment." I wasn't even sure if I wanted to drive anymore, though I couldn't deny that having a car that had no memories of Gwen would make things easier.

"Were always here if you need help. After the workday, of course. It's not like you're an hour away," Mom interjected.

"I know, but I can't rely on you guys forever. You guys have let me hide out here for a week now." Back to my usual independent self, I hated relying on anyone.

"Just don't be afraid to ask, we'll always be your parents and we just want to help however we can," Dad said.

"I know, I think its best if I start to focus on school work. I still have to pass my classes and my professors are probably expecting me back."

"I think school would be," my mother paused to search for the right words, "A healthy distraction."

I didn't respond, instead I ate the last of my eggs.

"It will get easier." I avoided looking at my dad; I knew that there was sadness in his eyes. He loved Gwen too. They both did.

I stood up to put my plate in the sink and swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat. "I think I'm going to pack up my things. I have a bit of school work to catch up on before I go back to class tomorrow."

"Of course, just let us know when you're ready to go back," Mom said.