Darkness

Arrangements

Mitch found Scott sitting on the bed next to his backpack that appeared to be full. He frowned. "But you're not moving out, right?"

"No, just...just for a few days. If he wants me to go I'll go but I won't stay away for too long." He held what appeared to be a teddybear in his hands.

"Alright, that's good. Esther is staying with him now, she might take him to her place, I don't know how well he knows his way around there. You're coming with me. I've scheduled an appointment for myself before she got here but I think you need it more than me. It's just one and a half hour of talking, okay? Or crying, whatever you feel like. But you will feel better afterwards."

"Okay" Scott just said and got up. He put down the stuffed animal next to Avi's pillow and reached for his backpack. "I'm ready to go."

"Do you wanna take some of the food with you?"

"No, not hungry. Just wanna lay around and watch TV or something. I'll pay you back.."

"You don't have to." Together they put on their shoes and when Mitch opened the door Scott hesitated.

"One sec" he mumbled and went back to the living room. The man looked at the siblings and Esther smiled sadly at him before she turned back to Avi who was laying on his side and, again, just stared straight ahead. Without saying a word Scott walked past Mitch and left the apartment. It hurt too much and for the first time he didn't have the strength to fight anymore.

They had picked up dinner on the way back home after the therapy session. Scott was drained but Mitch had been right, he did feel a little better. Back at Mitch's place they sat down and ate, watched some TV and even had a drink. Just one, because Mitch didn't want Scott to drown his worries in alcohol. Shortly after 8pm Esther called.

"Hi Esther, how are things?"

"A little messy but otherwise okay. How's Scott?"

"Pretty good, he's right next to me. I'll put you on speaker, give me a second." Mitch tapped the screen and held the phone in his hand. "Alright."

"Hey Scott!"

"Hi, how's Avi?"

"Oh, he's doing okay. He had a really long nap, ate a little bit and listened to an audiobook. He's currently in the bathtub. How was therapy?"

"Quite good to be honest. I have an appointment for next Tuesday. She's really nice and if we get along well I might stay with her."

"Sounds awesome! I gave Avi some magnesium today, for his muscles, and took him to the doctor. He wasn't too happy about that but he's on meds now which will hopefully end up being the right ones. At least they're doing a good job at helping him to calm down and stay focused for a few minutes, it doesn't seem as if he's drifting off all the time. He's still pretty weak on his legs but we sat down on the balcony for a little and I think he really enjoyed that."

"Please take good care of him, okay? Make sure he's comfy...he doesn't like being cold at night, I got him an extra blanket, he really-"

Esther chuckled. "I know, Scotty. Thank you. Avi told me that you tuck him in real good before bedtime."

"Yeah. Are you staying overnight?"

"Yes, definitely. I think I'll watch a movie tonight in bed, Avi will probably be asleep even before his head touches the pillow. He's been thinking about what happened this morning. He asked about last night, he doesn't remember what exactly happened, but I told him that one of you guys will fill him in at some point. Right now he just has to rest."

"Yes" Mitch said and looked at Scott. "He'll be fine with you there. I think Scott needs some time to learn how to take care of himself again and then he'll come back home."

Scott couldn't help but smile lightly. "Mhm..I'll hurry."

"No, take your time. Make sure you're okay before you come back."

Avi left the bathroom in Scott's pajamas. They were a little too big for him and while the shirt covered his hands up to his fingertips the shorts reached to his knees and almost slid from his hips, but to Avi they meant comfort, something he needed the most at the moment. He shuffled to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of water before he headed to the bedroom. "Esther? Where you at?" he asked and patted the bed. Then Avi sat down.

"In the living room, getting your iPad" she chirped and entered the room. "Are you tired?"

"Mhm..so tired" Avi mumbled and laid down, careful not to hit his head on the headboard. Then he pulled the blanket up to his chin. "Can you tuck me in?" he asked with his voice barely audible.

Esther smiled. "Of course." She reached for the soft, additional blanket, covered Avi's body with it and tucked both his duvet and the other blanket under his body. "Good?"

"Not as good as Scott does it.." he mumbled and turned his head to her. "Is he really gone? Are his clothes gone too? All of his things?"

"No, most of his stuff is still here. He just took a few clothes, Avi. I'm pretty sure he knows that you didn't mean it the way you said it."

"Can I call him to say good night?"

The young woman hesitated. "I think you guys need some space..but I will ask Mitchy if Scott is feeling okay and then maybe you can call him tomorrow night. Alright? Is that a good deal?"

"Rather mediocre" Avi mumbled and sighed. "But okay." He laid down and was content when Esther tucked the bear under the blanket next to his shoulder. It smelled of Scott since he usually misused him as an additional pillow but right now Avi was more than happy about that and closed his eyes with his nose buried in the matted fur of the bear. "My chest hair is all patchy and it itches. Whoever shaved it did a really bad job..."