Incomplete

Incomplete chapter 15

Incomplete: Fifteen.

     Lyssa was shifting her weight from one foot to the other nervously as she waited by the door. The doctor sat in the room with us, talking to my mom. He was a man about the same age as her, named Todd Aine. Seeing as she was 42, he must've been around 44 or older. Not too much older, for sure.

     "His status hasn't changed much, but that can be seen as pretty good news," he was informing her. "He's been here for quite a while now, and usually we would've gotten a reaction that would've told us what may happen to him. But it looks like for now he wants to sort things out, and maybe come back to you some time. At least we know that he isn't getting worse."

     I always liked hearing him talk about Frankie. He didn't talk about him like the other doctor's did: like just another patient - another victim - or an object. He talked about Frankie like he had a will in him. Like he was just on a temporary leave, just to reflect on his life, and he'll be back soon enough. It made my brother feel so real when, lying in front of me, he felt so fake. I kissed his forehead again and smiled at him, then i glanced back at Lyssa who was watching me.

     "Come on over here," I nodded my head to her. "Frankie wants to meet you, too."

     She hesitated just a moment before lifting herself from the wall and walking over to us slowly. I tightened my grip on his hand, then placed it in hers. She closed both hands over it and smiled.

     "It's warm," she breathed. I nodded.

     "It's warm," I repeated.

     "How old is he?" She asked, rubbing her hands over his with a tiny smile still playing at her lips.

     "He turned thirteen a few weeks ago, actually. We had a little party for him," I answered. I remembered seeing my mom the happiest she had been in a long time at that party. She had been smiling and laughing with Dr. Todd, and even though she was with another man than my father, i was still so happy for her. Maybe me and dad and Frankie were all just holding her back...she was always so stressed out over one thing or another.

     Lyssa seemed thoughtful for a second, and then a big smile spread across her lips. She stood up and layed Frankie's hand back in mine, and then cut into my mom's conversation.

     "Ma'am, i'd like it a lot if Auden would come over my house later. I want to show her something." She was smiling so big.

     My mom just looked at her for a second, and then gave her a weary grin. "Why not," she shrugged. "She'd really like that...right, Auden?"

     I nodded absently, then looked to Frankie. He looked so peaceful...it was a face i'd gotten used to in the past year, but it was so unsettling. He looked so lifeless, too. I sighed and squeezed his hand.

--

     "So this is your house?" I asked as we walked up the driveway, waving goodbye to my mom as she sped away.

     "In all it's glory," Lyssa answered, smiling and taking my hand in hers. I looked down and smiled easily at it, squeezing it tightly. I saw her blush only slightly, and i kissed her on the cheek.

     We walked into her house through the front door, and then took a left turn. "We're going to the basement, cool?" She said as we walked through a door.

     I just nodded, though i knew i didn't actually have a say. Stepping into the cool room i saw a drumset, a bass and an electric guitar, a few amps, a few acoustic guitars here and there, and a microphone connected to one of the amps. My face lit up as i noticed a grand piano further in the corner.