HEAL

7 -- THE BRIGHT SIDE

Laurent's large, black Range Rover pulled off the main road, drove up the driveway, and into the small parking lot, trying to find the parking space closest to the front door so Larry wouldn't have to walk too far.  He pulled on the handbrake, and cut the engine.

Silence.

"Well, here we are.  What do you think ? "  He'd brought Larry here before on an introductory visit, just to make sure he'd like it.  Laurent had been living the same 3 to 4 day cycle that Larry was now, but at least his memory has managed to remember 4 days in a row.  Progress, Laurent smiled to himself.  He placed his large hand over the top of Larry's, reassurance for himself as much as for his brother.  

"I like it, Laulau, what is it ?"  He could hear and smell the ocean, and the seagulls squawking in the distance.  A deep sigh, then, and Larry was in his "Happy as Larry" mood today, but Laurent knew just how quickly that could change in a few seconds flat.

"I told you about this place, babe.  This is where you'll be living for a little while, and I'll be here with you every day."  Laurent had learned how to tell his brother what he needed to know in a different way now.  To tell him all the good stuff first, and quickly move on, so his brain would absorb the things that made him feel good, before the stuff he didn't like the sound of could take hold. 

"Where will you live ?"  Simple enough, and Laurent realised then how Larry phrased the question.  He hadn't automatically assumed they would be living here together.  Progress indeed.  

"I'll sleep at my house, but like I said, I'll be here with you every day that they'll let me."  He held his breath as he looked side on at Larry's face, who was still looking up and out of the windshield at the beautiful house in front of him.  It was warm and welcoming form the outside alone.  A beautiful golden and cream brick house, with arched wood windows.  A large front lawn, the perfect shade of green, graced either side of the driveway, tall trees swaying in the breeze, as small sculptures and bright flowers decorated the garden.  A pool and garden out back completed the luxurious look. 

"Ready ?  We have to go say hi, and get settled in, don't we ?"

"Are we on vacation, Laulau ?"

"Kinda, yeah, why not"  he shrugged his shoulders.  Anything to make life, this transition easier for both of them.  Laurent grabbed Larry's crutches, and helped him down from the passenger seat.  His walking was getting better, his legs getting stronger, and he only needed one crutch most of the time now.  But as this was new territory, literally and figuratively, and until he felt comfortable and at ease, two crutches it was.

"What about our bags ?"  Larry worried.  

"I'll get those later, there's no hurry."  The things he thought important now, Laurent smiled to himself.  Nowadays, Larry felt bad for not carrying his own bags somewhere, or leaving them in the car for any thief to steal.  Before, he thought nothing of letting thousands of people down at appearances and workshops, not to mention advertisers, sponsors and fans, going AWOL for days at a time.  And his friends, sorry, "acquaintances",  were the thieves that broke into, and stole said cars, and robbed people at gunpoint.  A thought flashed through Laurent's mind for a split second, that thought triggering the guilt that seared through his body at the same time, at the same alarming speed.  Was this version of Larry, the "better" version, for want of a better word ?  He was kinder, sweeter, loving and caring now.  Nothing like ...... don't say it, don't even think it.  

--  You have to forget the old Larry, Lau.  He's better left in the past  --  he admonished himself.  But he couldn't push the awful, guilt ridden thought from his mind.  He determined to enjoy his brother, this version or otherwise, for as long as he could.  He almost lost him, so whatever "version" of Larry graced his life, he would take it.  Grab it with both hands, and with all his heart.