Page 20 of Hunt for the Roses
“It’s from Anonymous, actually.”
I feel my brows slightly furrow at my therapist, waiting for her to give the inevitable inspirational speech. “Aria, you’ve been thrown a lot of thorns in your life. But if you put the effort in to embrace the battle through the thorns, you’ll see that there’s still beauty to be found.”
I swallow as I listen to Dr. Connelly’s words. I stare at her for a few moments before looking out the window again, and it makes me beg the most important question of all.
Are there even any roses left for me to find in my world of thorns?
~One Year After~
Saturday, June 4, 2022
About a year has passed since Kyle’s death, and I’ve gradually been putting the pieces of my life back together. Over the past six months, Kate, Trent, and I have been starting to resume our weekly routine of going to Shippers. The first six months, all of us struggled to continue our traditions without Kyle, so we hung out less often, but it’s nice to know we’re starting to build some normalcy back into our friend group. That being said, I haven’t seen Ari since the night I found her outside her townhouse when she told me she was starting to visit. I’ve continued to text her, but the conversations always remain the same. Brief and uncomfortable.
My mom has been a huge help, turning our lunches together into therapy sessions, so she’s been a solid rock throughout my journey. Not to mention the increase in my random hookups. Not to say I’ve racked up a different woman every night, but my headcount rate has definitely increased this past year. But every hookup was for one purpose and one purpose only–to feel something other than pain.
As I’m punching and kicking the boxing bag at the gym, I hear my phone buzz. When I step away to pick up my phone from the floor, I see there’s a text from Ronnie.
Ronnie: Hey, I was wondering if you were going to be home in the next hour. I wanted to swing by.
Me: I’ll be at the gym for another twenty minutes, then I’ll be on my way home. Everything okay?
Ronnie: Sounds good. Yeah, I just wanted to talk to you about a few things.
I furrow my brows as I reply.
Me: No problem. See you in a bit.
I put my phone down on the floor mat, and take a sip from my water jug before going back to the body bag. I break a sweat for another twenty minutes, rinse off, and then head home.
The ten-minute drive home turns into a twenty minute drive due to an accident on the main road, so by the time I’m pulling up to my townhouse, I see Ronnie’s car parked along the curb.
I get out of my Mustang at the same time Ronnie steps out of his car. “Hey, it’s good to see you,” I say as I extend my hand so we can have a handshake-hug.
“Hey, man, you too,” Ronnie replies.
I hike a thumb over my shoulder toward my house. “Want a drink?”
“Sure,” Ronnie replies as he gestures for me to lead the way.
When we get into my house, I drop my car keys on the foyer table and go to the kitchen to retrieve a beer from the fridge. I place it on the kitchen island and open the top with a bottle opener, before handing it over to Ronnie who is standing on the opposite end of the kitchen island.
I walk over to a cabinet to get a drinking glass for myself, and then go to the fridge door. “So what’s up? What’s new?” I ask as I fill up the glass with water.
A few silent moments pass before Ronnie speaks behind me. “Aria’s coming back to live at the townhouse.” I pause momentarily registering his words. I knew her living arrangement at her parents’ was temporary, but I guess being that a year has passed, I’ve sort of forgotten.
I turn around when my glass is full with enough water. “When?” is all I can think to say.
“Tomorrow,” Ronnie says.
I walk over to stand across from Ronnie at the kitchen island. “Do you need me to help with anything?”
“Actually, yes. That’s why I came to talk to you.”
I take a sip of my water, then wave a vague hand gesture. “Anything you need.”
“Dane, she needs someone to be there for her. She’s made some big leaps these last six months being in therapy, and my family and I need to make sure she continues on that path.” I nod as I furrow my brows, not fully understanding where he’s going with this, so I just take another sip of my water and wait for him to continue explaining. “Can you just make sure she’s okay? Check in on her and keep her company? Help around the house with maintenance if she needs it?”
I’m silent for a few seconds, wrapping my brain around this responsibility I would be taking on. “Oh, man,” I breathe as I run a hand through my hair. “I’ve been reaching out to her, but I never know exactly what to say.” I laugh thinking back at our awkward conversations. “To be honest, I don’t know how much help I’m going to be. I mean, I will be there for her, I just don’t know how well it’s going to go.”
