Page 93 of Then Came You

My heart stops when I see Row curled up in the foetal position on a crumpled green leather lounge that has seen better days. She is in her signature black attire, clutching onto a strip of photos of her and her sister. Her face is puffy from crying, and I can tell she’s in excruciating pain from her dull lifeless eyes that stare at me. She blinks back the mist in her eyes, not fully registering that I’m here. She does this a couple more times until her mouth wobbles.

“Blade?” It’s minuscule, but I hear my name fall from her lips.

“Yeah, baby girl, I’m here.” I swiftly move to her, cradling her in my arms, where an avalanche of tears flood us over the next half an hour. No words need to be spoken, so I don’t. I just bunch her up on my lap and soothe her with my touch.

Her sobs aren’t loud, but they’re deafening to me.

When I feel her breath even out, I know she has fallen asleep from exhaustion. Glancing at the meerkat clock hanging adjacent to where we’re seated, I can see it’s almost midnight.

Trish’s partner went to bed hours ago because he gets up and rollerblades every morning, leaving Trish to flutter in and out, fussing over us. I can tell she’s sort of a mother hen to Row, so I’m not too phased.

“I’m going to hit the hay. I assume you’re right to stay with her this evening?”

“Yes. Thank you.” I've moved Row so her head is laying in my lap, but somehow she still manages to curl herself up into a ball. “Is there a room where Row has been staying?” I rearrange a blanket she’s kicked off.

“There is, but she didn’t want to be a hassle so she insisted on sleeping on the couch. I can make it up for you if you’d like?”

I’m not going to get much sleep anyway, so why bother?

“Here’s fine.”

“We’ll talk in the morning. I have to pop into work, but I didn’t want to leave her alone, so do you mind staying until I get back?” As if I’d be anywhere but here.

“No problem.”

With a motherly smile, Trish heads to bed, but before she does, I need her to know my gratitude for her. “Hey Trish?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.” She understands the levity behind my words and the gravity of the situation, probably even better than me, given she’s known Row for a while.

“Always.”

Chapter 39

Blade

As expected, I had one of the worst sleeps of my entire life. Not only does my back feel like I’ll need a permanent walking stick, but my neck is jarred. My phone went out sometime around two, leaving me guessing, ‘what’s that sound’ when random eerie noises creaked around me.

Row’s mental and physical fatigue knocked her out until 9 in the morning. Just when my eyes start to droop, she awakes from her slumber, tossing and turning, stretching and wriggling.

“Morning, Tink.” I bend down to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead. She looks glum, but at least a little more well-rested.

It takes her a few minutes to get through the fog of sleep. Sitting up, she breathes deeply and then slumps with a sigh. “She died.” Her voice shakes as she says the words.

“I know, Tink. I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for your loss and for not being with you or Tori.” I reach for her hand, relief coursing through me when she squeezes my fingers back.

“It was so fast. What do I do now?”

I wish I knew.

“I don’t know, Row, but whatever it is, I’m right by your side. I’m never leaving you again.”

“I don’t want to dwell on it, but the way you acted on Saturday was pathetic. But I can’t help thinking if you hadn't acted so petulantly and dismissively towards me, then I wouldn’t have had those last moments with Tori. She would have been all alone when she died.” A lone tear slips down her cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Row.” I kiss her hand, feeling her head fall onto my shoulder.

Seconds pass before she says anything.

---