Page 42 of Fractured Grief

Fine. Lyric helped me with my stretches, but he doesn’t stop talking. It’s like training with the Energizer Bunny. I had to have a nap to get some peace and quiet. (smiley faceemoji)

Indy

I can see Lyric being a chatterbox. Well, I’m glad you got some rest. I’m going to head to bed early tonight and try and shake this headache.

Seb

Sleep tight, I hope you feel better in the morning.

Do you mind if I message you tomorrow to check on you?

And maybe throughout the day.

I get bored and don’t like my mind to wander too much.

But if not that’s okay.

Indy

It’s fine. I don’t have my phone with me so I can only read it on breaks but I’ll look forward to your texts ;)

I smiled to myself as I added a winky face emoji. I was never bold or outgoing. I didn’t know how to flirt, but Seb just brought out something in me. He set me at ease and made me feel free. I felt playful and confident whenever I was with or chatting to Seb. It was such a bizarre feeling, but I’d roll with it.

I fell asleep that night with my phone clutched in my hand and a smile on my face.

Chapter 21

Seb

Indy had been so busy that we hadn’t been able to chat for more than a few minutes via texts. I still didn’t know who was taking over my appointments or if he’d spoken to Carol yet. Trusting he had it under control, I would find out on Friday, at my next appointment. From the few snippets he’d mentioned, he had no support system. He hadn’t been able to go out or make friends and didn’t know his neighbors or the area well enough to explore. It sounded lonely.

I had a few ideas for our date, and until he told me otherwise, I was still planning. I was surprised at how excited I was every time I thought about it.

“You’ve still got a while to wait. Should I be worried about all this smiling you’ve been doing? It’s scaring me.” Lyric motioned to my face, which had been smiling often since Saturday.

I’d finally taken the time to groom my beard and get my hair trimmed and styled. I was ready and excited to hopefully see Indy and tease him about our date.

“Leave me alone. I smiled all the time before.”

“Not like this,” Lyric cautioned.

“What are you talking about? I was always smiling and messing around with you, Atty, and Theo.”

“Sure, you joked and stuff, but you never really smiled,” Lyric paused, turning serious. “Not like you have lately, not since before Pa died.”

His words hit me in the solar plexus. It had taken each of us quite some time to smile again after losing Pa. He and Ma were the heart and soul of our family, and we’d lost our light when we lost our Pa.

“That’s not true.” But I knew it was. I thought I was better at hiding it. With Lyric living with me, I’d been dropping my mask more, but I blamed it on my recovery. Lyric saw more than I realized. “Sorry,” I muttered.

“You don’t need to be sorry, Seb. We all miss Pa. You know we’re here for you, any time you need.” Lyric’s gaze bore into mine as he continued, “Even if you’d like help airing out the workshop, or something.”

I froze as nausea settled in my stomach. I couldn’t go in there. No one should go in there. “N-n-no. Don’t. Please, Lyric,” I stuttered, imploringly.

Lyric moved to sit beside me at the breakfast bar and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “I miss him, too. Every day.”

Patting his hand, “I know. He’d be so disappointed in me.”

“What! No, he wouldn’t. Why would you even say that?” Lyric exclaimed.