Chapter Ten #2
When she declares the parking lot safe, I follow her outside and we head for my car.
I unlock it and place the walker in the backseat once I’ve folded it up.
Elara makes sure I’m safely in the driver’s seat before she walks back to the store and heads inside to go through the front door where her car is parked.
I start the engine and leave my store to head for the cemetery.
The music remains off and I have the windows rolled down the slightest bit to allow cool air in the car because it’s hot as hell.
I don’t want to run the air conditioning because then I’ll be too cold.
Plus, fresh air is better any day of the week if you ask me.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the cemetery where I park and get out to grab the offending walker.
The walk up to Bhodi’s grave is longer than normal and I have to stop a few times along the way.
I’m covered in sweat by the time I make it to him, but I don’t sit on the ground like normal because I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get up again.
“Hey, Big Brother. I’m sorry it’s been so long since I was last here.
A lot has happened since then. I’m officially single again.
TJ went too far and I was stupid enough not to believe he’d hurt me the way he did.
Bhodi, he broke into Fantasy Realm, beat the hell out of me, and stole money from the safe and register.
It took me a while to remember what happened, but I remember every single detail.
I know you’re up there shaking your head at me, wishing you could tell me I never was good at picking the men I let in my life,” I say, allowing a small smile on my face as I lean over my walker to clean off his headstone.
The flowers didn’t get delivered before I left the store so I don’t have them with me. We can keep that bouquet at the shop and I’ll bring him some next time I come to visit. I just wasn’t expecting the call from Debbie about the house so soon and it threw me.
“I have to use a walker right now. It’s horrible, but it’s the only way they guarantee I won’t fall on my ass like a fool.
My legs still aren’t as strong as they should be.
The main damage was the bruising and it’s pretty much faded now.
But I was in bed for a week and a half only getting up when I was in physical therapy.
That didn’t help the situation. I also have to work on my left arm.
It was dislocated and hurts more often than it doesn’t.
I’ve never felt pain like that before. Plus, I had a huge bump on my head that caused the temporary memory loss.
TJ really did a number on me,” I say to the stone in front of me as my legs start to protest standing on them for so long.
I lean heavily against the walker and hope it doesn’t fall over with me on it.
There’s no one here to help me get up if I fall.
I have my phone in my pocket, but that doesn’t always mean I can call for help.
Cell service here is sketchy at best and I don’t always have a signal until I get back to the parking lot.
I’d be in major trouble if something happens here right now.
“I sold my house, Bhodi. I couldn’t go back there knowing everything that happened with TJ and how much he hurt me.
He turned my sanctuary into pure chaos with his partying and the constant rotation of girls coming and going.
Yeah, he cheated on me in my own home. He destroyed everything and didn’t give a shit if I had to pay for repairs or clean every single day because he was too lazy.
I was expected to do everything on my own while he sat on his ass and used my money for his fuck toys,” I say as more tears fall because it’s the very first house I bought and a dream Bhodi and I had for so long.
When we were younger, Bhodi and I used to talk about buying homes next door to one another.
I wanted a smaller house while he wanted a mansion filled with everything we love.
I can’t tell you how many times we talked about that.
Then Elara and Rex joined in once we were friends with them.
The four of us were always going to live near one another.
Now, we all live in the same town but nowhere near one another.
And Bhodi is buried in a cemetery. It’s not fair at all.
“I should probably mention that Rex is definitely back in town. He’s the one who saved me when TJ beat the hell out of me.
Then he showed up the day I was discharged and walked through the house with us.
He still can’t say your name, Big Brother.
Not when we were talking and Elara said the same thing.
They met up after all this time and had dinner.
I really hope they repair their relationship.
I never liked that she chose me over her brother when everything happened.
“Elara seems to think Rex loves me, but he never did. He loved the idea of having a girlfriend who wouldn’t make a scene when he treated her like she was disposable.
I gave him exactly what he wanted. Now, he’s got a ton of women to choose from.
And I won’t ever forgive him for cheating on me.
I really hope you didn’t know about that Bhodi.
Though, you wouldn’t have let him hurt me that way,” I say letting the tears fall but knowing I’m about done talking for the day because my throat is starting to hurt.
“I have to go now, Bhodi. I love you always and will come back soon. Hopefully I won’t have the walker next time I visit. ”
Using my walker, I leave Bhodi’s grave and head slowly back toward the parking lot.
Again it takes longer than normal because my vision is blurred by tears and my legs are really bothering me today.
It’s the first time I’ve been on them like this since the attack and I’m rethinking coming here.
By the time I’m finally back at my car, it takes every ounce of strength I have left to fold the walker and put it in the backseat before collapsing into the driver’s seat.
I take a few minutes before I start the engine and back out of the parking lot.
I’m ready for bed when I get back to my parent’s house.
I’m not allowed to go to the house I once called my home.
Not that there’s anything left there for me anyway.
Rex moved it all into his basement so it’s not in a storage unit and he can keep everything safe until I find a new home.
For now, it’s something I don’t want to think about as I drive and prepare to go to bed despite the early time.