Episode 9 - Lovely Parents, Beloved Brother

Ava's POV

It’s been a week since Arthur was gone and every day I just wait for his call or to see him in dance class but he never showed up. 

I called him a few times but he picked and told me he will call back but didn’t. He was not even replying to my texts. 

To be frank, I should not be surprised, people leave my life all the time the same way but I had never expected him to do that too. Well, maybe it’s just my destiny to not have any friends. I know he will not come back.

Today is my family’s death anniversary so just like every year, I picked up some flowers and drove to the cemetery. 

Sam has been checking on me every single day now. He dropped my car that day and man I was surprised to see my car, it was looking brand new and I thanked him for that because I don’t have any knowledge about cars and techs but he, just like a big brother did that for me. I wanted to pay for repairs because I know it must have cost a big amount but he was just as stubborn as Ar. I tried everything but he started emotionally blackmailing me for being my big brother and I had to accept it.

As I parked my car I went inside the cemetery knowing exactly where to go, the guard knows me well and I got one bottle of wine for him like I always do when I visit here.

The Cemetery was deserted as always and for the first time, I wished I had someone who would come with me.

“Lilly and James Williams”- Lovely Parents

 “Jason Williams”- Beloved Brother

I Placed the flower bouquets and sat there in between their graves and started talking. I just let my heart out here. Tell them everything that happened in a year and tell them I am okay.

I pulled out a paper from my back pocket and started reading what I wrote for them this year...

“Mum and Dad I love you lots, Another year passed but I missed you the most,

Jason my brother, I love you too, I want you by my side just so you know,

Please come back to me if you can, I don’t wanna go back in the lonely apartment,

You know everyone left just after you all did, I need a friend right now but my feelings forbid,

I miss the pancakes you made in breakfast mom, I can’t make them perfect but I try on and on,

Dad I miss giving you my puppy face just to get something new, I don’t want anything right now just give me those thousand hugs, they are due,

Jason come back no? I don’t have anyone to play with, I miss you a lot, you can taunt me and do all kinds of tricks,

I know you all will not come back, but I try my luck every year, I am soo strong now but your absence I can’t bear,

If you cannot come back, please be happy wherever you are, Your little girl will wait for you forever and will look for you in those starts…

Goodbye mum, dad, Jason…”

“It’s not too good but I hope you know I miss you all and no one can ever replace you all…”

 I folded back the paper and keep it there leaving the cemetery. As I drove back it started raining so I was driving slow now, in silence and my mind revolved around those memories I spent with my family. 

I parked my car and entered my apartment and anxiety hit me again, I wanted to cry but I will not, I will be the strong girl my family wanted me to be...

I came up to the terrace not caring about the rain and sat on the plastic chair. The raindrops were making me soak in them and I sat there silently not thinking about anything. 

I don’t know how much time passed by and the rain stopped so I went back to my apartment. I changed into a comfortable t-shirt and shorts and just sat there on my sofa when my bell rang. Wondering who could be here I opened the door and I was shocked to see Arthur…

.................

Why he is here? After a week he just shows up?

“Hey,” He said

“Hi,” I responded, not interested to talk anymore.

“Can I come in please?” He asked me and I nodded opening the door fully and giving him space to enter. He gave me a bouquet of purple and white tulips which I took without saying anything and went in my kitchen to grab a glass vase for it, filled it with water, and opened the packaging to keep them on it. Arthur was just sitting on the sofa looking at me, not saying a word and when I was done, I placed the vase in my living room.

“Ava I am sorry for leaving like that and not talking to you for a whole week, it was something important and needed my full attention..” He said with concern filled voice and I just nodded, not wanting to talk right now, I just went back to my kitchen to grab a bottle of scotch and two glasses with some ice. I poured some in both the glasses with some ice and took one and gulped it in one go. The burning sensation gave me some sort of relief.

“Ava, look at me is everything alright?” He came closer, his right hand was on my cheek forcing me to look in his beautiful blue eyes and I can see he is worried now.

“I am okay, just that today is the death anniversary of my family and I just came back from the cemetery so not in the mood to talk,” I told him the truth and his expression changed.

“It’s okay you can cry if you want,” He said and I chuckled which was filled with sadness.

“I wish I could, but I will not,” I said and he was shocked now, he wanted to say something but didn’t. 

For a few seconds, we kept staring at each other’s eyes when he finally broke the silence and asked, “When was the last time you cried?” 

“When I had a fight with my mom for some stupid reason and my mom didn’t talk to me for a day” His eyes were now poking out like it would fall of the eye sockets any moment. He just kept staring at me when suddenly he hugged me and I hugged him back. I could feel his heartbeat which gave me a sense of security.

“Ava, I am always there for you, and I am sorry about what happened last week. I promise it won’t happen again” I don’t know why he said that but it made me feel better. We were just standing there hugging each other but not even for a second I felt like he would do something inappropriate and he didn’t. I pulled off and said, “Thanks” looking straight at his eyes and he just nodded with a smile.

We sat on the sofa and he pulled me closer to him. He made me rest my head on his laps and I dozed off.