JessicaThe last few days have gone by slowly but so yet, so fast. Everything after the hospital is a blur. I will never forget the way Mrs. Clody screamed when the doctor announced Mike’s time of death- it was the same scream I made when I found out my parents were dead. It brought back so many painful memories, and today will only bring more.Today we say goodbye to Mike with all his other family and friends…I know there will be so many. He was truly loved. I am not ready for his funeral, but I have to go. I want to go…but I also know it will be hard. I still can’t believe Mike Clody is dead; it doesn’t feel real. He has been in my life since I was five years old and never significant until now, but now our moment is lost forever…“Are you okay?” Julie asks me as I run a comb through my hair one more time. I have done this several times already, but memories of him make me forget what I am doing. I just stand here in a daze as my heart aches…. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.“Yes,
DamonMy whole world was shattered in one moment. One minute Mikey was talking to me, and the next, he was flatlining. It still doesn’t feel real, and sometimes I even forget he is gone. I have even tried to call him a few times before I remember he will never answer.My heart hurts so much sometimes that I don’t know how to breathe. He made me promise I would take care of Jessica and her siblings, but right now, I can barely take care of myself. Mindy has been making sure I eat and bathe. She has been staying with me at night while I have my breakdowns; she is a true best friend…but she can never replace him.My father hasn’t let me near Marcus since he found out Mikey died. He says that Marcus needs to suffer, and if he lets me near him, I’ll kill him in a fit of rage. He isn’t wrong- I would probably kill him as soon as my eyes saw him.He doesn’t deserve mercy, and that’s what a swift death would be.I will say his screams coming from the basement have given me some relief…. he de
JessicaI can’t believe how many people are here. Mike was popular in high school, but I went away to college. I had no idea he was this popular in the entire town. I see some of our old peers from high school standing among the large group, but I also see cashiers from the grocery store and even restaurant owners along with their staff. So many people have shown up today because Mike was that type of person; he was loved. The crowd is so diverse, showing that, and my heart aches…..“Now, Damon Ricci, Mikey’s best friend, would like to make a speech.” The preacher announces, and I hear Damon inhale deeply beside me. My eyes widen as Damon stands- I am unsure if he is in any condition to make a speech, but if anyone should, it should be him. He and Mike have been friends for many years now; BEST FRIENDS.Damon carefully watches his footing as he walks toward the podium where the preacher stood. His eyes stay on the ground till he arrives at the wood stand. He then turns around slowly
DamonThe service was nice, and even though that speech was hard to make, it was what Mikey deserved. Everything I said about him was true. Each story that every person shared was a beautiful reminder of who he truly was.Jackson’s story was the one that surprised me the most, though. I know it can’t be easy going to two funerals in such a short amount of time. Mikey had only been in Jessica’s sibling’s life for such a short time, but he made a mark and a positive impact on them- that’s just what he did.I sit on the couch at Clody’s house, and there is still crying but also laughter as everyone talks about him. More memories are shared, but I sit there in a daze. - how can this be real?“Damon, would you like a slice of cake?” Mindy asks me, and I shake my head.“No, I am not really hungry,” I sigh as I look up at her, but she hands me the plate anyway.“It’s marble…his favorite. Have a slice for him at least,” she pauses, “Plus, I haven’t seen you eat a single thing today. You might
TabbyEverything comes down to this moment, this exact one that I am, but it didn’t have to. If only Damon hadn’t tried to play me as a fool. If only he hadn’t treated me so poorly…maybe I wouldn’t be destroying his family…. or her.When I dropped off that envelope to Jessica, I did it because I hated the way they looked at one another. The way he looked at her was the way I wished he would always look at me, but he never noticed me. He never wanted me, not like that.He looks at Jessica like she’s made of some sort of fragile, expensive glass. He acts like he’s afraid to break her, but I see the desire in both their eyes and the way they long for one another.I thought that by asking him to be my fake boyfriend, he would finally see my value. See me more than just a plaything or something he fucked, but that couldn’t happen, not with her around.The pictures were supposed to tell her to back off. I was hoping she would hate that Damon’s dad slept with her mother. I was hoping that sh
JessicaIt’s been two weeks since Mike’s funeral, and it still doesn’t feel real. I took an Uber here to work tonight, but Mindy has been picking me up. I cried the entire way here; I miss him so much. Nothing will ever be the same again. Damon offered me a ride, but he isn’t in the suitable head space right now, and I couldn’t allow it. He is hanging onto me as a link to Mike. He thinks I don’t see it, but I do.There was always that tension between us, but how can I just throw myself into him now? It wouldn’t be right or fair to Mike.“Jessica, table six needs more shots,” Mindy smiles, and I nod, walking to the bar.“No problem, we only have three tables tonight; I am on it,” I giggle, and she nods, walking to the other. The club has been pretty much dead since we re-opened; people are afraid to come here…. not that I blame them.What happened here still haunts my dreams, but the evidence no longer remains of what happened to Mike at this club, thankfully. Damon made sure to redo
DamonHer hands wrap around my neck, and my heart instantly races. Things have been so weird between us since the funeral, but I am not giving up on us- not yet.She pulls back from me, her eyes meeting mine, and I can’t help but see just how beautiful she truly is. My hand goes to her cheek, and I touch her soft skin as she stares at me, my head coming closer to hers as my lips push against hers. I can feel her stiffen momentarily, but she doesn’t pull away. She returns the kiss, and my whole being shudders with pure delight- this has been what I have always wanted, but why did I try to deny it for so long?She pulls back away from me, her eyes showing fear. My fingers trace her soft lips, the essence of what she tastes like still on my tongue. She tries to get up, but I pull her back to me, “Jessica,” I say as I look deeply into her eyes, “This,” I pause, “This what was always meant to be,” I say softly, though I am pleading as I speak the truth.This has been a nonstop dance for b
JessicaTonight has been like a weird dream, but the kind you don’t want to wake up from. I am finally with Damon, and it feels right. The way he was so gentle with me when we made love. The way he knew it was a big deal to me but also didn’t push it or made sure it was truly what I wanted was everything.He is mine.My heart flutters at every glance he gives me as we clean up the club, and I can’t wait to go to breakfast with him; I can’t wait to see what this will become.End game.He said the words, not me. He means those words, and I agree. I know it seems quick, and I know it seems crazy, but our future is bright- I just know it.I grab the last trash bag and tie it, sneaking glances at Damon while my heart flutters with anticipation…. I have fallen in love with him. Everything has led me here…to him. I wave at Damon as I open the back door and walk outside toward the large dumpster with a smile on my face. After this, it will be just the two of us, and we can talk and begin to t
EricI can’t believe it’s been five years since I have seen her, but as she opens the exam room door, my entire world is made right once again. She looks the same but even more beautiful- if that’s even possible.She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight as she sobs into my shoulder, “I thought you were out tomorrow,” she whispers, her tears wetting my shoulder, and I smile, holding her tighter.“He let me go a day early,” I respond, looking back into her eyes.These last five years have been hard, but I knew they would be worth it once this moment came. It felt like the years went by too slowly, but now that this day has arrived, I know it was all worth it.Turning on Marcus was difficult. His goons even came after me, but they failed to kill me. Agent Latter agreed he would leave my family alone if I did this, but really, I knew he had no evidence to prosecute them. We always ensured we were careful where Marcus liked to throw his power around like a drunk emperor.Saying goodb
JessicaMy whole body shakes as I sit in an interrogation room; what the hell is happening? I was only able to hug Damo briefly before they put us in separate cars and took us here. Even after everything Marcus has told me, I still want to be with Damon.I want to hear his side; I want to know what truly happened.The door finally opens, and Agent Latter appears; he has a can of soda with him and a sandwich. I watch as he walks inside the room and places them down on the table in front of me, “Please, eat and have a drink. We have a lot to talk about.”I shake my head, my stomach still in knots, and he sighs before I speak, “You knew my parents?” I ask, and he nods, sitting up straighter.“Yes, I was in charge of them,” he states, now sitting back. “Your parents were in a lot of debt, and I had made a deal with them.”My eyebrows raise, “A deal?”“Yes, if they could gather info on Macrus Lovoto and testify against him in court, then your family would go into witness protection, and yo
JessicaTonight has been like a weird dream, but the kind you don’t want to wake up from. I am finally with Damon, and it feels right. The way he was so gentle with me when we made love. The way he knew it was a big deal to me but also didn’t push it or made sure it was truly what I wanted was everything.He is mine.My heart flutters at every glance he gives me as we clean up the club, and I can’t wait to go to breakfast with him; I can’t wait to see what this will become.End game.He said the words, not me. He means those words, and I agree. I know it seems quick, and I know it seems crazy, but our future is bright- I just know it.I grab the last trash bag and tie it, sneaking glances at Damon while my heart flutters with anticipation…. I have fallen in love with him. Everything has led me here…to him. I wave at Damon as I open the back door and walk outside toward the large dumpster with a smile on my face. After this, it will be just the two of us, and we can talk and begin to t
DamonHer hands wrap around my neck, and my heart instantly races. Things have been so weird between us since the funeral, but I am not giving up on us- not yet.She pulls back from me, her eyes meeting mine, and I can’t help but see just how beautiful she truly is. My hand goes to her cheek, and I touch her soft skin as she stares at me, my head coming closer to hers as my lips push against hers. I can feel her stiffen momentarily, but she doesn’t pull away. She returns the kiss, and my whole being shudders with pure delight- this has been what I have always wanted, but why did I try to deny it for so long?She pulls back away from me, her eyes showing fear. My fingers trace her soft lips, the essence of what she tastes like still on my tongue. She tries to get up, but I pull her back to me, “Jessica,” I say as I look deeply into her eyes, “This,” I pause, “This what was always meant to be,” I say softly, though I am pleading as I speak the truth.This has been a nonstop dance for b
JessicaIt’s been two weeks since Mike’s funeral, and it still doesn’t feel real. I took an Uber here to work tonight, but Mindy has been picking me up. I cried the entire way here; I miss him so much. Nothing will ever be the same again. Damon offered me a ride, but he isn’t in the suitable head space right now, and I couldn’t allow it. He is hanging onto me as a link to Mike. He thinks I don’t see it, but I do.There was always that tension between us, but how can I just throw myself into him now? It wouldn’t be right or fair to Mike.“Jessica, table six needs more shots,” Mindy smiles, and I nod, walking to the bar.“No problem, we only have three tables tonight; I am on it,” I giggle, and she nods, walking to the other. The club has been pretty much dead since we re-opened; people are afraid to come here…. not that I blame them.What happened here still haunts my dreams, but the evidence no longer remains of what happened to Mike at this club, thankfully. Damon made sure to redo
TabbyEverything comes down to this moment, this exact one that I am, but it didn’t have to. If only Damon hadn’t tried to play me as a fool. If only he hadn’t treated me so poorly…maybe I wouldn’t be destroying his family…. or her.When I dropped off that envelope to Jessica, I did it because I hated the way they looked at one another. The way he looked at her was the way I wished he would always look at me, but he never noticed me. He never wanted me, not like that.He looks at Jessica like she’s made of some sort of fragile, expensive glass. He acts like he’s afraid to break her, but I see the desire in both their eyes and the way they long for one another.I thought that by asking him to be my fake boyfriend, he would finally see my value. See me more than just a plaything or something he fucked, but that couldn’t happen, not with her around.The pictures were supposed to tell her to back off. I was hoping she would hate that Damon’s dad slept with her mother. I was hoping that sh
DamonThe service was nice, and even though that speech was hard to make, it was what Mikey deserved. Everything I said about him was true. Each story that every person shared was a beautiful reminder of who he truly was.Jackson’s story was the one that surprised me the most, though. I know it can’t be easy going to two funerals in such a short amount of time. Mikey had only been in Jessica’s sibling’s life for such a short time, but he made a mark and a positive impact on them- that’s just what he did.I sit on the couch at Clody’s house, and there is still crying but also laughter as everyone talks about him. More memories are shared, but I sit there in a daze. - how can this be real?“Damon, would you like a slice of cake?” Mindy asks me, and I shake my head.“No, I am not really hungry,” I sigh as I look up at her, but she hands me the plate anyway.“It’s marble…his favorite. Have a slice for him at least,” she pauses, “Plus, I haven’t seen you eat a single thing today. You might
JessicaI can’t believe how many people are here. Mike was popular in high school, but I went away to college. I had no idea he was this popular in the entire town. I see some of our old peers from high school standing among the large group, but I also see cashiers from the grocery store and even restaurant owners along with their staff. So many people have shown up today because Mike was that type of person; he was loved. The crowd is so diverse, showing that, and my heart aches…..“Now, Damon Ricci, Mikey’s best friend, would like to make a speech.” The preacher announces, and I hear Damon inhale deeply beside me. My eyes widen as Damon stands- I am unsure if he is in any condition to make a speech, but if anyone should, it should be him. He and Mike have been friends for many years now; BEST FRIENDS.Damon carefully watches his footing as he walks toward the podium where the preacher stood. His eyes stay on the ground till he arrives at the wood stand. He then turns around slowly
DamonMy whole world was shattered in one moment. One minute Mikey was talking to me, and the next, he was flatlining. It still doesn’t feel real, and sometimes I even forget he is gone. I have even tried to call him a few times before I remember he will never answer.My heart hurts so much sometimes that I don’t know how to breathe. He made me promise I would take care of Jessica and her siblings, but right now, I can barely take care of myself. Mindy has been making sure I eat and bathe. She has been staying with me at night while I have my breakdowns; she is a true best friend…but she can never replace him.My father hasn’t let me near Marcus since he found out Mikey died. He says that Marcus needs to suffer, and if he lets me near him, I’ll kill him in a fit of rage. He isn’t wrong- I would probably kill him as soon as my eyes saw him.He doesn’t deserve mercy, and that’s what a swift death would be.I will say his screams coming from the basement have given me some relief…. he de