‘Till the Next Time

The Day’s Woes

Justin was in Mela’s car before he let the day sink in. This time there was no rain to mask his tears. He turned his face to the window as he tried to stop crying. He had been crying too much lately. His world felt like it was coming down on him. He couldn’t deal with it all. The expectation that he would be with Ethan was too much. It showed how much he hadn’t been seeing those guys. Debbie was right, he was a stranger to everyone, even himself. It took him a few moments to register that there was somebody giving him comfort. The comfort he so needed. He looked away from the window to see Mela’s hand on his shoulder.

“You know, it’s all right to cry. Everyone does it and anyone who says that you shouldn’t cry, should go fuck themselves. I remember when I made a big mistake and told my best friend that they shouldn’t cry because it would show how weak they were.” she said, never taking her eyes off the road.

“It’s nothing, just the day’s woes. I hate today. Did you see their faces when we were there? They hate me for sure, that’s why I had to call you. You wouldn’t judge me based on whose friendship you had longer,” Justin was living up to his name of drama queen.

“Justin, calm down. Do you want to tell me what happened between you and Ethan. It is best not to let these sort of things sit for to long without being talked about.”

“I can’t really remember all that happened. At one point I remember hitting my head, a good part of my memory from after that is gone, because the next thing that I remember is waking up naked. I do sort of remember a fight I had with Ethan, I think it was about my friends, but it is all so blurry,” He held his head in his hands.

“Don’t worry about what you don’t remember, it will all come back with time. Now, to get you in bed, because I think that tomorrow will be a big day. We have to get you settled in and I have to think of how we are going to live together.” They had stopped at Mela’s townhouse. Justin got out and with Mela’s help got all of his stuff inside. He soon got into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Mela on the other hand wasn’t that tired. So she finished up some loose ends she had in New York and didn’t get a chance to tie up when she left. By the time she was done with everything it was pretty late, so she went to bed. As she brushed her hair, she looked at the bracelet around her wrist and decided to make one last phone call for the night. She flipped open the cell, and speed dialed a number she knew by heart.

“Hello?,” said a voice from the other side of the line.

“Hi, it’s Mela.”

“How are you? How is he?,” the voice finally sounded less dead then it had been on picking up the phone.

“He doesn’t remember much of the night, thanks to a hit on the head. I think that something really bad happened and the hit on the head is only a way to forget it all. I’m fine, a few minor things, but otherwise okay.  And you?”

“As fine as could be with my heart ripped out.”

“That’s not good, but I have a feeling it will be put back in soon. Good night.”

“Good night, Mela.” The call ended and both parties went to bed.

It was well into the morning before Justin had gotten up. But, long before he ever thought about getting up there was a packet waiting on the front steps for him. Mela was the one who brought it in, along with the newspaper. She knew it couldn’t be good, so she took it and never told Justin it had come. She put in her purse as he came down the stairs. She promised herself that she would watch it later.

“Justin, dear heart, do you want any eggs? I just made some and I can’t eat all that I made,” Mela yelled as she heard him coming down the stairs.

“I’d love to. Mela do you mind if I ask you some questions?,” Justin looked at her as he served himself.

“Sure, Sun-honey. I will answer all of your questions to the best of my knowledge. Any question I don’t want to answer, I’ll tell you.”

“Why are you here?”

“As I told you on the phone, I have a meeting here in a few days. Your call only got me here faster.”

“How do you know Brian?”

“Ah. I thought that you would ask that sometime. I know him from collage. We were both going to school in New York City, well he was going to school, I was finishing up an intern position. He was trying to figure out how to sell something, he was poring over it so much that he didn’t even notice when I sat down and started to talk to him. Remember this is New York, stranger things have happened in a coffee shop. After that we became fast and close friends.”

“Because you know him so well, do you think that he could ever forgive me for what I did?”

“Justin, he told you he would always be there for you. You were the one trick who changed everything for him. You made him laugh, smile and remember that things we attract to ourselves aren’t always bad. He showed you in so many ways that he loved you, I’m sure that after a while he will forgive you.”

“Mela, I keep remembering fighting with Ethan, and then it all goes blank. I woke up this morning and found bruises and cuts all over my body. The worst part of it all is that I can’t remember how I got them,” He broke down crying and gave into the support Mela was giving him by wrapping her arms around him.

“There, there. Everything will be all right. Now, you have to go to school, so in years to come, I can brag that I know the famous artist, Justin Taylor.”

He looked up and smiled, it was the first true smile he had given all day. “I have to work first. I told Debbie last week that I would work with her again.”

“Well, then you had better get your little butt moving. I don’t want you to be late on your first week of work, and when you are ready I’ll take you in. I could use a good milkshake.”

Justin hurried up stairs and was ready in no time. “Alright, Mela, I’m ready to face the gang.”

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