“I guess you can call it that.” I mumble, throwing my keys down on the entry way table.
The air is thick and stale. It’s still clean in here since Derrick always insisted on keeping everything neat.
Or else.
Only I know the memories that lie here. Every corner, every square inch of this place, is rotted by the mess he left behind. I carry that with me every day.
I scratch the back of my neck. “I, uh, just need to grab a few things…then we can leave and head to work.”
Gabe nods. “Yeah, man. Whatever you need, take your time.” He gives me a warm, genuine smile.
“Oh, I’ll be fast.”
I head up the stairs, and make a beeline for Derrick’s room. Opening it up, I try not to think about the way it smells. Old. Loveless and empty. It’s what I’d imagine a morgue smells like. The scent of him makes me want to cry and punch a wall, all at once.
I hate that he’ll always have an effect on me. I wish I could grab a metaphoric pair of scissors and snip the tie.
I grab a bag from his closet, and bury a bunch of random clothes in it. I don’t care about picking anything out specifically. He gets what he gets.
My eyes drift to the corner of the room. There’s Derricks perfectly made bed. Stretched and flattened to every degree of precision.
How perfect something could be.
But it’s wrong.
I swallow deeply. Tears coming to my eyes. I need to get out of here.
“Dude, you’ve got a copy ofWatchmen!?This is so cool.” I hear coming from my room as I make my way down the hallway.
I pop into my old bedroom, seeing Gabe flipping through my comic.
I barely was able to keep anything I actually enjoyed. Nothing that meant anything to me.
But thankfully, I kept a few of those.
“Sorry. I got bored.” Gabe smiles shyly, looking at my face.
“No, I…I don’t mind,” I say softly, watching over his shoulder as he flips through some of the pages.
So many old memories flood through me. It was only a couple years ago I was held up in this room. Thinking I had nowhere out.
“Where’d you find this?” I smile.
Gabe looks behind me at my bed. “Under there. I swear, I just saw the corner peaking out. I knew right away what it was. A comic nerd like myself, I had to check it out.” He laughs.
I nod my head, following where he said.
Curious to see what else I have under there, I make my way over, looking under my box spring.
Other than a few dust bunnies and old pairs of socks, there really isn’t anything under here. Nothing worth keeping. Just like this old house.
I don’t care if it burns down tomorrow. It can take my dad down with it, if it could—
Suddenly, something catches my attention.
A little white piece of paper, flat on the wooden floor, calls out to me. I slip my hand under, and reach with all my might.
“You need help? My arms are a little smaller than yours.” Gabe laughs, tapping me on the back.
