Chapter 14%
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He completely broke down–like something had been ripped out of him.”
He fell to the ground, his voice so hoarse that he could hardly utter a complete sentence.”
“She waited for me, didn’t she? She kept holding on, hoping I’d come…
“I thought she just died suddenly–but it wasn’t sudden. She died slowly, painfully… Mom, do you think she hated me for it?
“She had to watch me with someone else, being affectionate on camera. That must’ve crushed her. I didn’t mean it, I just… I wanted to piss her off, to get her to apologize first–“>
His mom closed her eyes. Finally, a tear fell.”
She didn’t yell at him again.
She just walked into the kitchen, turned off the still–bubbling pumpkin soup, brought it out, and said softly, “Alright, that’s enough crying. The soup’s ready. Let’s bring it to her together.”}
Grayden looked up, face streaked with tears. “Mom…”
“Come on,” Sweeney said quietly, voice calm but full of something deeper. “Let’s go see her. Bring her favorite soup.”}
The countryside road was long.
They drove to my old family home.§
The skies in small towns always seem bluer and the breeze cooler–like even in late spring, there’s still a hint of quiet chill in the air. Sweeney spoke softly.
“After her grandma passed, Shirl didn’t want to sell the house. She insisted on living here alone. We tried to change her mind, but she said she was used to it.
“And now… there’s really no one left here.”
She pushed open the door, and dust hung heavy in the air. It was like time had stopped.
In the corner of the living room was a vase, holding a bouquet of dried white lilies.”
On the bookshelf was a lopsided row of The Little Prince in different editions.}
That was my favorite book when I was little.D
Grayden’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. He didn’t say anything.}
Because if he did, the tears would come again.”
I wasn’t wrong.
He’s always been a crybaby!”
Losing a baby tooth? He cried.§
Scraped a knee? Wailed like it was the end of the world.”
He was always tough on the outside but soft as hell on the inside.
He hated goodbyes more than anything.
I used to tease him all the time–said if he ever had a real heartbreak, he’d probably cry under his bed.§
Guess I was right.”
They left the house, heading up the back hill to visit me.”
Then–soft meows broke the silence.
“Meow…”
Grayden looked back.
A familiar orange tabby strolled over, slowly and steadily, carrying a kitten in her mouth. Her eyes were wet, and the old jingled softly with each step.}
“Kitty McSnuggles…”
That was my cat.
And she really came to see her dad.
1 gilt duell on her neck
She gently set the kitten on the ground, gave her a soft lick, and then mother cat padded over to Grayden and looked up at him. Those round cat eyes reflected back his sadness.
She tilted her head, and then, after a moment–she rolled onto her back, belly up.
She remembered Grayden like she was saying, ‘I’m still here. Mom’s things… not everything is gone.‘
Grayden crouched down, something in him completely collapsing.
He scooped Kitty McSnuggles into his arms, held her like a childhood toy, curled up on the ground, and wept uncontrollably. “Shirl… I’m so sorry…”
“I was too late… I didn’t do anything… and you just left…”
A few days later, the comments under my vlogs started changing.
At first, people were still fighting–some saying I was faking it and some saying Grayden was acting.
Rut eventually the noise died down The trending tonics faded
Chap 14
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11:41 AM J
But eventually, the noise died down. The trending topics faded.
And only the ones who truly cared about our story remained.
11:41 AM 03
