92

                                    

                                          
Starr Marie 
                          
"Oh my god," I yell. "Easten. How was your trip?" I stop my journey and bring him into a huge hug. 
                          
He laughs hugging me back. "It was good," He drops the hug and give me a warm smile. "I needed the break to see the world again."
                          
We began walking back to the mansion. "I wish I could grab one of those," I joke lightly pushing him. 
                          
He gives me a worried look. "Would you?"
                          
My eyes glance to the fresh cut grass. "Yeah," I say softly. "But, I can't. It's almost time for the ceremony and so have to prepare to be my best."
                          
He nods his head. "Well. I remember when I first realized that I needed a break." 
                          
A long chilling silence pass over us. 
                          
He looks over at me coming to a stop. "I never told you about my wife."
                          
My eyes widen. "No, but you don't have to if it would make you uncomfortable."
                          
"No, I don't have to," He replies. "But I trust you enough to tell you a little about my past."
                          
I nod my head without saying anything, because I was honored.
                          
 I didn't know what to say. He will be finally telling me about his past and why he's not doing what the other men are doing— why he's a driver rather than a fighter. 
                          
"My wife," He responds. "Beautiful. Smart. Everything you could have imagined. Honestly, you remind me a lot of her," I smile at his small compliment. "The only difference... she didn't have the skills you have."
                          
That's when the story's emotion changed. 
                          
He looks off to the side then back at me. "One day she was driving home from the mansion. She was a doctor. So she worked as Damon's personal doctor," The way he said 'was' breaks my heart. "She made it back to our home. And just wh.." He pauses and wipes across his chin. 
                          
"Just when she was unlocking the door. These teenagers tries to... to steal her purse. She uhmm— she tries to fight back and..." I watch his whole demeanor sadden, though he brushed it off as if it was nothing. 
                          
"She fell down the stairs," He closes his eyes. "And as she lived that morning, she died that night."
                          
He open his eyes in defeat, holding his tears back. 
                          
"She fell down those stairs..." I bite my lip in defeat. "I only hope she walked up the big white ones that everyone is so fond of— in the after life."
                          
He stops, scratching his forehead. 
                          
I could tell he felt as though he said enough. One could imagine what happened after she fell down those flight of stairs. It didn't take a brainiac. 
                          
It was just so— sad. 
                          
My watered eyes freeze at his words. "I know you don't want pity," I start off. "So... I'll just say, you are strong. Even after that, you are still standing, telling her story to the next person."
                          
Another long silence pass us. 
                          
Though this one felt different. It felt like an agreement. A connection. A covenant. 
                          
"Thank you," He looks at me trying to collect himself. Before I could ask why he continues, "For being you."
                          
I smile at his words. "Thank you for trusting me." 
                          
"Sure," He responds. "I think that it's best to talk about the anniversary of your wife's death."
                          
Close my eyes in defeat. "Did it help?"