Chapter 55: AftermathI sat on the bench for hours hiding behind a book. I wasn't reading, I just didn't want anyone to talk to me.
I kept seeing Kennedy's face over and over again. One moment I was furious, the next it felt like I was going to die. My mind whirled at a million miles an hour. One emotion after another. I couldn't take it any longer.
I looked up into Kayleigh's eyes.
"Oh sis, what are we going to do?" I sobbed. She hugged me tight.
"Come on," she whispered, "you're stronger than this. Pull it together."
She was right, I had to get it together. Dad was out of action and probably would be until he came to terms with mum's death.
I gave Kayleigh the brief version of what happened between Kennedy and me and she just shook her head and told me to go talk to someone I could trust. I could only think of one person.
Kalani came over and tried to get things into perspective for me by refusing to let me mope on it.
I threw some lunch together for us all before Kalani had to go to work.
It stuck in my throat as I tried to swallow. Winston kept up a steady stream of chatter distracting me long enough to eat half.
He took my plate from me and asked me what was really going on. He's a good listener. I told him my confusion and doubts.
When I broke down he was good. He let me cry it out then told me enough was enough.
"Come on man, we're going out," he declared
I still couldn't suck it up by the time we got to the nightclub. I wanted to go home but Winston wouldn't let me.
A lot of our friends were there so I tried to put a happy face on.
Winston chatted and joked as we danced.
I started to feel a bit better and cracked a few jokes with the girls.
Winston's idea, although it had seemed mad, seemed to be working. I was still very sad but I had moments where my grief lifted long enough for me to feel ok. I realized that what I was going through would pass... you know? Life would get back to being good, eventually.
I ordered a drink.
Changed my mind and ordered two.
Kalani joined us after his shift was over at work. I had been drinking for some hours by then and all the juice was going to my head.
Winston just grinned and told me to have another. "Let it go man, I've got your back. Take a night off!"
I got to the point where I couldn't quite remember which drink to finish first.
Then out of the blue this dame came along... whew! I was like, woah! That was unexpected.
I decided that I better have another Zebra Fizz.
Much later I headed home. I walked with my chin up. I can do this. I got it sorted.
Who was I kidding?
