Her eyelids opened without hesitation in response to the pale twilight peeking through the thick wooden blinds. Sitting up in his bed, she looked about the room as the previous night’s memories flooded her brain.
The flowers she and Bishop collected were planted in small plastic pots and perfectly placed about her mother’s gravesite.
She looked to her dirty fingernails—packed with soil and then to Bishop. He was by her side, flat on his back and shivering slightly in nothing but the shorts he decided to sleep in. He’d apparently kicked free of his bedding at some point in the night.
They’d returned to his home late and Bishop insisted she stay with him. She sported some worn basketball shorts and a sweatshirt that extended well past her knees.
Gently she climbed from the bed and stood at the foot of it, looking down at him as the sun chased the shadows from his face. The thought of losing him was secondary to the thought of his regression. If he truly believed she was the reason he rolled out of bed, then she knew for certain she truly was an awful human being.
She grabbed the comforter from the floor and gently covered him to his chin, kissing him lightly on his cheek. She then collected her clothing, shoes, and phone and slipped from his room. They’d only drifted to sleep five hours prior.
Descending the stairs she cautiously eyed the surroundings for Constance. The house was dark. It seemed she was either out or sleeping.
Deciding to Uber a ride home, she pulled out her phone as she tip-toed off the staircase and into the kitchen. The smell of coffee assured her she was not alone on the first level of the home. Lingering momentarily in the doorway of the kitchen while securing her ride, she turned only to be met by Constance.
“Oh!” her shriek was coupled with her phone and other belongings falling to the floor as her hands slapped over her mouth.
“Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to startle you. Please, allow me to gather your things.”
Constance was dressed in professional attire. She was poised and proper as she kneeled to collect the dropped items.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Holloway. I was just leaving.”
“No, darling you weren’t. Not quite yet.” With Alex’s things in her hands, she made her way to the center island and placed them atop of it. “Come dear. We need to talk.”
Alex felt her heart could rupture. Her throat instantly dried as she approached the stone-cold looking woman.
“I apologize for staying here. It was late when we got in—”
“You needn’t provide any explanation or give detail of the activities that take place behind my son’s closed bedroom door. He’s a grown man and generally has a keen sense of judgment…generally.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Alex kept her head down, her gaze glued to the granite counter.
“Tyson is a sweet boy, Alex.” The catch in Constance’s voice had Alex looking toward her. What if she knows?
“Yes. He is.”
“We visited extensively yesterday. He’s very brave.”
“Yep.” She does know! Tears welled in Alex’s eyes as Constance stared her down.
“The instant I saw that barefoot boy wandering about my halls…that scar…I knew.”
Alex said nothing. Her voice was gone—her throat ached with despair.
“It’s true. He breathes with my son’s lungs. Is this not true?”
“Yes. I…I think so.”
“You think so?”
“I can’t say for absolute certain—”
“Tyson received his new lungs the day my Nathan…the day my Nathan gave them away. He breathes with my son’s lungs.”
“Yes.”
The cold stare was now fierce as Constance leaned toward Alex. “Explain to me why you are here, Alex. How?”
She was incapable of swallowing—her hands shook as tears poured from the corner of either eye.
“I just…I…”
“Choose your words wisely my dear, and speak only the truth.”
“I was working…there was an interview. I was watching this awful interview and it just clicked. I wanted to know more about Bishop, the brother of the boy who saved my own brother’s life. I’m so sorry. I looked him up on social media and as soon as I did I was worried about him. I didn’t mean to meet him. I didn’t know he would stop and talk to me. I just…I just wanted to make sure he was okay but I ended up falling in love with him.” Her lip quivered as she wiped her eyes.
“Horseshit.” Constance’s tone was harsh as she stood erect.
“No…I promise I’m not lying. I do love him. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you, young lady. I’m saying the situation you’ve created is horseshit. Does Tyson know? Does your brother know that you have located the family of his lung donor without his permission and have been sleeping with his donor’s brother?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. So instead of appreciating the gift of life my family has given yours, you meddle in my Bishop’s business to the point of concern and think that you need to do what, investigate? Of all people on the earth, you felt you were the most appropriate person to assist my Bishop during his struggles? How the hell does that make any sense?”
“It doesn’t!” Alex’s voice snapped through the kitchen. “I know. What I have done is deplorable and unforgivable. I didn’t mean to meet him or to love him. Trust me, the second my brother and Bishop find out I’ll be left with no one—”
“This is not only about you! For days I watched my son drink himself into a semi-comatose state only to drag him out of bed the next morning and pretend to be happy so that I might see him smile once or twice throughout the day. Now you…you come in like some flower-scented plague to paint a permanent smile on his face. Do you know what it’s going to do to my sweet boy when he learns the truth? This is not about you!”
Turning from Constance, Alex placed her face in her hands and began wailing. “You’re so right! I’m horrible. I’m an awful person and I’ve messed everything up. I can’t…I can’t stand the thought of hurting him!” Almost involuntarily she was crashing to the floor as she began hyperventilating.
She expected to be yelled at, perhaps demanded to exit the house. Instead, Alex felt a soft touch on her shoulder. She peered upward to see Constance kneeling to her.
“Please…stand, Alex.”
Offering her hands to assist Alex from the floor, Constance remained by her side even after Alex was standing.
“I don’t know what on earth would inspire such bizarre and destructive actions from an educated and sweet-natured young woman. I am sure, however that you meant no mal-intent. I’m certain only the truest of love could bring my Bishop’s smile back. And I’m certain you love your brother.”
“So…you don’t hate me?”
Constance’s features were softer, as was her tone. “No, I do not. I pity you. If the path you have paved leads you to happiness then it will surely surprise me. I’m sure you’re correct in the assumption that your actions are unforgiveable in the eyes of my son, regardless of how much he may supposedly love you. You all have been in each other’s company for how many weeks now? And it’s true love you say?”
Her head down, Alex softly sobbed. “I’m so sorry. I’ve ruined my entire life.”
“No, you haven’t. Something I realized while tossing the charred remnants of my precious son, Nathan, out into the ocean…we’re all as fragile as ash. We may be contained quaintly and securely, but then something is opened, the wind carries with it something strange or troublesome about it…and like ashes we scatter. We’re all one incident away from being scattered and forever altered. This however, is not your incident. The wind carries only your indiscretion and poor judgment. You will recover from this…even if you and Bishop do not.”
“And…and if we do, could you forgive me?”
For the first time during the conversation, Constance offered a small smile. “I already have my dear.”
Sloppy-faced and completely disheartened, Alex only nodded and collected her things. “My ride is almost here.”
She briskly left the kitchen, only to be met with a gut-wrenching sight. Bishop was seated at the end of the staircase. His face was wet, his eyes bloodshot—he appeared crushed.
“Oh my god, Bishop—”
“Leave, Alex. Please…just go.” His words were only loud enough to hear yet they pierced her.
“I meant what I said…I love you—”
“The door, Alex, please…just go.”
Nearly incapable of inhaling, she looked at him knowing he was gone from her life forever, knowing the pain associated with that would be crippling, she turned for the door and walked away.