fumbling with the latch and deadbolts. She managed to get the door open, but what she found was not as expected.
Marco seemed weak and limp, his body weight being supported against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. She noted his ashen face and bloodshot eyes. Skimming further down his body, she saw that he was still wearing the same clothes from last night, and that there was a smell radiating off of him.
Ashley sniffed in disgust as she caught his scent of sweat and stale alcohol. She wiped her swollen red eyes with the back of her hand. “What happened to you?”
He grunted in response as he tried to steady himself away from the wall, his arms flailing wildly as he fought to keep his balance.
“ Wait, let me help you,” she said, coming forward to wrap one of his arms over her shoulder. She tried to take some of his weight, but her petite frame struggled. He was a lot heavier than she expected.
“ I'm fine,” he grumbled, shrugging out of her grasp. He stumbled on his first steps alone, but was then able to find support in the wooden door frame. Gripping it tightly, he held up his body weight and staggered into the flat.
Ashley closed the door behind them and followed the stench of alcohol into the living room. She watched on with complete astonishment as a heavily intoxicated Marco attempted to manoeuvre about the flat. Aside from the falter in his steps, she was surprised to find how at home he was making himself.
Finding comfort on her sofa, Marco hadn't wasted any time in removing his suit jacket and shoes. Dumping them on the floor beside him, he swept away the discarded popcorn kernels and lay back against the cushions, placing his hands behind his head. He studied the room, his eyes drifting across the various photo frames and canvas pictures that adorned the surfaces and walls.
Despite the friendship they had built over the years, Marco had never actually flown to London for a visit. He was always so busy with his boutique that he was never able to take time off to come and see them. Instead, he always made sure to Skype and invite Gabby over to Italy during the holidays so that they could spend time together. Ashley had also been included in those invites, but had never chosen to go. She felt uncomfortable about the idea. Almost like the third wheel if she had gone along on the brother / sister holiday.
T heir parents had already passed away. It was one of the first heart to heart conversations Gabby and Ashley had both had in the early stages of their friendship. It was at that point, she understood how important her best friend's relationship with her brother was. They were both the only family each other had remaining, and she didn’t want to interfere with that.
“ I knew her home would look beautiful in person,” Marco murmured, taking in the open plan kitchen and living room. “It may be simple, but it has a nice personal touch to it,” he said, his eyes focusing on a particular canvas picture across the room.
Ashley noted a slur to his voice. “Have you slept since…?” She looked to the ground and avoided contact with his eyes. She didn't want to come out and just say it so simply.
“ I like that picture,” he mumbled, ignoring her question completely.
She looked up to see him nodding towards the canvas photo above the firep lace. “Me too,” she smiled sadly.
He had chosen a picture that meant a great deal to both her and Gabby. Taken shortly after they had first met at a training course, it was a photo that symbolised great friendship and a positive looking future. They had decided to hang it in their living room as a reminder of the start of their journey and that they were to always look at the brighter side of things. So far, it had always served its purpose; but now that she was looking at it following Gabby's death, she felt that it had a new meaning.
It provided her w ith a different outlook on life. It gave her something to push for and to treasure. She
Marco seemed weak and limp, his body weight being supported against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. She noted his ashen face and bloodshot eyes. Skimming further down his body, she saw that he was still wearing the same clothes from last night, and that there was a smell radiating off of him.
Ashley sniffed in disgust as she caught his scent of sweat and stale alcohol. She wiped her swollen red eyes with the back of her hand. “What happened to you?”
He grunted in response as he tried to steady himself away from the wall, his arms flailing wildly as he fought to keep his balance.
“ Wait, let me help you,” she said, coming forward to wrap one of his arms over her shoulder. She tried to take some of his weight, but her petite frame struggled. He was a lot heavier than she expected.
“ I'm fine,” he grumbled, shrugging out of her grasp. He stumbled on his first steps alone, but was then able to find support in the wooden door frame. Gripping it tightly, he held up his body weight and staggered into the flat.
Ashley closed the door behind them and followed the stench of alcohol into the living room. She watched on with complete astonishment as a heavily intoxicated Marco attempted to manoeuvre about the flat. Aside from the falter in his steps, she was surprised to find how at home he was making himself.
Finding comfort on her sofa, Marco hadn't wasted any time in removing his suit jacket and shoes. Dumping them on the floor beside him, he swept away the discarded popcorn kernels and lay back against the cushions, placing his hands behind his head. He studied the room, his eyes drifting across the various photo frames and canvas pictures that adorned the surfaces and walls.
Despite the friendship they had built over the years, Marco had never actually flown to London for a visit. He was always so busy with his boutique that he was never able to take time off to come and see them. Instead, he always made sure to Skype and invite Gabby over to Italy during the holidays so that they could spend time together. Ashley had also been included in those invites, but had never chosen to go. She felt uncomfortable about the idea. Almost like the third wheel if she had gone along on the brother / sister holiday.
T heir parents had already passed away. It was one of the first heart to heart conversations Gabby and Ashley had both had in the early stages of their friendship. It was at that point, she understood how important her best friend's relationship with her brother was. They were both the only family each other had remaining, and she didn’t want to interfere with that.
“ I knew her home would look beautiful in person,” Marco murmured, taking in the open plan kitchen and living room. “It may be simple, but it has a nice personal touch to it,” he said, his eyes focusing on a particular canvas picture across the room.
Ashley noted a slur to his voice. “Have you slept since…?” She looked to the ground and avoided contact with his eyes. She didn't want to come out and just say it so simply.
“ I like that picture,” he mumbled, ignoring her question completely.
She looked up to see him nodding towards the canvas photo above the firep lace. “Me too,” she smiled sadly.
He had chosen a picture that meant a great deal to both her and Gabby. Taken shortly after they had first met at a training course, it was a photo that symbolised great friendship and a positive looking future. They had decided to hang it in their living room as a reminder of the start of their journey and that they were to always look at the brighter side of things. So far, it had always served its purpose; but now that she was looking at it following Gabby's death, she felt that it had a new meaning.
It provided her w ith a different outlook on life. It gave her something to push for and to treasure. She
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