would make sure I had lunch and dinner. She and Gus took turns to check on me throughout the day and covered my work shifts. Lisa was oddly absent. I assumed she felt guilty as well since Evan left to take her home. I insisted that neither one of them had anything to feel guilty about, especially since I was the one who asked Evan to take her home in the first place.
Aimes called Abe at the gallery. He was one of the few people who knew about my past and he said to take all the time I needed. He also said if I could manage it, to come by before the end of the next week - he had a surprise for me. I was glad I had something outside of the bar to look forward to – a place that would forever be sullied in my memory, I was happy I didn’t have to go to Rusty’s for a while.
The same female detective came by to share all her benign findings with me. The footage from the bar didn’t help to identify anyone. For me, this was all a formality, although I still wasn’t exactly sure what happened to be honest. I had a mild concussion from my blow to the head but I didn’t pass out; I went into my safe place, a place I hadn’t gone to in years but this time was different.
After I suffered that anxiety attack at Rusty’s, I decided to paint it out. I often used music to extract a particular emotion I wanted to convey through my painting. Abe observed my behavior was withdrawn one day which meant I was in my ‘creative space.’ Being an artist himself, he recognized this and insisted I go into the back studio and paint. From a couple of sentences and a simple melody, I did extract some old demons and created a piece that was far removed from my normal style. When I escaped to my safe place, pinned in Joe’s grip, there was a soundtrack and a visual provided by Cole. If I ever saw him again, I would thank him.
***
I was bored and I needed to get the hell out of my head. Evan didn’t know what to say to me or what to do for me. I was just kind of numb.
I wanted and needed to move on.
The following Monday, I decided I’d had enough solitude. After Evan hesitantly left to go up to a three day recording session in the Valley, I decided to go to the gallery. I wondered what the surprise was that Abe had for me. It was probably a fabulous new piece that he would like me to promote or at the very least hear my opinion on. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to go there and hopefully get some studio time. I headed into the kitchen in search of coffee.
“Inky?” A giant appeared before me.
“Jesus! Gus, you scared the crap out of me!” He got up from the table where he and Aimes were having coffee and reading different parts of the paper…very domestic. He approached me slowly and without a word, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest. I never noticed how big this guy was before but I remembered in that moment how he picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all and lowered me in the bath. At first I wanted to break the hold he had on me but I gave into it. I heard Aimes scoot her chair away from the table and moments later, her arms were around both of us.
“Listen Inky…we’re here, okay? Whatever you want, whatever you need, there are a lot of people worried about you…” Gus held my shoulders back and I saw Aimes was crying; she and her man in a united front. “…We’re gonna make this right for you, okay? I can promise you that. Do you understand?” His commanding features and dark brown eyes assured me he meant every word. It was also then that I realized Aimes had told him everything. Not even Evan knew the details about my childhood but Gus the Marine knew it all.
“Don’t tell Evan, Gus. Please.” I asked softly.
“He wants you to let him in. He’s been asking Aimes questions. I don’t know the guy well, but he’s worried about you.”
This was the reason relationships never lasted with me. We could be head over heels in love but they sensed I was hiding something. There was a
Aimes called Abe at the gallery. He was one of the few people who knew about my past and he said to take all the time I needed. He also said if I could manage it, to come by before the end of the next week - he had a surprise for me. I was glad I had something outside of the bar to look forward to – a place that would forever be sullied in my memory, I was happy I didn’t have to go to Rusty’s for a while.
The same female detective came by to share all her benign findings with me. The footage from the bar didn’t help to identify anyone. For me, this was all a formality, although I still wasn’t exactly sure what happened to be honest. I had a mild concussion from my blow to the head but I didn’t pass out; I went into my safe place, a place I hadn’t gone to in years but this time was different.
After I suffered that anxiety attack at Rusty’s, I decided to paint it out. I often used music to extract a particular emotion I wanted to convey through my painting. Abe observed my behavior was withdrawn one day which meant I was in my ‘creative space.’ Being an artist himself, he recognized this and insisted I go into the back studio and paint. From a couple of sentences and a simple melody, I did extract some old demons and created a piece that was far removed from my normal style. When I escaped to my safe place, pinned in Joe’s grip, there was a soundtrack and a visual provided by Cole. If I ever saw him again, I would thank him.
***
I was bored and I needed to get the hell out of my head. Evan didn’t know what to say to me or what to do for me. I was just kind of numb.
I wanted and needed to move on.
The following Monday, I decided I’d had enough solitude. After Evan hesitantly left to go up to a three day recording session in the Valley, I decided to go to the gallery. I wondered what the surprise was that Abe had for me. It was probably a fabulous new piece that he would like me to promote or at the very least hear my opinion on. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to go there and hopefully get some studio time. I headed into the kitchen in search of coffee.
“Inky?” A giant appeared before me.
“Jesus! Gus, you scared the crap out of me!” He got up from the table where he and Aimes were having coffee and reading different parts of the paper…very domestic. He approached me slowly and without a word, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest. I never noticed how big this guy was before but I remembered in that moment how he picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all and lowered me in the bath. At first I wanted to break the hold he had on me but I gave into it. I heard Aimes scoot her chair away from the table and moments later, her arms were around both of us.
“Listen Inky…we’re here, okay? Whatever you want, whatever you need, there are a lot of people worried about you…” Gus held my shoulders back and I saw Aimes was crying; she and her man in a united front. “…We’re gonna make this right for you, okay? I can promise you that. Do you understand?” His commanding features and dark brown eyes assured me he meant every word. It was also then that I realized Aimes had told him everything. Not even Evan knew the details about my childhood but Gus the Marine knew it all.
“Don’t tell Evan, Gus. Please.” I asked softly.
“He wants you to let him in. He’s been asking Aimes questions. I don’t know the guy well, but he’s worried about you.”
This was the reason relationships never lasted with me. We could be head over heels in love but they sensed I was hiding something. There was a
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