Final Chapter.
Thanks once again to my fellow writer, Rapperbs for helping edit!
I appreciate all of the support that I've received throughout this series and hope to have more coming to you soon!
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10 years later...
My eyes tried to open as I quickly reached for the phone. "It must be 3am, who's calling?" I asked myself. Tyler's name popped up on the screen.
"Hey Ty." I said in a groggy voice.
His words were unrecognizable as he uncontrollably sobbed.
"I need you to calm down and take deep breaths okay?" I tried coaching him. Filled with worry, l was suddenly wide awake.
"Iβdon't know βwhat to do." He managed in between his crying and breathing.
"What happened? I need you to calm down and talk to me!"
"I thought I could handle this but I can't, it's driving me crazy!" He managed to say.
"What is it babe?"
He managed to clearly tell me his dad passed and he didn't know how to deal with it.
"I shouldn't be bothered right? I should feel relieved, right? I shouldn't care but my brain can't stop bringing back all these memories and thoughts and what if's."
Over the next several hours, I helped him talk through his emotions. We spoke til the sun came up and he finally fell asleep on the phone after making me promise at least nine times that I'd be coming to town for the funeral.
We spoke over the next few days on the phone until I finally saw him the day of the funeral. He was very handsome in his black suit. His hair was now cut short. I walked up to him and hugged him tightly, kissing him on the cheek before fixing his tie.
"I'm here for you!" I reassured him.
Brad, Megan, myself and a few of Tyler's friends all respectfully stayed at the back, giving the family their space. There was very few people there other than close family relatives.
Later that night, I had no luck falling asleep. I tossed and turned all night. When did Brad's guess bed get so uncomfortable? I stumbled downstairs and through the house to the kitchen. I didn't sleep a wink all night. My mind was racing non stop with thoughts that kept me up. I opened the refrigerator and poured myself a glass of water when I noticed the lights were turned on out on the back deck.
I retied my robe and walked out, noticing it was Tyler hiding out back there. I walked over to him and sat on the porch swing beside him. His eyes puffy, I could tell he had been crying and only God knows when last he had actually slept. He had a bottle of scotch sat beside him and a pipe bowl to his lips as he lit up, taking a hit.
"I thought you were driving back home tonight? He asked, passing me the bowl and lighter.
"Brad said I could stay a few days here, I figured I'd stick around and spend some time with family." I responded, refusing his offer.
"Where's the little devil man?" He asked referring to my three year old.
"He's with his dad. He gets to meet daddy's new girlfriend while I'm away." I said sarcastically excited.
"God! That guy is such a fucking scumbag, I can't believe you married him!" He said, after taking a swig out of the bottle of scotch.
"Wow! I'll let that slide because you're drunk and high but that doesn't matter now. He is what he is as long as he's not with me."
"Heard." He responded then finished up his last hit.
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home?" I asked while combing my fingers through his hair. I knew he liked that when he was upset. It was a little weird now that he wore his hair short. Just not what I was used to.
"Are you trying to say that I'm not welcomed missy?
"Oh shut up! You know I'm simply asking a question, you dick!" I joked.
"Julia and I had a fight."
"What? Why would she fight with you on a day like today?"
"She's a fucking selfish bitch!" Tyler angrily stated, "That's certainly not the same woman I married, she has turned into a raging cunt!"
"Hey, don't talk about your wife that way!" I slapped his shoulder.
Alcohol was Tyler's truth serum. He bottled things in so much that when he was drunk, it all came out, the good, the bad and the down right disrespectful. Which is exactly why I couldn't just disregard his next statement.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't regret letting you walk out of my life. I should have fought for you."
"That was ten years ago Ty, you had just found out you had a son, with a junkie mom and you had to do what was right by your son. I just wasn't ready to be a twenty-three year old full time mom to a five year old child that wasn't mine. I was trying to build a career. Besides, you were able to get your son out of that situation, get Julia the help she needed and you two have made a wonderful life for your son." A silent tear trickled down my left cheek as I spoke. Truth was, I regretted leaving.
He opened his mouth to speak but I quickly shushed him, "Pass me the scotch!" I needed it.
I will always remember that day. I had moved in with Ty at his apartment a few months before and I was still getting unpacked. He was helping me unbox my last box of winter stuff when there was a knock on the door. I opened it to see an older woman standing in the breezeway.
The woman apologized before asking if Tyler still lived here. He overheard as the lady mentioned his name and came to the door. The next minute of interaction changed our lives forever.
"My name is Joy, I don't know if you remember me but I am Julia's mother. You dated her for a while when you guys were about twenty-one."