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Author's Note: I appreciate you, the readers, taking the time to read my writing. If you haven't read the first 2 chapters, please do so before reading part 3. How else are you going to know what happened so far?
I'd like to thank PA Beebe for the all night editing session and Kirk2004 for his editing help. I'd also like to thank Rob M'Dear who inspired me to write this story with his own brilliant writing and his thoughts on interracial relationships.
All characters in this story are over the age of consent: 18+
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I watched Kelly sitting quietly on the edge of her gray couch. Most of the people who attended the funeral left already. It was down to Kelly and me as I closed the door on her high school track coach. I was stalling my departure because she really had no one else, just me. How much she needed me hit me like a freight train as I watched her. She looked small and vulnerable. My heart broke at the sight of her.
"Do you want some tea or maybe something to eat?" I asked, sitting down next to her taking her hand in mine.
"No. I'm not really all that hungry. It's like food has no taste or it doesn't taste like it should," she laughed. Her laugh was one of those laughs people do when they are on the brink of tears.
Kelly said, "I could eat a peach and it'll taste like a lemon. It's weird, but Mrs. Carlota made lasagna and sent it over. You should have some. It probably tastes wonderful, if only I could taste it."
Her voice was hollow as if she were not really talking to me, just trying to make an effort.
"I'll get you some tea," I said patting Kelly's hand. I stood up to do something, find something, something that would help. I wanted the ability to fix this for her. I have never really dealt with anything like it. My own parents were happily retired and healthy.
Kelly stood up and paced around the small area of her living room. She was like a caged tiger, the energy just poured off her. She went from the couch to the edge of the fireplace and then back to the couch four times before she said anything.
"I don't need tea. It won't taste right," Kelly said. I sat down on the couch again and watched her. "The doctors told me what happened, and I couldn't hear it. I mean I heard it," her hands made a grasping motion as if she were searching the air for an answer.
"So I know somewhere in my mind the information is there. I just can't access it, like it's behind a wall. This doesn't happen to me. When I think about things like dates or phone numbers or whatever I need, my mind just tells me. So maybe I'm broken now. I can't remember what they said happened to her."
"Kelly," I tried to stop her but she was working herself into a fevered pitch. Her words were pressured and running together from the speed of her tirade.
"Or maybe my brain won't tell me because it's trying to protect me. I read about that somewhere. See I can't even remember where I read that. Things are just a jumbled mess now."
"Kelly..."
"But things don't taste right. The same. Like they should. And maybe that's a sign or something. Maybe I'm just, I don't know. See there! I can't hold onto anything."
Kelly shook her head before carrying on, "Like I know what I should do, but I don't. I know what I should feel, but I don't. I'm numb, but I feel like I stuck my finger in a light socket too, all at the exact same time."
Kelly stopped and faced me. "But you should really try the lasagna, I'm sure it's really good."
I thought she would sit down but instead she picked up a lead crystal candy dish and flung it at the fireplace. It shattered.
I stood up and crossed the small space between us in two steps. I held her up by the shoulders. "Did that make you feel better?"
I tried to be light, but my heart was heavy with empathy for her. I could not hide how much I needed to help her or how I wanted to stop her pain. How I wished I could wipe the crazed look from her eyes.
She shook her head 'no' but she was quiet, finally. I pulled her into my arms but she pushed me away.
"I'm too tall."
I laughed even though it really did not strike me as funny.
"I can't hug you because you're too tall?"
"No, it's just that..." she said, placing her hand on my shoulder for support as she kicked off her heels. "Better right?"
"Yes," I said hugging her again, this time she let me. I whispered into her hair, "Let me get you some tea okay?"