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Several days had passed in a blur. Abbie had made funeral preparations with Charlie’s help. He was her sole support system through everything. News crews called daily for the fresh scoop. It seemed they didn’t have any regard for personal lives. Abbie pushed all the calls to voicemail or hung up because she couldn’t handle the new flood of communication. Her father was best at talking to the press about her scores and future goals. She couldn’t handle talking to them about herself, she sure couldn’t handle talking about her father.
She liked being in the ring and training to cope with life. The limitations from her incident weren’t as gruesome after several days of strength training, but substantial enough for her to know her career was over. Charlie encouraged her to keep going and fight to get back in the ring. In truth, she couldn’t see herself getting back on her stage without her right-hand man.
Her father was the best man for the job since he knew all about boxing and how to interact with people. He had the highest sales at the tech store because he was a stand up, kind guy. His boss had called with condolences and offers of financial support for the funeral. Apparently the two were sober companions who met in Alcoholics Anonymous. Abbie was thankful for the wave of good support and kindness from others around her.
Ricky was dead but his role in the gang meant revenge was imminent. The police claimed Abbie was the only person to survive. Countless other women were drugged then gang raped in the same fashion. Abbie shivered upon hearing the destruction Ricky had caused. She didn’t understand how Ricky became so heartless.
Charlie on the other hand stepped up completely. He helped her establish the funeral arrangements. His shop was supplying all the flowers for the service as well as the cemetery spot. Abbie couldn’t decide whether to have her father cremated or not. She didn’t want to stare at a jar of dirt and ashes all her life wherever she went. Burial was the best way to go.
Abbie was slowly adjusting to life at Charlie’s house. The new change of scenery was delightful however, the handsome company was frightful at times. Charlie was kind and helpful, a little too helpful. She wanted to cling to her independence however her injuries caused her dependency on Charlie. He was the best man for the job since his kind, patient, and understanding demeanor was ready to assist Abbie with whatever she needed.
Abbie found comfort in Charlie’s close company however at times she just wanted to run away. Charlie worked shifts throughout the day, so Abbie was got around with a walker as needed. She enjoyed the level of independence although it wasn’t the level she desired to be at.
One area Abbie found the most comfort was the bedroom. Sleeping in the same bed as Charlie wasn’t as challenging as she thought it would be. Sleeping without him was another story. Abbie insisted on sleeping in the guest room next to Charlie’s master bedroom because she didn’t want to impose. The first night she tried to sleep alone, she tossed and turned all night without sleep capturing her uneasy heart. Charlie seemed to hear her and brought up her sporadic sleeping pattern over breakfast. He gave a couple suggestions however Abbie knew she needed to be close to Charlie in order to sleep in the new space. He was the only protection she had against any intruders.
Charlie quickly obliged, claiming he slept better with Abbie at his side. It was a comfortable new arrangement unlike everything else around the house. The beautiful four-bedroom house sat on the edge of New York City. The prize location for most was too quiet and reserved for Abbie’s tastes. She grew up in the big city where bustling traffic and violence rang out in the streets morning, noon, and night. The house was too quiet and offered silence to frustrate her emotions and thoughts. She hated silence because it allowed everything within her mind to flow together all at once.
Unfortunately, the house was perfectly sized for a family, not two people. The empty bedrooms implied pressure to create a family to fill the spacious, and homey environment. Abbie didn’t like thinking about family considering her father’s death and her fear of pregnancy in the past. She hoped her career wasn’t completely over and hope for her future wasn’t completely lost.
Abbie enjoyed the spacious kitchen and dining room although she couldn’t stand long enough to cook anything yet. Charlie claimed his mother loved to cook and rebuilt the space after saving up every extra penny she could. Abbie thoroughly enjoyed the home Charlie’s mother had saved up to fix up. Her dedication to the bones of the house and vision for a new layout sparkled through every room.
Abbie enjoyed the spacious master bedroom situated on the main floor adjacent to the living room. The grand master bedroom had a giant bed and several pieces of furniture. A large bathroom with a walk-in shower and walk in closets were posted along one wall. After examining every area of the house, Abbie came to the conclusion that Charlie’s mom knew how-to live-in style based on the house furnishings and layout. Charlie didn’t seem to change anything after she left five years ago.
Abbie awoke suddenly out of a deep sleep. She was wide awake although her body was exhausted. She tried to keep her eyes closed to force herself to fall back asleep. Sadly, even Charlie’s warm and calming presence couldn’t help her sleep further. She stared at the ceiling until sunlight finally started to break into the spacious room. Charlie started to stir against her bandaged side.
“Are you awake?” Charlie moaned.
“Yes.” Abbie whispered.
“We need to go to your dad’s apartment today... The landlord wants it cleaned out before the end of the month.”
“New Yorkers have no regard for emotion. My father just died a couple days ago, and I doubt anyone really wants to move in there after hearing about the shooting. It’s all over the news.”
“I know, babe. It’s just something we have to do...”
“I don’t want to. Going through his things makes it more real.”
“The funeral Saturday will make it even worse.”
“I know...” Abbie winced.
“I’m sorry.” Charlie whispered.
Abbie pulled herself up to gaze into Charlie’s eyes. She was thankful to have him close during her moment of heartache. He was a gentleman and her main confidant through the whole process. She was happy to have someone to help her emotionally and mentally process the chaos surrounding her life.
Abbie’s new routine started with wallowing in bed for an hour followed by mind numbing television on the couch. Charlie forced her to eat even though she wasn’t hungry. Her body was still broken and bruised but not beyond restoration. She walked with a walker as much as possible to rejuvenate the muscles in her legs. She forced her body to submit to her discipline even when it hurt. After twenty collective minutes of walking, she was sore but felt more alive. Each day she tried to increase her walking time by fifteen minutes to gain her full range of movement back.
“Do you want to shower before we go?” Charlie asked.
Abbie hadn’t taken a shower since she left the hospital. She couldn’t handle Charlie touching her or seeing her naked, so she decided to smell like a dumpster for comfort. She saw Charlie breathe a sigh of relief when she denied a shower the first time. Abbie knew he hadn’t seen a woman naked. She didn’t want his first time to be because he had to.
“Yeah... it’s been a couple days. I probably stink, don’t I?”
“Not that bad.” Charlie chuckled. “Do you need help?”
“No. I should be fine. Just stand outside the door in case I yell.”
“Okay.” Charlie sighed.
Abbie started to roll out of the bed. She felt lightheaded from the sudden motion. She paused on the edge of the bed to gain her stability. She lifted off the bed and stretched her muscles. She grabbed her duffel bag from the floor and walked into the bathroom. She hadn’t been able to look through the bag of clothes and goodies her father bought for her. The memory of the bag and her father’s kindness was too much for her to handle.
Abbie sat on the toilet carefully to ensure she didn’t fall and hurt herself. She shakily opened the duffel bag for the first time. Charlie had pulled clothes out throughout the past couple days for her to wear. He did a good job of choosing clothes and helping dress Abbie each morning. It helped that her ace bandage covered her chest fully, so she didn’t have to wear a bra.
Tears stung her eyes when she saw the toiletries inside the bag. She was reminded of the moment with the nurse and her father. He had purchased everything she needed and loved to celebrate her leaving the hospital. She sniffled and wiped her nose.
She pulled clothes out of the bag to put on after her shower. Abbie noticed something white sticking out of the side pocket. She pulled a neatly folded note from the pocket. Abbie quickly threw down the bag of her belongings. Charlie asked if she was okay from the other side of the door. Abbie assured him she was okay, then explained the loud noise. He wanted to be sure, so he walked into the bathroom to ensure her safety. Upon seeing her in one piece he kissed her forehead then left abruptly. Abbie opened the note and started to read her father’s last words.
Abbie, my dearest daughter,
It is with a sad heart I write this letter. I have been trying to find the time and words to tell you about the depressing news I recently received. It seems my past has caught up with me. Years of drinking and partying have killed my liver. The doctors told me I have six months to live... I know things just exploded in your life. You don’t need another thing. Sadly, I have no control over this situation. I really love you Abbie and I don’t want to leave you. Your life has just begun. Your career may be over but that doesn’t mean your life is. I learned the hard way that family and valuable connections are what matter in this life. We need people, Abbie. I know you have a hard time being around people because of our past, but you need to open yourself up to new experiences.
I love to see you with Charlie because he brings new life out of you. He strengthens you and sharpens you in a fresh way. I really like him, and I hope you two continue in life together, whatever that looks like. I don’t want to see your life become a waste. Even though my world seemed to fall apart and collapse, I had you.
I will always regret the way I treated you in your youth. We have talked about the past enough, I just want to live in the present with however much time I have with you. My darling girl, I love you and I am so proud of you. No matter what life throws at you, never give up. You are an amazing, strong, and capable woman. I have no doubt you will accomplish great things in whatever area of life you pursue. Abbie, your life has just begun. Take a new path and make new connections.
All my love,
Your Father
Abbie stared at the note with trembling hands as she sobbed. She forced herself to read its contents over and over again until her father’s words burned into her mind. She felt her father’s final act of love hit her heart in a big way. Years of bitterness and resentment started to rush like a river out of her broken heart.
Abbie wiped the tears from her cheeks then placed the note back in her bag before slowly standing to shower. She quickly undressed and removed the ace bandage clinging to her side. It smelled horrible since it was drenched with sweat from long nights of nightmares. Abbie slowly stepped into the shower to cleanse her body. She cried as the shower helped to wash the emotion and days of build up from her face and body. She wasn’t sure how long her body would stay upright since her muscles weren’t as strong as they used to be. Abbie tried to shower as quick as possible to ensure she didn’t fall and need Charlie’s help.
Abigail emerged from the shower to sit on the toilet to towel dry herself off. She didn’t want Charlie to have to help her if she over did it by standing or walking. She was slowly gaining her strength back each day. The therapist claimed her body would heal with her mind. Abbie thought the therapist’s advice was garbage since her body, prior to the incident, was perfectly fine after years of abuse and aggression.
She had a team of doctors and physical therapists working with her to get her body back to normal. She didn’t know if she wanted to get back in the ring for her father or move on completely. Life seemed to be unraveling with each new day. She was growing closer to Charlie, especially since they shared the same space. At times it all felt overwhelming and difficult to grasp. Her life was never going to be the same.
Abbie quickly got dressed without her bra or ace bandage. Mostly because she couldn’t put it on herself and didn’t want to make Charlie uncomfortable. The bra would rub against her healing ribs the wrong way, so that was out too. Abbie tried to hurry up because she knew Charlie was waiting to use the bathroom to get ready. She didn’t want to hog the bathroom. She quickly added a spritz of perfume to her neck since Charlie had endured her smelly exterior. She felt weird for actually caring about her appearance for once. She grabbed the duffel bag then walked back into the bedroom. Charlie was talking on the phone while sitting on the bed.
Abbie wanted to give him privacy, so she ditched out the door into the living room. She resumed her regular position in front of the tv. She didn’t bother watching the news because she didn’t want to see her father’s face flashing across the screen. She turned on her favorite cartoons then snuggled against the soft cushions of the couch. Charlie quickly joined her after showering and getting ready himself.
He kissed her forehead then took a big whiff of her fresh scent. Abbie practically laughed at the kind gesture and moan that escaped his lips. Even when she felt broken and dead, Charlie still found a way to bring new life to her.
“You smell fabulous.” Charlie chuckled.
“Yeah, a shower does that to a person.”
“Did you put on perfume too?”
“Yes... Do you like it?”
“It’s pretty but you didn’t have to put perfume on for me. I like you regardless of your scent.” Charlie laughed.
“I’ll remember that when I smell like a dumpster again.”
“What do you want for breakfast?”
“Nothing.”
“Ah, the usual it is. How about bacon and eggs?”
“Do you promise to not burn the bacon this time?”
“Yes! That happened one time.”
“Once was enough.” Abbie retorted nicely.
She felt bittersweet about the whole living situation. She enjoyed Charlie’s company and hospitality although some days she missed time alone in her apartment. Sadly, she didn’t have her apartment anymore since her father cleaned it out after she went into a coma. Apparently, the landlord required another month of rent, or her belongings be removed from the premises. Abbie was glad her father chose to empty her apartment because it was less work for her. Although now she had to deal with all her stuff as well as her father’s.
The thought of emptying her father’s apartment made her want to puke. She couldn’t handle a note from him, much less an apartment full of memories and belongings. Her mind started to wander to the note once again. She figured her father knew he wasn’t going to get a chance to talk to her about his condition since she was stubborn and naive. She didn’t want to deal with her father’s death anymore, and it had only been a couple days.
“Babe, food is done! Do you want help to the table?” Charlie offered. “Or do you want to eat in the living room again?”
“No, I’m coming. I want to build up my endurance.”
She shut off the tv then started to get up. She nearly fell over but quickly recovered. Charlie was at her side immediately. She smelled bacon burning once again. She started laughing because she knew her movement caused Charlie to lose focus of the bacon. She missed cooking in the kitchen for those she loved.
“I’m sorry I burnt the bacon again.” Charlie chuckled.
“I can’t wait to cook for you.” Abbie sighed.
“One day. Right now, you get to endure my cooking.” Charlie laughed.
“It’s not that bad. You just need to turn down your burner.”
“Thanks for the tip.” He smiled.
Abbie slunk into the dining room chair. Charlie quickly removed the crispy bacon from the pan. He arranged two plates on the counter of eggs, bacon, and toast for morning energy. Abbie waited for Charlie to bless the food so they could eat. She was respectful although they still hadn’t talked about Jesus yet.
Abbie didn’t really want to talk about God, since she felt guilty for praying for her father’s death. The thought alone made her want to stop eating. She knew she had to eat otherwise Charlie would bring up her need for energy. He wanted her to eat and stay healthy instead of shrinking into an oblivion.
“My mom called me. She said she is coming home this weekend. I told her we have the funeral on Saturday. She insisted on coming home and meeting you.” Charlie uttered near the end of breakfast.
“WH..WHAT!?” Abbie shrieked. “I think this is hardly a time to meet your mother. I’m grieving over my dad and trying to figure out my next move... Is there any way you can coax her to change her trip to next month or, even better, next year?”
“I’m sorry, babe. I tried... She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Maybe I will hide out at my dad’s apartment.”
“Who’s going to stay with you? You can’t walk around enough yet to be alone.” Charlie answered, sternly.
“Charlie, I don’t want to meet your mom right now. She will probably stay here. I can’t handle this at the moment. Sorry.”
“There is nothing I can do about it. I’m sorry, Baby.”
Abbie dropped her fork loudly. It hit the plate with a loud ding as she stood from the table and walked back to the couch alone. She couldn’t handle the thought of meeting Charlie’s mom on top of going through her father’s death and apartment. She held her head in her hands while trying to calm down on the couch. She felt the seat next to her dip as Charlie came to sit with her. Abbie remained silent. Charlie didn’t bother touching her since they talked about personal space and boundaries. She didn’t mind him touching her hand or shoulder when she was crying but when she was angry, she didn’t want to be touched.
“I know you are upset, but I can’t do anything about this. She’s my mom and I respect her. She doesn’t listen to me.” Charlie said.
“I understand. I don’t agree but I understand.” Abbie sighed.
Abbie turned to look at Charlie. He seemed upset about his mother coming too. They hadn’t really talked about anything other than her father for the last couple days. She wanted to know more about Charlie and his upbringing since the moment seemed right.
“What is your mom like?” Abbie asked.
“Strict Christian woman. Dedicated to her morals.” He claimed.
“That’s it... Is she nice? Like you...”
“She can be. Honestly, she is nice once you get to know her. At first, she seems tough as nails though.” Charlie answered.
“Great.” Abbie responded, sarcastically. “If she says something I don’t like, I might not be able to hold my tongue... Just so you know before I say something stupid.” Abbie warned.
“I don’t blame you. She’s being insensitive. I really did try to get her to stay away longer.” Charlie consoled.
“I know you did. Thank you, I appreciate your efforts.” Abbie paused. “Do you get along with your mom at least?”
“Yes. She is an authoritarian, but I know how to handle her.”
“I guess I just assumed you had a wonderful childhood...”
“Nope. I didn’t get abused like you, but I was forced into a box at a young age. My sister ran away from home because she couldn’t handle our mom... I miss her more than my mom.”
“Why don’t you talk to your sister?”
“She answers once in a while. I hardly get a response.”
“That’s sad...”
“Yeah. I really miss her, especially during moments like this.”
“I’m sorry for being insensitive to your needs right now.”
“It’s okay. Talking about this helps me. I don’t need you to be perfect or make a good impression on my mom. I want you here with me regardless of her viewpoints.”
“What does that mean?”
“She probably will bring up us living together. She doesn’t agree with that sort of thing...”
“We aren’t even having sex though... We haven’t even kissed.”
“I know, but in her eyes it’s wrong.”
“Wow... I feel like I’m going to be judged heavily.”
“Don’t worry about it. She means well... She just doesn't understand that not everyone is a Christian like her. I’m a Christian, but I don’t judge people. I hold myself to a standard. I read my bible and spend time with God, sure, but I don’t flaunt that to the world.” Charlie shrugged. “I think my character and actions should reflect Jesus more than my words.”
“I think you do a great job of that.” Abbie smiled.
“Thanks.” Charlie smiled back. He bumped her shoulder with his playfully. “Ready to head out to your dad’s apartment, now that your belly is fully of burnt bacon?”
“I guess so...” Abbie sighed.
They quickly walked out to Charlie’s mustang to ride over to her father’s apartment. During the ride Charlie talked about the floral shop and all the arrangements for her father’s funeral. Abbie was happy Charlie was there for her. She couldn’t imagine going through the process of grief alone. She thought of something new to tell her father every day. She missed him more than she thought she would. She believed his death was on her head, and so did the gang Ricky was part of.
Someone programmed Ricky’s phone number into an untraceable burner phone and started sending Abbie threats after his death. The police were looking into the case, especially since so many other innocent bystanders and murders were tied to the case. Abbie was the only woman to survive being drugged without getting raped. The police believed Abbie was the first mark who got away because Ricky slipped up.
Since Ricky messed up, Abigail’s head was on the gang’s chopping block. Every day Abbie thought about the gang busting through the front door to haul her away. Her nightmares consisted of Charlie being killed, her getting carried away while screaming for help then getting raped and killed. Every night was a different set up with the same theme. She was fearful not only for her life, but Charlie’s.
Abbie tried to think up a plan for her and Charlie to leave the city. She couldn’t focus long enough without crying or blubbering all over herself. She didn’t want to leave the city where she grew up. It was the only place she connected with her father and established her career. New York City was her home.
Abbie looked out her window to see her father’s trashy apartment complex coming into view. The landlord was ticked about the repairs needed in the building after the shooting. They didn’t seem to care about innocent lives getting gunned down. Abbie was devasted after hearing about the wounded children and adults in the building who were hurt and killed because of her. She had a guilty conscience and a broken heart. It was almost too much to bear, although Charlie helped calm her down and stay focused on what’s important in life. He was the person she never knew she needed in life. He made her feel safe, secure, welcomed, and loved.
“Do you want to wait in the car for a little bit before going inside?” Charlie asked, after parking and shutting off the car.
“No. Let’s just get this over with.” Abbie sighed loudly.
They emerged from the car slowly as another car pulled up next to Abbie. She jumped and nearly fell in terror at the new vehicle. Charlie steadied her then helped her into the building. She forgot about the stairs leading to her father’s apartment. She eyed the stairway in panic because she didn’t think she was ready for stairs just yet. She was good with flat ground not stairs.
Charlie read her expression as usual and started to approach her. She got nervous as Charlie slowly gripped her waist. She stared at him with doe eyes. Charlie comforted her before continuing with his movements. The touch was light and gentle unlike when Ricky grabbed her once before.
Charlie gently placed Abbie on his shoulder then climbed the stairs before she had a chance to object. She felt like a rag doll being thrown around in his arms. She was amazed at Charlie’s growing stamina and muscle capacity. His newly muscular form was evident after the many times he had to carry her and assist her.
After witnessing Charlie’s new body formation, Abbie really missed working out. She didn’t like the weak, disappointing condition of her body. She wanted to return to her tough nature. Sadly, running and training made her think of her father. He always had good tricks for training and fighting in the ring. The only reason she had the highest knockout score was because her father educated her about fighting.
Abbie released a deep breath as Charlie placed her feet on the ground slowly. He was breathing heavy after climbing the flight of stairs to her father’s apartment. Abbie stared at the door for a while before Charlie reached forth and unlocked the door. She took another deep breath then slowly entered the residence. Her father wasn’t a pack rat or hoarder, thankfully. He liked things in their perfect place. It was his way of controlling the environment around him, similar to how he coped in the ring while boxing. He got away from his father and family by getting into the ring at a young age too. He didn’t have a supportive and loving father who cared about him, so it made sense that he didn’t know how to be a good father either.
Abbie noticed boxes and bins surrounding the floor. She was curious why her father was packing, as if he knew he was going somewhere. Most of her work was taken care of since her father was already prepacking. Charlie walked through the apartment to see what all had to be hauled out and packed. They hired a moving truck to take the items to a storage facility until Abbie could bring herself to go through everything. She didn’t want to overwhelm herself with more grief if she didn’t have to.
Abbie touched the fabric couch her father had recently purchased. She went to the store with him to pick one out since the old couch was in horrible condition. They argued about which model and color to get. They finally settled on the deep green fabric couch for three people. Each seat had a reclining footrest for optimal comfort. She rubbed the back cushion of the couch. Her father often sat on the left side near the door. She released a single tear down her face before releasing her father’s favorite cushion.
Abbie looked around the room to see pictures of her and her father throughout the years. There was a box nearby with some pictures already inside. One of which was a picture of Abbie as a child running with her parents nearby. It was wrapped up tight to ensure it wasn’t destroyed. Seeing the picture and how her father wrapped it with care caused Abbie to want to destroy the picture because of its dismal memories.
She felt like an orphan since both her parents were gone. She examined the photo and was about to smash it when Charlie came into view. She dropped the photo into the box. It crunched against the other frames without shattering. Abbie paced to the couch and slumped into the deep cushions.
Abbie heard Charlie grab out the picture frame from the box She wasn’t in the mood to go down memory lane or deal with her father’s sentimental garbage. She just wanted to toughen up and get through the process to get on with her life. If she could snap her fingers to get through the whole process without crying or showing emotion, she would.
“You look a lot like your mom.” Charlie uttered.
“My dad said the same thing. I look like my mom but act like my dad.” Abbie whispered.
She recounted all the moments her father would hit her because she looked like her mother. She was her father’s walking, talking trigger to remind him of the past. If her mother wanted to kill him and his ego, she did a good job. She walked away when her father was at the height of his career and partying stage in the game. Abbie remembered women flooding through the door with her father while the neighbor lady watched her. If the neighbor couldn’t watch her then her father brought her along to the ring. She grew up in the ring and around the boxing euphoria. That was part of the reason her career ending was such a jolt for her.
Abigail grew up witnessing boxing and the excitement the crowd had for her father. He won often although he had some bad run ins. Abbie had to learn how to cook and do things for herself since her father was always passed out drunk or exhausted. She played the quiet game with herself to see how long she could avoid her father and his nasty hangovers. Her childhood was nothing to brag about. It was full of sadness and false realities. She often prayed her mom would come back or her father would stop drinking. She was the brunt behind every mishap in his life. He always blamed her for his shortcomings and life mistakes.
Abbie‘s head started to buzz with memories flooding back to her. She wiped the presence of tears from her eyes, hoping the memories would end. Charlie came to sit with her on the couch. He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead as usual. Abbie leaned against his broad chest for comfort. She was surrounded by pain and harsh memories. She couldn’t recall many moments in the shack of an apartment that were happy or good to remember. Abbie noticed boxes from her own apartment in the corner of the room. They just added to the whole room.
“Do we need to leave?” Charlie asked gently.
“No, I just want to get this over with.” Abbie whispered.
“Don’t overwhelm yourself. We have time to clean this out.”
Abbie remained silent. She listened to Charlie’s steady heartbeat for comfort. She forced herself to get moving instead of reclining on the couch all day. Movers were coming by the end of the week. She wanted to finish packing in one day if she could. She didn’t want another reason to step into the lion’s den from her past. Being in the small apartment made her feel suffocated and trapped, like she was as a child.
She took a deep breath then got to work. Charlie silently started packing up her father’s bedroom because she couldn’t handle smelling his cologne and husky scent dwelling on his clothes. She smelled one shirt and immediately launched into a fit of tears and sobs. Charlie was kind and really stepped up to help her overcome her grief. He packed up her father’s bedroom in record time then started packing up the small kitchen. Abbie put all the photos into the box with a grimace. She wanted to burn the whole box to destroy all the memories buzzing through her head.
She moved to the floor to pack her father’s extensive movie collection sitting in the entertainment. Charlie provided water for her to take extra pain medication since she was on her feet more than usual. She downed the water and pills then got back to work. Finally at the end of the day she fell into the couch once more. The apartment was completely packed up and ready for the movers. She was happy to be finished with the dismal place from her childhood. Charlie carried out one box of items for Vincent’s funeral then returned to carry Abbie downstairs to the car.
Once inside the car, Charlie handed Abbie a folder with important papers and letters from her father. She examined the paperwork on the way home with tears in her eyes. Her father had written at least twenty letters as well as his will and wishes for death. It was similar to the letter she had already read. Each letter was full of emotion and gratitude. He thanked her for being his daughter and sticking by his side. He continued to tell her how proud he was. It was like the letters were his therapy. He wrote like it was a journal entry. Abbie cried all the way home from emotional overload.
