Chapter 3
1165 Words
I clutched my car keys and couldn’t wait to get away from Aunt Helen’s calls at the hospital. I still carried on the weight of Maggie’s revelation.
A familiar-looking figure emerged from under the shadows. Rose Rosenberg, my ex-wife, stared into my eyes. However, the man standing next to her twisted my gut, Vinseco - Maggie's husband.
"You're Mark," said Rose dripping sweetness.
I narrowed my eyes, my mind questioning things. What was Rose doing here? What about Vinseco, of all people?
"Rose. My hand gripped my car keys, I acknowledged curtly, 'Vinseco.'
My hands felt the presence of Vinseco and it woke up memories of Maggie, which made me feel guilty and angry. Why was he with Rose?
"You work with Rose?" he said, "What are you doing here, Rose?" My voice dripping venom I spat.
She stood her ground but her eyes faltered. "The reason I came in was to see how you were doing, Mark."
A harsh, bitter sound I laughed. "You came to see me, you came to see how I'm doing?" Then, what you did do to Maggie?"
I didn't care as Vinseco shifted uncomfortably beside her. All my anger was directed at Rose.
My words turned sharp in the air, cutting me jail, 'You are to blame for my sister's death.' 'It's your recklessness your selfishness, it's taken Maggie from me.'
She took a step forward, and Rose’s face crumpled. "Mark, please—"
I raised a hand and growled, "Don't." "Don't even try to apologize. It means absolutely nothing to me."
I hardened my heart as Rose’s eyes welled with tears. Her crocodile tears wouldn't have swayed me.
“That’s it, you think a simple ‘I’m sorry’ is going to fix everything?” I sneered. "It won't. You have killed my family, Rose. And I promise you'll pay for it."
Rose shook Vinseco off with a cautioning hand on his arm.
"Mark, listen—"
I just interrupted, my voice cold and deadly..."No, you listen." "I'll be back, Rose. If I am, you’ll pay the price for your actions. The first thing you will pay for is what you did to Maggie."
I turned and walked away, leaving Rose and Vinseco staring after me with that.
We drove off, and I could feel the bright flame of Rose’s terrified gaze burning into my back. She should be afraid. I would see to it that she regretted the day she ever offended my family.
The city was cloaked in darkness, it was night. My thoughts of Rose and Maggie consumed me and I drove to the nearest bar. I staggered out of my car and into the dimly lit establishment, the neon signs outside seeming to blur into one another.
I made my way to a stool at the bar and ordered a whiskey on the rocks. The bartender raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, as I downed the first glass in one gulp. I signaled for another and another, and another until the room started to spin.
I thought of sweet, gentle Maggie. She meant the world to me. I remember the countless times I’d bring her to doctor’s appointments, and the countless nights I spent seeking out treatments for her heart condition. I had gone to bat to make sure her disease didn't make her.
"Why did you have to go away, Maggie?" My voice slurred as I muttered.
Memories washed over me, and I started tearing here at the edges. I remembered laughter, inside jokes, life, and dream conversations late into the night. Maggie had been so much more than a sister; she had been my best friend.
I drank another, my hand shaking as I lifted the glass to my lips.
"Why did Rose have to...?" I couldn't finish the thought.
I didn't care, and the bartender observed me with concern and curiosity. I just wanted to drown out the pain ripping in my heart.
My mind became more and more disjointed as the night went on. I slumped over the bar sat my head in my hands, and let the darkness take me.
The last thing I remembered was the bartender's voice, distant and fading: 'I think you've had enough... sir.'
I shoved his hand away as he reached out to take my glass. "Don't touch me!"
A hand shot up in apology from the bartender. "Sorry, buddy. Just trying to help."
I looked at him for a moment and drifted away.
And in that moment I heard it, a voice clear of the fog of alcohol and grief.
"Mark!"
My head turned, and I saw a familiar face and locked my eyes on it. Across from me sat Stella, Maggie's high school friend, her eyes so wide with surprise.
Stella’s voice was deep inside me even in my inebriated state. I recall Maggie and Stella laughing, sleepovers, and last night's conversations.
Cautiously Stella slid off her stool and came towards me; she didn’t want me to shatter like fractured glass.
Mark, what's going on? What happened?" her voice soft and concerned, she asked.
I looked at her face, worried etched into it. My words slurred together and I tried to speak.
I was able to stammer, "Maggie...she's gone."
The crumpled expression on Stella's face held back at first, but then she reached out to wrap her arms around me.
"I'm so sorry, Mark. I had no idea."
The dam broke as she held me. The whiskey’s numbing effect mingled with tears streaming down my face.
She coaxed Stella's arms still wrapped around me, 'Come On Mark. Let me take you home. You're in no shape to drive."
My voice gruff, I pushed her away. "I'm fine. I don't need your help."
Stella would not budge. "Mark, please. You're not okay. Let me help."
My gaze drifted toward the entrance, and I was about to refuse again, just as I was. A woman I didn’t recognize walked in with Vinseco. My anger ignited.
I shrugged it off, Stella concerningly worried, and growled, 'No.'
My knuckles were white as I strode toward Vinseco. I shook her off, and Stella reached for my arm.
"Mark, stop!" she warned.
He paled and his eyes locked onto mine. "Mark, I—"
Spitting venom, I told you, 'you.' "I don't want to see you, you're the last person I want to see."
Vinseco took a step back, the woman beside him taking a step back as well, eyes wide with fear.
I snarled: 'You're Maggie's husband.' you were supposed to know better but you can't even keep the demon right under your f*****g pants
Vinseco's face reddened. "Mark, please understand—"
"Understand?" I laughed, a harsh sound. "You want me to understand? You're a joke."
Stella grabbed my arm and pulled me back, my hand clenched into a fist.
"Mark, stop! It isn't the place or time."
I shook her off, but my gaze never left Vinseco's face. "You're dead to me. You hear me? Dead."
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