A Man In His Darkness

VI

Isiah sat in the school counselor's office, feeling nervous and uncertain. He had never been to therapy before, and he didn't know what to expect.

The counselor, Ms. Johnson, was a kind woman with a warm smile and a calming presence. She listened as Isiah told her about everything that had happened in the past few weeks - his parents' deaths, the investigation, the news about Mark, and now Angel's sister being in the hospital. He talked about his feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, and guilt.

Ms. Johnson listened without judgment, offering supportive comments and asking insightful questions. She helped Isiah identify some coping strategies for dealing with his emotions, like journaling, meditating, and talking to trusted friends and family members. She also gave him some resources for grief support groups and recommended that he continue seeing her on a regular basis.

As Isiah left the office, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Talking to someone had helped him feel a little bit lighter, a little bit more hopeful. He knew that he still had a long way to go in processing everything that had happened, but he was grateful for the support he had received.

As he walked down the hallway, he saw Angel approaching him. Angel's face was drawn and tired, but his eyes lit up when he saw Isiah. "Hey, man. How are you doing?" he asked.

Isiah hesitated for a moment before responding. He didn't want to burden Angel with his problems, not when Angel was going through such a difficult time with his sister. But he also knew that honesty was important. "Honestly, I've been better.

I went to see the school counselor today, and it was helpful to talk to someone about everything that's been going on."

Angel nodded, a sympathetic expression on his face. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, man. I've been so caught up with my sister and my family, I haven't been a good friend."

Isiah shook his head. "No, it's okay. I understand how important family is to you. And I'm here for you, too. If you ever need to talk or need anything, just let me know."

Angel smiled gratefully. "Thanks, man. That means a lot to me."

As they continued walking down the hallway, Isiah felt a sense of closeness with Angel. They had both been through so much in the past few weeks, and they had both struggled with their emotions. But they had each other, and that was something to be grateful for.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Isiah went through the motions of his classes, but his mind kept drifting back to the events of the past few weeks. He couldn't shake the feeling of sadness and loss that hung over him like a dark cloud.

As he was leaving school, he saw Maria waiting for him outside. She looked hesitant, as if she wasn't sure whether to approach him or not. Isiah felt a pang of guilt as he realized that he had been avoiding her.

"Hey, Isiah. Can we talk for a minute?" she asked.

Isiah nodded, feeling awkward. He didn't know how to explain everything to her, how to tell her about Mark and the investigation and the fact that he had been avoiding her.

Maria looked at him with concern. "Isiah, I know something's been going on with you. I can tell you've been upset and distracted. I just want to make sure you're okay."

Isiah took a deep breath, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Maria, I'm so sorry. I haven't been a good friend to you lately. There's just as many things happened to me. Sorry." and Left Maria.

Fast Forward.....

Isiah couldn't believe what he was hearing. Angel was not only alive, but he was also in town. He felt a surge of hope and excitement fill him, but it was quickly followed by a wave of confusion. Why hadn't Angel contacted him? Why had he been hiding?

"Where is he?" Isiah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"He's at the hotel on 7th Street," Maria replied. "I don't know why he's been keeping to himself, but I figured you should know. You guys were pretty close, right?"

Isiah nodded, his mind racing. He had so many questions for Angel, and he couldn't wait to see him again. But at the same time, he was scared. What if Angel had changed? What if he was no longer the person Isiah remembered?

"Thank you, Maria," Isiah said, his voice cracking. "I really appreciate you telling me."

Maria gave him a sympathetic smile. "Of course, Isiah. You deserve to know the truth."

Isiah walked out of the library in a daze, his mind racing with possibilities. He couldn't wait to see Angel again, but he didn't know how to approach him. He didn't want to seem too eager or too clingy, but he also didn't want to come off as aloof or indifferent. He needed to find the right balance.

He decided to walk to the hotel, his heart pounding with each step. He had never been so nervous in his life. He couldn't help but wonder what Angel would think of him now, after everything that had happened.

As he entered the hotel lobby, he scanned the area for any sign of Angel. He saw a few people lounging in the seating area, but none of them looked familiar. He hesitated, wondering if he should ask the front desk for Angel's room number, but he didn't want to draw attention to himself.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he saw a figure in the corner of his eye. He turned to see Angel walking out of the elevator, looking around the lobby. When he saw Isiah, his face lit up in a smile.

"Isiah! I didn't know you were in town!" Angel exclaimed, walking over to him.

Isiah felt a wave of relief wash over him. Angel looked the same as he always had - tall, lean, with a wide grin and sparkling eyes. He wore a black leather jacket and jeans, and his hair was styled in a messy quiff.

"I just got back," Isiah said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Maria told me you were in town, and I wanted to come see you."

Angel clapped him on the back. "That's awesome, man! I can't believe you're here! Let's go up to my room and catch up."

Isiah followed Angel into the elevator, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He couldn't wait to hear about Angel's travels, but he also didn't know how to bring up the subject of Mark. He didn't want to ruin the moment by dwelling on the past.

When they arrived at Angel's room, Isiah was surprised to see that it was smaller than he expected. There was a single bed against the wall, a small TV, and a desk with a laptop on it. There was a faint smell of cigarettes in the air, and Isiah saw an ashtray on the desk.

"Sorry about the mess," Angel said, gesturing to the scattered clothes on the floor. "I haven't had time to clean up yet."

Isiah smiled. "It's fine. It's good to see you, man."

They spent the next few hours catching up.