She nodded.“Doesn’t it?” she said, with a weird, almost mischievous smile.
It slightly alarmed me.
She threw her head back, exposing that beautiful neck that was now glistening from the mist. She laughed, before meeting my eyes again. “It sucks. Death is bullshit. I think we should all get to live forever or have suicide pacts. When one of your family or loved ones has to die, you all die together.”
I shook my head. “No. That is not the way to deal with it. Who would tell others about how great your loved one was. Somebody needs to tell the stories and remember them.”
“I like my idea better,” she said, scrunching up her nose.
I knew she was only partly joking. She was in pain. A pain I knew all too well.
“It’s my sister,” she blurted out.
I looked at her, not saying a word.
“My sister, she d-died eight months ago. We were Irish twins, as my mom would say. Talia was eleven months younger than me. She went out boating, like we always did, but she didn’t come home,” she said, choking out the last bit.
I leaned forward, wanting to cradle her in my arms and squeeze away the pain.
She held up a hand. “Don’t you dare say it.”
Leaning back in my chair, I nodded. “The wound is still raw. Give it time, Tessa. I’ve had nearly four years to process everything. Don’t push yourself.”
She picked up her coffee and studied the cup before taking a drink.
I waited, not pushing her. She would talk when she was ready.
“Thank you,” she said after several minutes. “Really. It’s nice to hear it straight and not all sugar coated and crap.”
“Death does funny things to people. Everybody deals with it in their own unique way. Some people want to shower you with casseroles, and others want to run the opposite direction because they don’t know what to say to you.”
She slapped her hand on the table. “Yes! Thank God! I thought it was just me. Do you know I only have one friend who stuck around after Talia died? I live with her,” she continued, then took a drink of coffee and winked. “She can’t escape me.”
I laughed. “I have a cat, Dexter. He is the world’s laziest ball of fur and does nothing more than eat, sleep and poop, but he has stuck by my side. And my brother. My kid brother is always there pushing me, but at least he knows when to back off.”
“Yep, Maria is the same way. I’m glad you have someone,” she said, in a serious tone.
“Me, too. I mean, I’m glad you have Maria. Being alone at home every day is rough. I know from experience. It amplifies the loss.”
She shook her coffee cup. “Empty.”
I tried to hide the disappointment on my face. I was enjoying her company and really liked talking to her. She was only twenty-two, but she was wise beyond her years.
“Want me to take yours?” she asked, standing and walking to the nearby trash. She was standing within a foot of the mister. She held her arms out, “That feels good. Come stand here for a second.”
I stood and walked towards her, staring at the way her skin glistened. Dewy. That was the word she used. It made me think of sex.
“I should go,” I said abruptly. “Listen, Tessa, it gets better,” I said before I quickly dashed out of the cafeteria.
She was standing there, staring at me, “Bye,” she said to my back.
I knew I was acting a fool, but I had to get away from her. She made me feel too much.
Chapter Eight
Tessa
A warm breeze washed over me, bringing the smell of wet leaves and rotting plants. Most people would hate the smell, but I loved it. It was the smell of the water. This was my special place. It was where I came to think and be alone. Being in nature and near the water always made me feel close to Talia. We both had a natural affinity for water.