your damn phone or reply to me. I need to know you’re ok. You didn’t take a vehicle so call me back or text and let me know you’re home safe – Jeremy
He didn’t say he was sorry. He just wanted to make sure I got home safe…
I don’t bother listening to the voice mail messages. I can see they’re all from Jeremy, and I imagine they are just the verbal variation of his text messages anyways.
I decide to spend the afternoon shopping. I’d like to find something new to wear to the funeral tomorrow. I brought an outfit with me just in case but it never hurt s to explore other options, and it will take my mind off the reason I am here. Plus, it will fill in a couple of hours before I plan to go and visit the family
I’ m all shopped out. I managed to find a long, black dress and a pair of sling back, low heeled shoes to wear to the funeral. On my way back to the motel, I pass an international souvenir shop and decide to take a peek.
Inside, there’s a range of different novelty toys, snow globes, flags, banners, stickers and stuffed toys from across the world. I easily locate the Australia section and browse through the items. On the top shelf, above the stuffed koalas, is a massive stuffed kangaroo toy. It’s got bright red boxing gloves on and a yellow shirt with G’day Mate scrawled across the centre in green writing. I pick it up and cuddle it to my chest. It’s so soft. It will be perfect for Mathilde.
I pay for my purchase and then make my way back to the motel. After dropping off my shopping bags, I take the kangaroo and set off to visit the family.
I tentatively knock on the door. I don’t know what to say to Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau – I mean, what can you say to parents who have just lost a child? There are no words that will soothe their pain.
“Ava. You made it. Thank you for coming.” Marjette pulls me into a hug and kisses both of my cheeks. “I haven’t had a chance to tell Pierre or Celine about you coming. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you, despite the circumstances.”
Pierre and Celine are known to me as Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau. I’ve never called them by their first names, out of respect. I follow Marjette through the house until we reach the large sitting room. There are people everywhere. Some crying, some involved in quiet chatter amongst themselves, some are looking through a photo album with smiles on their faces even though tears are running down their cheeks.
“ Ava .” Mrs. Rousseau gasps when she spots me. “Oh, Ava.” I embrace her in a tight hug and we both begin to cry. I feel Mr. Rousseau wrap his arms around both of us, so we’re standing in a three person cuddle.
“I’m so, so sorry for your loss. Enzo was such a beautiful soul.” I choke out my words.
“Thank you.” They both sniffle and release me. “I’m sure Mathilde will be excited to see you, she’s in her room playing with some of the other children.” Mr. Rousseau tells me.
“Sure. I’ll go find her and say hi. I brought a present,” I reply, holding up the kangaroo.
They give me a small smile and I make my way to find Mathilde in her bedroom.
“Hey sweetheart.” I spot Mathilde sitting in the middle of her bed. Another slightly older girl is sitting behind her, braiding her hair.
“Ava,” she squeals when she sees me. She flings herself into my arms and I hug her tightly.
“I brought you a little present.” I hand her the kangaroo and she holds it tight to her chest.
“I love it. Thank you.”
I stay with the family for a little while longer, before going back to my motel for the night. The funeral is tomorrow morning and I want to get as much rest in as possible. Not only am I still jetlagged, but I’m emotionally and physically exhausted from the events of the past few days.
I order room service, eat, shower and pass out.
The next morning, I wake early and order room service again. After
He didn’t say he was sorry. He just wanted to make sure I got home safe…
I don’t bother listening to the voice mail messages. I can see they’re all from Jeremy, and I imagine they are just the verbal variation of his text messages anyways.
I decide to spend the afternoon shopping. I’d like to find something new to wear to the funeral tomorrow. I brought an outfit with me just in case but it never hurt s to explore other options, and it will take my mind off the reason I am here. Plus, it will fill in a couple of hours before I plan to go and visit the family
I’ m all shopped out. I managed to find a long, black dress and a pair of sling back, low heeled shoes to wear to the funeral. On my way back to the motel, I pass an international souvenir shop and decide to take a peek.
Inside, there’s a range of different novelty toys, snow globes, flags, banners, stickers and stuffed toys from across the world. I easily locate the Australia section and browse through the items. On the top shelf, above the stuffed koalas, is a massive stuffed kangaroo toy. It’s got bright red boxing gloves on and a yellow shirt with G’day Mate scrawled across the centre in green writing. I pick it up and cuddle it to my chest. It’s so soft. It will be perfect for Mathilde.
I pay for my purchase and then make my way back to the motel. After dropping off my shopping bags, I take the kangaroo and set off to visit the family.
I tentatively knock on the door. I don’t know what to say to Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau – I mean, what can you say to parents who have just lost a child? There are no words that will soothe their pain.
“Ava. You made it. Thank you for coming.” Marjette pulls me into a hug and kisses both of my cheeks. “I haven’t had a chance to tell Pierre or Celine about you coming. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you, despite the circumstances.”
Pierre and Celine are known to me as Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau. I’ve never called them by their first names, out of respect. I follow Marjette through the house until we reach the large sitting room. There are people everywhere. Some crying, some involved in quiet chatter amongst themselves, some are looking through a photo album with smiles on their faces even though tears are running down their cheeks.
“ Ava .” Mrs. Rousseau gasps when she spots me. “Oh, Ava.” I embrace her in a tight hug and we both begin to cry. I feel Mr. Rousseau wrap his arms around both of us, so we’re standing in a three person cuddle.
“I’m so, so sorry for your loss. Enzo was such a beautiful soul.” I choke out my words.
“Thank you.” They both sniffle and release me. “I’m sure Mathilde will be excited to see you, she’s in her room playing with some of the other children.” Mr. Rousseau tells me.
“Sure. I’ll go find her and say hi. I brought a present,” I reply, holding up the kangaroo.
They give me a small smile and I make my way to find Mathilde in her bedroom.
“Hey sweetheart.” I spot Mathilde sitting in the middle of her bed. Another slightly older girl is sitting behind her, braiding her hair.
“Ava,” she squeals when she sees me. She flings herself into my arms and I hug her tightly.
“I brought you a little present.” I hand her the kangaroo and she holds it tight to her chest.
“I love it. Thank you.”
I stay with the family for a little while longer, before going back to my motel for the night. The funeral is tomorrow morning and I want to get as much rest in as possible. Not only am I still jetlagged, but I’m emotionally and physically exhausted from the events of the past few days.
I order room service, eat, shower and pass out.
The next morning, I wake early and order room service again. After
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