Don't let go

“So, how was your first day at work?” Jarod asked with what seemed to be genuine interest. Parker leaned back on her couch and pressed the phone closer to her ear. She held a glass of wine in her other hand. “Oh, you know, the usual. Same old theater of horrors. And as if that’s not enough, there are mountains of paperwork, waiting on my desk. I think you’re safe for the nearest month or so – I won’t be able to work my way through those sooner,” she told him, swaying maroon liquid in the glass. Jarod laughed. “Nice of you to inform me, I’ll keep that in mind,” he said and then added more solemnly, “So, how are you? Really?” Parker closed her eyes and mused on his question. She had thought that going back to work would give her a sense of normality, and she needed that badly. Her body had almost healed, and a professional touch of cosmetics successfully hid the remnants of the bruise on her cheek. But mentally she was as far from normal as it was possible. It seemed to her that everybody looked at her, that everybody knew what had happened to her and now whispered behind her back. The fact that she understood it was not the case did not help her much. And Sidney… “You said, Sidney agreed not to mention what happened to me,” she told Jarod accusingly. “I did, and he promised. Why? Did he say something?” “He came yesterday to my house,” said Parker. “Yelled something about wanting to know how I was.” “Yelled?” Parker snorted humorlessly. “I didn’t let him in. Didn’t even answer him. Couldn’t face him and his concern. I told you it was a bad idea.” Jarod was silent for a moment. “I’m sure it wasn’t. I’ll talk to him.” “There’s no need. We’ve already talked today.” “And?” Jarod probed carefully. Parker took a sip of wine and put the glass on the coffee table. “I told him that if he ever as much as glimpses at me with those pitiful eyes of his, I’ll break something. Might be his arm.” “Miss Parker…” Jarod sighed, but she could hear a smile in his voice. “Well, he started it,” she pointed out. Speaking with Jarod made her feel better, as if talking with him changed the reality somehow. Just his voice alone made her breathe easier. Maybe she should have asked herself why, but she didn’t have a will or desire to do that right now. They were silent for some time, listening to the sounds of each other’s breathing. Then Jarod quietly said, “Don’t think I didn’t notice you haven’t answered my question. So, how are you?” Parker took the glass again, but didn’t drink, just stared into its bloody depth. “What do you want me to say, Jarod?” she asked at last in a low voice. “How about the truth?” “The truth is I’m tired, Jarod. Tired of feeling the way I feel. Of being scared of shadows and sounds. I have never been scared of anything before. And that only makes me afraid even more.” “You’ll get through, Miss Parker. Eventually,” he said softly. “Maybe not tomorrow or the day after, but you’ll get through.” “I understand that, but…” Her voice trailed off. “Understanding doesn’t help,” Jarod finished for her. “Yeah.” Once again they were silent until she finished her drink. “I need to get some sleep, Jarod,” she said wearily and stood up. “Thanks for the call and good night.” “Good night, Miss Parker,” he answered gently and called off. *** “What?” Parker snapped routinely into the phone. She looked at the clock, wondering who would have been so bold as to call her this late. Maybe it was– “It’s nice to hear from you too.” She grinned. “Jarod. Long time no see. What have you been up to?” She pressed her phone to her ear with one shoulder and started to remove her earrings. “I’ve been busy,” he said, and Parker thought that his voice sounded wistful. She sat in front of her vanity and looked into the mirror. “May I ask where you are?” Jarod snorted. “Always the huntress,” he mused. “Sure you may, but I won’t tell you.” Parker wrinkled her nose at her reflection and said, “You can’t blame a girl for trying.” She put the call on the loudspeaker, placed her phone on the countertop, took her brush and began to brush her hair. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Did you miss me?” she asked, half amused, half sarcastic, but deep down she was really glad to hear his voice. It’d been several weeks since he called her last time and as unwilling she was to admit it, it was her who missed him. Realization was quite unexpected; her hand with the brush paused in a mid-stroke for a moment. Jarod didn’t answer at once, and Parker felt uneasiness crept over her. “Jarod? What is it?” “Someone’s died,” Jarod told her. “Not today, but I’ve just learned about it.” “I’m sorry to hear that. Someone I knew?” she asked apprehensively. “I don’t think so,” he answered. “But she… She was connected to you.” Parker rolled her eyes. Jarod and his riddles. She missed those too. “In what way?” “I’ll tell you one day,” Jarod promised, suddenly sounding exhausted. Something was really wrong with him, but Parker couldn’t understand what he wanted from her and how she could help him. He had never called her just for the chit chat. “Jarod? Why did you call?” she asked straightforwardly, looking into the mirror. Her worried reflection stared back at her. He sighed. “I just needed to hear–” He stopped abruptly as if tripped. “I wanted to talk to you.” “About what?” “Nothing in particular. Just… talk.” “All right,” Parker said. She could talk. “Where have you been hiding? We haven’t heard from you in two months.” “I’ve already told you I’ve been busy,” Jarod pointed out. Parker sniffed exasperated. “You’ve been busy since you were five and more than so since you’ve escaped, but you’ve always left us breadcrumbs. And now you’ve completely disappeared from our radar.” “What I’m working on now… It’s important.” “Care to tell me?” Come on, Jarod, give me something. “Not yet. I’ll tell you everything when I’m finished.” “Riiiight,” she drawled. She didn’t particularly like this moody Jarod. Even during the hardest moments of his life, he remained full of energy, ready to fight. Now he sounded… well, not defeated but drained out. They stayed silent for a moment, and then Jarod asked, “How are you?” “Oh, you know me. I’m doing just great!” Parker answered, her voice oozing with sarcasm. “Parker, please,” he pleaded. She looked down at her wrists. The skin there was still too pink, too rough. “I’m better,” she said at last seriously. And she was. “Glad to hear that,” Jarod replied, sounding a bit brighter. “It was good to hear your voice. I wasn’t entirely sure it was a good idea to call you tonight, but it turned out that I really needed that. Thank you, Miss Parker, and take care,” he said and ended the call before she had the chance to reply. For several moments she sat there, looking at her phone thoughtfully, then murmured, “You too, Jarod.” *** “We need to talk.” Parker smiled. “Hello, Jarod,” she said, trying not to let her excitement from hearing from him into her voice. “I’m all ears.” “I meant in person,” Jarod clarified. “I need to see you.” Parker paused in her steps. The parking lot was empty at this time of night. Just a couple of months ago she would have done almost anything to avoid being alone in such places. It felt good to be strong and capable once again. “Come to my house tonight,” she suggested. ‘How strange,’ she thought, ‘he had never asked before, he just came whenever it suited him.’ “All right,” he agreed. “And Miss Parker?” “What?” “I trust you not to bring your work home, at least tonight. I have something important to show you.” Funny, the thought didn’t even cross her mind. “I won’t,” she promised. “I’ll see you in an hour or so,” he said and rang off. Parker put her phone into the pocket of her jacket and resumed her walk to her car.