The Quarterbacks Kryptonite... (SEQUEL IS UP)

Chapter 45

You really expect everything to be different once someone you love dies.
Because naturally it feels like the entire world deserves to be aware and morn for them.
Just as you do.

But they don't... no one ever knows unless they are told. And even when they are told, nothing changes.

The only thing that changes is you. And the fact that the person you loved is now gone.
The fact that my brother is gone.
I was always different after the accident. I lost my mom and my sister. And in a way I lost my dad too.
Ryder always understood my pain though. I knew that I was never alone, because I had him.
I don't have him anymore.

I'm sure you'd assume that the police somehow came to the house, arrested my dad and sent him away. Or maybe you are even fighting for the possibility that Ryder was still alive when they came and sent him to the hospital and rescued him.

.... they never came.
The police never came. Ryder fell to the floor with blood dripping from his body... from his head. I hurried too him and hoped to god that there was a chance.
Even though I knew there wasn't.

I cradled his lifeless body in my arms, holding onto him as tight as a I could as if somehow hoping he'd wake up.
And dad walked out. He walked away.

It was early in the morning when the boys had decided to come. They still hadn't known because when they walked into the house and saw me... saw us. They were screaming and yelling.
Parker was rushing over and pulling at me, searching me for any open wounds.
I could see their mouths moving but, I couldn't hear anything....

Why hadn't they known?
Could they not sense it in the air?
Did they not feel it as I did. Did they not feel their hearts suddenly drop as the bullet entered and exited his head?

Because I did. I felt everything.
I didn't know how troublesome this town would be. I didn't know how much pain it would cause me.
I wish we would have never come here. I wish I didn't ever go to that stupid high school. I wish I never met Parker and the boys. I wish I never met Angie.
I wonder how many things I can wish away until Ryder comes back.
I'd wish away everything just to get him back.

But I can't...

I'm not sure how, but tommy and the two other guys got Ryder's body out of the house and cleaned up the blood while Parker was cleaning me up.
I was mad, livid.
'How could they take my brother?' I thought and mumbled to myself the second Parker told me.
He ushered me not to worry. They said they were going to store his body at the morgue until the family tomb was built.
A tomb for all of my relatives and blood.

A tomb for my family.
That seemed crazy, but Ryder deserved even more that just that.
Sadly that's all we could give him.

"Athie? Are you okay in there?" I heard the muffled voice of Parker coming from outside the door of the bathroom.

I blinked my eyes looking up from the floor and looked at my surroundings

Have I been in the shower this whole time?
I must have zoned out... hmm

"Athie?" I hear again.
I want to speak, but nothing comes out when I open my mouth. Just quiet. Everything is just quiet.
I don't speak. I don't reply back.
I just stand still, letting the steaming water hit against my back.
I don't even bother washing my hair or body.
I feel like I can't move. But I don't really want too.

I want my brother. I want him back. So much...

I don't hear Parker say anything else, but I could tell that he is waiting close by the door.
So I turn the shower off, pulling the curtains to the side and watching as all of the steam in the room swirls in the air.