I’d seen the torture and misery then. I had assumed it was all directed at me—and I’m sure a good part of it had been, but I’d never thought about how much a room could affect someone.
How many memories a house could carry.
“Are you happy here?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked as she roamed around the room, looking at some of the pictures I’d recently hung. After I’d purged the house of everything Everly, I’d begun hanging my own photography. It filled me with pride to see her admiring it now.
“I mean—this room, this house…it’s filled with so many memories. Would it be easier to just…start over?”
“You want to sell this place?” she asked in shock.
“I would—for you,” I said, taking a step in her direction. “I’d do anything to make you happy.”
She continued her long walk around the room, stopping at the large dresser by the bed as she silently thought. “This house is filled with memories. So many of them—both good and bad. And sometimes it’s overwhelming being here with all of them swirling around in my head.”
“So, let’s move,” I urged.
“Let me finish,” she said. “As overwhelming as it is sometimes, it’s also soothing. Like therapy. The fact that I can walk into this room right now gives me a great sense of peace. Knowing I can face my fears head on, rather than running away from them like I usually do? I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel. I may not be able to sleep here, but at least I can take baby steps for now.”
“I just don’t like seeing you in any kind of pain. If I could take it away by just erasing it all—”
“No,” she said adamantly. “I love this house. Despite everything, it means a great deal to me. Right now, I need to work on fighting the ghosts—not running from them.”
Finding my way to her as she fiddled with my watch and other various things that sat in a large ornamental bowl on the dresser, I asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Looking up at me over her shoulder, she gave a small smile. “Yes. Help me make new ones.”
“Gladly,” I whispered, leaning in to capture her lips. She pulled back, laughing under her breath. “I didn’t mean this second—you’re going to make me late for work!”
“Very very late,” I agreed.
“August!” she yelped, twisting out of my grasp.
“Okay, okay!” I chuckled. “But you owe me—the second you get home.”
“Deal,” she agreed with a Cheshire Cat grin that nearly had me on my knees forgetting everything I’d just agreed to.
“Hey, can I borrow your watch?” she asked, grabbing it from the large bowl.
“Sure, why?” I asked, looking over her shoulder.
“I usually wear one to work and in my rush to pack yesterday, I forgot mine. I can go back to get it but—”
“It’s yours,” I said, placing my hand over hers. “But don’t just settle on that one. There are a few more in there. Take a look and pick whichever one you want. I was going to donate them to charity since I have no need for six different watches.”
“You realize,” she said, standing on her tip toes as she dug through the bowl. “That most people keep these types of watches under lock and key, right? Not in a glass bowl on the top of their dresser? Do you know how much these are worth?” Her eyes darted back to mine with an amused grin.
“Probably a fortune, and I’m sure the old me cared about that kind of shit…but really? It’s just a watch. It tells time just as well as something I could pick up at Target.”
“I’m pretty sure some people would argue with you on that,” she laughed, trying on another bold silver watch. She held out her arm to look at it and then shook her head and moved on.
“Yeah—rich snobby people.”
“Like you?” she teased.
“I’m rich, but definitely not snobby.”
“No,—hey, what’s this?” she asked as her hand dug to the bottom of the bowl.
I came to join her and saw her hesitantly pull out the tiny green bead I’d found in my coat pocket when I was in the hospital.
“Maybe you can tell me,” I said as she swiveled around to face me.
“What do you mean?” Her eyes were wide, like I’d said something to ignite panic.
“I found it in my belongings when I was in the hospital. It was in my coat, so it must have been there the night of the mugging. I just thought you might know what it is,” I said, placing my hand on her shoulder.
“I’ve never seen it before,” she said, jerking back as she eyed the tiny green bead.