Bloody Mary by John Watson

Author:John Watson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, ghost, paranormal, gore, small town
Publisher: Crazy Ink
Published: 2022-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, Keith was sitting in the rec room watching TV with a couple of other residents when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Abernathy.

“Hey, Keith, could you please come with me to my office.”

They made the short trek to the doctor’s office in silence, Keith already knowing what was coming and bracing himself for it. He nodded in all the right places as Abernathy explained that his mother had passed and that Keith would be allowed to leave to attend the service under the watchful gaze of Benny. The doctor excused Keith from his scheduled sessions for the day, after which he walked numbly back to his room and lay on the bed.

This will not break me.

This will not break me.

This will not break me.

Keith repeated his mantra until he believed it and then allowed himself a moment to grieve.

Chapter Eight

Throughout the service for his mother, Keith almost felt as though he were operating on autopilot. He mindlessly thanked the friends and family members who offered condolences while ignoring those that stared at him with varying levels of accusation and distaste.

Benny sat at the back of the funeral home, telling those who asked that he was a friend of Keith’s. He refused to go into any more detail when a few of the nosier attendees pressed. Benny had proven to be more of a real friend than most, driving Keith to the service in an unmarked car instead of the New Beginnings van. That one small kindness probably helped alleviate the scandalous chatter that might otherwise have become an issue.

The group was heading off to a private wake to which Keith was not invited, given the presence of alcohol at the event. When it was all said and done, Keith stood outside the funeral home, thanking those who stopped by to wish him well. He found that he didn’t care, nor did the mention of alcohol invoke any response. Keith knew he was far from cured, but he also knew he was on the way to a better future.

Mark was the last one out of the funeral home, and he hugged his friend tightly, muttering condolences in a voice threatening to crack under the weight of grief. “I’ll be there for you when you get out, buddy. You can count on that.”

“Thanks, Mark. You’ve always been too good to me, even when I was the shittest friend ever.”

Opening his mouth to speak, Mark paused and snapped it shut again. He cleared his throat and said, “Um, the funeral director needs to speak with you before you go.”

The friends embraced one more time, and then Mark left, leaving Keith and Benny standing in the parking lot.

“You doing okay?” Benny asked.

“As good as it gets. Thank you, Benny, for everything you’ve done today.”

The orderly flushed a bright shade of red and waved away the compliment. “All part of my job. I’ll get the car started while you talk to that guy,” Benny said, pointing in the direction of a man striding across the lot.

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