Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Author:Jane Harvey-Berrick [Harvey-Berrick, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harvey Berrick Publishing
Published: 2014-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

Michael Gabriel Kane

November 25, 1987—July 10, 2006

Beloved Son

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

I heard a weird, strangled sound, but it was only when Torrey wrapped her arms around my waist that I realized it had come from me.

“‘Beloved Son!’ Christ, they couldn’t even … they didn’t want … he was my brother, Torrey! My brother! It’s like I never even existed. God, Mikey! I’m so, so sorry! It should have been me! I’d do anythin’ to take it back!”

I fell to my knees, my head spinning, bile rising in my throat.

“It should have been me.”

Torrey was on her knees next to me, the strength of her small body the only thing that kept me from falling further.

“No!” she gasped. “Don’t say that! I’m glad you’re alive. I’m glad you survived.” I felt her fingers in my hair and her breath was warm against my neck. “You have to find the strength to be glad, too—for the rest of your life.”

She tightened her grip and slowly the ground stopped shifting beneath me. I leaned against her, breathing in the scent of summer in her hair.

After a few minutes, I felt her grip relax.

“My knees are killing me, Jordan. Can we please sit down?”

Some of the tension left my body as we both collapsed onto the grass. Torrey snuggled into my side. She leaned her head on my chest and stroked my arms, as if calming a frightened child.

Her touch soothed me, and I felt an odd sense of peace, sitting there among the tombstones.

“I was wondering…” she said, after a few minutes.

“What’s that, sweetheart?”

“What would you tell Mikey about me?”

I raised my eyebrows and shifted so I could look at her, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“You know,” she went on, “guy to guy, brother to brother.”

“Hmm, you want me to break the bro code?” I teased her.

“Pretend I’m not here.”

I almost laughed. “That would be a fuckin’ impossibility.”

“Aw, go on!”

I took a deep breath and tucked her into my side again, taking strength from her slender arms around my neck.

“Hey, Mikey! It’s been a while. I guess you know why I haven’t been by. So, you see my girl, Torrey? She’s somethin’, ain’t she? God, she’s so fine. She’s got the sweetest face, and this mess of long, curly hair the color of corn just before harvest, and it near about kills me to wind it around my fingers, it’s so soft. She’s a real firecracker, too. And she’s one of those people that lights up the room when she walks into it, ya know? She’s so full of livin’, so full of laughter. And fuck, she’s honest. I don’t get away with shit when I’m with her. In the bedroom? Hell, yeah! She’s so fuckin’ hot! I cain’t get enough of her. I know, I know—totally pussy whipped. But I gotta tell ya, bro, she’s so worth it. When she looks at me I can see my future in her eyes—us livin’ our lives together, gettin’ old together, kids—the whole thing.

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