Marco stood on the edge of the apartment his jacket wrapped tight around him. He popped open his collar to cover his cheeks and up to his ears. He had his arms folded as he stared at the street below. A couple cars were parked nearby but that was normal. The night shift people were out.
The sun was already dipping below the horizon, sinking and casting darkness over them. He never got used to when the season’s changed. It always felt like the world changed overnight for him from late summer nights to suddenly dark fall evenings. But it was the ebb and flow of things.
Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out a lighter. It was an old beat up thing with smeared oil stained edges. Flipping the top open he stared at it and clicked the wheel a few times before getting a spark. Staring at the flame it flickered in the breeze and he sighed watching his breath on the air.
Digging another hand into his pocket he pulled out a half-crushed pack of Newports. The plastic hadn’t even been torn off them yet. Freshly store bought. He took a slow breath staring at them because he hadn’t smoked in a long time. Since before Jack and Sarah. Years ago. Before any and all of this.
Shutting his eyes, he stared at his necklace. Sarah was gone. Just like Jack was gone a year ago. Twice now this thing had taken away the people he loved and he had to try and pick up the pieces. With Jack, at least he died and he just thought he was dead forever.
But now there was a chance that Sarah could come back. Be brought back the same way as Jack. And he was torn between hoping against hope that they could save her. But they could also just fail entirely. Kathryn’s plan could not work and they’d lose twice.
Popping the top of the lighter down again he flipped it open and then closed it. Opened and closed it. Sighing hard he tore the plastic off the pack of cigarettes and opened the top. Taking one out he stuck it between his teeth and popped open the lighter. The amount of muscle memory to the act was scary.
Flicking the switch, he got a flame going and held it in front of the tip. As the flame heated it up he took a slow pull and sighed hard. Heat and smoke filled his long and for a second his head got a little dizzy but he got back his bearings on it. Taking it out he let out a smoky foggy breath and sighed.
“You hear about that movie star that got put in the hospital? Wild stuff on the news.”
Taking another pull, he laughed bitterly and looked over his shoulder. Jack walked over to him, closing the door to the stairs behind him. Shoving both hands into his pocket Jack stood beside him on the edge of the roof.
“You know Sarah’d kill you if she saw you right now.” he said staring at the cigarette.
“Yeah well here we are,” he said shaking his head. “Needed something to take the edge off everything.”
“If you’re doing it give me one,” he said reaching his hand out.
“Since when do you smoke.”
Jack snorted, “You didn’t know me back in high school. Me and my brother got into a lot of shit.”
“I can only imagine.”
Popping one out of the pack he held it out and Jack took it. Taking the lighter as well he lit it and then took a drag. Blowing out another cloud into the air he shoved his hand into his pocket and just sighed.
“Kathryn said that she talked to Omen. Or whatever his name was,” he said taking another drag. “They’re on their way to us.”
Marco glanced at him and nodded slowly, “Hopefully Ley can do this. Can really do this.”
“Yeah. It’s only been like a week and I don’t even want to go back home,” Jack shook his head and had to steady himself with another drag.
“It feels like she’s going to come back home at any time. Or if you go around the corner you’re going to find her and her mess somewhere?” Marco asked.
Looking at him Jack asked, “Is that how it was last year?”
“When you died?” Jack nodded and Marco frowned looking back toward the distance of the city. “No. Different. Way different.”
“What do you mean?” Pulling the cigarette out he let it hang between his fingers staring at the smoldering ember.
He glanced at him and shook his head slowly, “Losing you was like losing my right arm. My good arm. You’re my best friend and my boyfriend. My lover. For a while I couldn’t imagine life without you in it in some way. And for a little while I had to face that. I can say right now that I never want to face that again.
“But not having Sarah is different,” he bit the end of the cigarette and took a step away from the edge of the rooftop and walked back toward the center. “Not having Sarah is like-“
“Not having your heart.” Jack said staring at him.
Marco looked back with eyes that looked like something he hadn’t seen since a long time ago. When they talked about his mom and his dad. He looked lost and his pain was so raw that he almost couldn’t face him. Almost. He met his boyfriend’s eyes and met the hurt there. Marco blinked a few times quickly and rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah,” he said clearing his throat and nodded. “Long and short, and I don’t have to tell you this, I miss her.”
Jack walked to his side and wrapped his arm around Marco’s waist pulling him close. Marco put his forehead against his own and both closed their eyes. Jack felt a drop against his cheek and looked up but Marco was pulling away wiping his eyes again, “Yeah. Which is why we’re doing this. We can bring her back and go back to our happy weird life as a couple.”
Marco laughed and took one more long pull. Dropping the thing onto the ground he stepped on it and grinded it out with the tip of his shoe. “It’s why we’re doing this. How far away are they?”
“Probably about ten minutes give or take.”
“Then let’s go meet them. Get our girl back.”
Jack nodded dropping his cigarette to the ground stepping on it hard. Taking a step back toward the door he slowed and looked toward the sky. He watched as a single snowflake drifted from the sky. It floated down in front of his face and he caught it in his hand before dissolving. Glancing back toward the sky one more time he sighed.
The Harlequin Library 