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I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

There's a quote, not an entire quote but just a few fragments of it that have been running through Chris' mind all day. "Grief feels like fear. Perhaps, more like suspense. Like waiting, just hanging around, waiting for something to happen. It gives life a permanently provisional feeling."

Maybe she was waiting for something. Though she shouldn't and she knew this. He's not coming back. It didn't matter if Elaine had, the fact that he was here was enough of a miracle. Why would she get a second chance.

'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.' As the saying went. Just another of those infuriating, simple-minded statements you hear from people at times like these. She paced around the room, looking for what - if anything - she wanted to take with her. But she could barely keep a thought in her head long enough to get anything done.

She rubs her arms and feels a little shame, thinking about what she'd been given and how much she took for granted. Caiti and Ryan would never have a second chance to see their father, they would never know what she did and she hadn't even appreciated it.

And, God, if they knew about my relationship with Jack...

Chris swallows and starts moving around the room again. Grabbing the book Jack gave her, the sweater Elaine made for her and the pictures, she makes a small pile on the bed. She walks over to the dresser, her steps quick, and looks for the clothes she was wearing when she arrived back at Milliways. She had seen the door this morning and had made up her mind to leave almost immediately.

If she stayed here, she'd always be waiting for him to come back and she couldn't do that.

"I am beginning to understand why grief feels like suspense. It comes from the frustration of so many impulses. Thought after thought, feeling after feeling, action after action had their object. Now their target is gone. I keep on fitting an arrow to the string, then I remember and have to lay the bow down. So many roads lead to H. So many roads now culs de sac."

She needed time away from this place, time to think. Chris ran her fingers through her hair and wondered if Jack was avoiding her. Why not? I'm avoiding him. She'd have to go find him and tell him she was leaving.

But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along.

* Quotes (or a misremembered but still close version thereof) from CS Lewis' A Grief Observed. I'm not even going to admit who the whitetext is by.

Date: 2005-10-02 07:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] action-antihero.livejournal.com
He rests his hand on the doorknob for a moment before looking up at her. "Chris, if you meet anyone else back at home...don't worry about me."

Date: 2005-10-02 07:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] geeky-agent.livejournal.com
In hindsight, she should have expected this but it still took her by surprise and hurt.

Chris shakes her head. "Jack...don't..."

Date: 2005-10-02 07:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] action-antihero.livejournal.com
He sighs, blinking quickly. "Sweetheart, I don't want to lose you, but I can't ask you to put your life on hold for me either. I can't ask that any more than I can ask you to stay here."

He swallows. "When you get back, I'll be here waiting for you. But you have to be the one to decide if you're going to wait for me."

Date: 2005-10-02 07:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] geeky-agent.livejournal.com
He was right, she knew this and she realized how long this seperation could be. Months, years even.

And the waiting wouldn't be so bad but it was the not knowing that would gnaw at her.

She nods. "I know."

Date: 2005-10-02 07:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] action-antihero.livejournal.com
He nods. "I love you. I'll se you when you get back," he says softly, before turning away and opening the door.

Date: 2005-10-02 08:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] geeky-agent.livejournal.com
Chris watches him leave and turns to look back at the bed. She gathers up the things she has there and looks around the room for anything more.

Right now, she's so drained and all she wants to do is go home, to her bed, and rest. Chris walks to the door, opens it, and without a look back leaves her room.

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