Grey: A Life Unraveled (Tapestry of Life Book 1)

by Lee Miller

  They walked in silence for a bit, the slippery sidewalks being more treacherous than originally thought. They reached the doors to the law offices that Mr. Scott ran and Chris formerly worked at with time to spare. “I haven’t seen these people since the New Year’s Eve Party.” Sara said. “Good grief that seems almost a life time ago.” She added. Sara looked up and down the usually very busy street; only a few cars were on the road even though the roads were, for the most part, clear. “Huh. Very little midday traffic today.” Though odd, Sara forgot all about the lack of midday traffic when she caught the presence of a figure out of the corner of her eye. It was standing at the far corner of the building away from her. She turned and looked at the figure head on. Her heart dropped, her feet froze, her eyes opened wide and her mouth fell to her knees. Chris was standing there. “That’s not.” She tried to get out. A cold chill overcame her and she began to shiver, despite being dressed for the cold. “Not possible. Not possible.” She took a couple of steps back and bumped into Beth. “Sara, you okay? You look like you’ve seen a gho…” Beth was cut off by the concern that flooded her for her friend. “Sara? Sara!” Beth moved in front of her and took her friend by the hands. “Not possible.” Sara couldn’t take her eyes of the figure just ahead of her, standing there. “Chris?” she asked. “Sara, Chris isn’t here, he’s; gone.” Beth let out as pain flooded her eyes. “Chris?” Sara asked again as she began to move towards the figure. Time seem to freeze like water dripping from an ice laded roof on a cold winter’s morning. Sara moved slowly, cautiously, to the figure that resembled her dead husband. She could feel Beth right behind her, begging for her to come to her senses. “Sara, Sara! There is nobody there. Don’t go nuts on me! No nutsyness allowed! Sara!” she ignored her friend, she knew what was right in front of her. Chris was standing there. “Chris, don’t leave me! Please! Stay!” Sara begged. “I’m right here Sara, I’ll always be right here. I’m not going anywhere.” Chris’s voice sounded distant, off, urgent. Then, like a flower pedal on a gust of wind, he was gone. “No! Chris! Come back! Come back!” She tried to run towards where he was standing, but an icy patch and Beth tugging on her arm sent them both to the frozen ground. Sara turned towards her best friend and cried. “He was right there. Right there Beth! I saw him.” She managed to get out between sobs. She knew seeing her dead husband standing on a street corner was irrational, her tears were irrational. Nothing made sense to her. “Sara I’m here sweetie, I’m here. Calm down honey.” Beth held her and tried to sooth the ache in her heart. She felt like a piece of her soul had just been ripped out and caste into a raging hurricane. After a few minutes, Sara was able to compose herself. She and Beth stood up and she saw the fear and concern written all over her companions face. “I’m okay Beth. I promise. I don’t know what that was. He seemed so real. I know he couldn’t have really been standing there. I know that. But it felt so real.” Sara used a napkin and dabbed at the tears streaking down her face. “Come on, let’s go see Mr. Scott, then head back to the apartment.”

  As they entered the building, Sara felt Beth’s eyes steadily on her. “Beth, I’m not going nuts on you, I swear. Stop staring at me.” Sara was on edge. She felt her hold on herself slipping and she wanted to get the business here done with and get back home so she could fall apart in peace. Beth’s concern was understandable, Sara was concerned for herself. They would have time later to reflect on what happen outside and try to figure out what was going on. It’s not entirely uncommon for people who have recently lost someone of great importance to them to think they see them shortly after. Was it? Sara wasn’t sure, but she would look into it. She had to know what had just happen. She had to put it in perspective. “You’re not alone Sara. I’m here with you, whatever happens, no matter how many delusions you have or how crazy you sound.” Beth was stoic. She wouldn’t leave Sara’s side for anything, no matter how bad things got. “These are bad times for you, they are bad times for me too, but if we stay together we can help each other keep it together.” Beth said as they reached the elevator bank. They arrived on the top floor of the building and stepped from the elevator into a massive office that had multiple desk arrayed around it with people working at each. Sara realized these must be all of Mr. Scott’s personal secretaries. She recognized the one at the desk closes to the elevators as Debbie. Chris had talked about her a few times and Sara remembered seeing her at the holiday party last December. “Hey Debbie” She greeted as they approached the desk. Debbie had been lost in whatever work she had been performing and didn’t hear the two women enter, but Sara knew Debbie recognized her the moment she looked up. Her face covered recognition, surprise and sorrow in full succession. “Mrs. Connelly. It’s good to see you. Mr. Scott said you’d be coming in today. He’s waiting for you in his office. He’s sat most of the morning and early afternoon aside for you.” Debbie added the last part as if to impress upon Sara how monumental it was for the Boss to leave such a large period of time open for her, and in fact, she was duly impressed. “Will your friend be accompanying you or would you like me to find her a seat?” Debbie asked with a voice of uncertainty. “She’ll be staying with me Debbie; this is Beth, my best friend. Beth, this is Debbie, Senior Paralegal to Mr. Scott.” Sara said as a way of introduction. The two ladies shook hands and gave the polite prerequisite smiles and pleasant “good to meet you.” That social rule dictated. “Go on in Sara, I’ll announce you.” Debbie waved them past as she punched in the bosses extension and notified him that she was on her way even before she reached the door. The door open and Mr. Scott welcomed her and Beth into his lavish and ostentatious office. There were two high back chairs made of oak and leather placed in front of the massive mahogany desk that the occupant of the office utilized. “Please, come in and sit down ladies. Both Sara and Beth moved to the chairs in front of the desk and sat down as their host took his seat behind the desk.

  “First of all, I want to tell you just how much Chris meant to me Sara. When he first started here he was a fresh-faced kid hell bent on saving the world. He was optimistic and caring. Over time he grew to be one of the best attorneys I have ever seen. He was diligent and thorough yet never lost the zeal he had when he began. I loved him like a son, through it all. Through all his challenges and all the growing pains and adversity, he always reminded me of two things. He loved the support group he had here, and loved the support group he had at home. You were never very far from his thoughts Sara.” Mr. Scott then reached into his desk and pulled out a file folder. “I was not only Chris’s employer and close friend, I was his personal attorney. Not a service I offer to the bulk of my employees, but Chris was an exception. I had him pegged to take over the firm one day when I retired. In here is his last will and testament and some other paperwork you may need. He took out a life insurance policy that in the case of his, demise, would set you up for life. It has a double indemnity clause.” Mr. Scott started rustling through the paperwork in the folder, Sara had a vague idea what ‘double indemnity” meant. “You mean?” Sara was at a loss. “Yes, the payout in the event of an accidental death is either doubled or tripled. In Chris’s case, it’s tripled. Chris’s death, murder, counts as accidental. Let’s see, ah. Here it is, his original amount of insurance was $10 million. Under the clause, it’s $30 million. Payable to you, named as the sole beneficiary. Sara was floored. “$30 million?!? Holy crow! That’s a lot of money Mr. Scott. I mean, Chris and I haven’t hurt for money, I still don’t, wow. I don’t even know what to say actually.” “Take your time Sara. We’ll need you to sign some forms and I’ll take care of the rest. Of course, in Chris’s last will, he left everything to you. Also, I wanted you to know that you have my service as an attorney, free of cost. It’s the least I can do for him and you.”

  Sara and Beth spent another hour with Mr. Scott. They talked about the upcoming case with Diego and about Chris. Noticing the time Sara politely excused herself, she had other things to get done and she was sure Mr. Scott’s time was valuable. She sig
ned the necessary paperwork and allowed him to escort them to the door. He made her promise if she needed anything, that she would call his private number, which he gave her. Back at the apartment, Sara’s head was still swimming with everything she had learned today. Chris definitely made sure she’d never hurt for money, however she wished he was still here, money be damned. Beth had been unusually quiet since their visit to the law offices. When they got back, she picked up where she left off with the cleaning, even though Sara told her it wasn’t necessary. Sara gazed out the window to the giant city below covered in the icky white stuff and tried to put everything into perspective. She hadn’t forgotten about the episode she had in front of the building before going in and finding her life had changed yet again. It seemed to her that her life was currently on a giant rollercoaster ride and she didn’t know when it would stop or even slow down. She needed a vacation. She decided that she’d keep working. She had to work. She loved what she did, she also knew she’d have to get back to it pretty soon, her boss was being very patient with her but even his good graces could only extend so far. She’d call him in the morning and see about getting caught up.

  “Sara, I’m here. I’m not leaving.” The strained voice came out of nowhere and yet she instantly knew whom it belonged to. “No. Can’t be!” she thought. She looked to where Beth was to see if there was any sign she had heard the voice. Beth continued working, oblivious to anything being amiss around her. Sara listened intently to the silence in the apartment. She heard nothing but Beth’s gentle humming and the swishing of the cloth in her hand as she dusted the bookshelves. Was she losing her mind? Was she one a one-way trip to nutsville? “No, couldn’t be.” She spoke softly into the glass separating her from the outside world.

  “Beth?” She called to her roommate. “Yeeees?” she replied from almost directly behind her. “Care to go for a walk?” Sara asked almost absentmindedly. “I don’t know Beth, that sky looks ugly. Looks like something is coming and it won’t be pleasant when it gets here. Sara looked up into the sky and saw what Beth meant. The waning winter sun was beginning its descent, but there was enough light to see that the clouds grew even darker and were roiling. Sara was captivated by the clouds. She sensed life there. Not life as in a human hanging around on the clouds, but a menacing life. Like the clouds themselves were living and were growing restless. She even thought she had heard a low growl come from somewhere in the swirling mass. Then the clouds looked back, seemingly producing a face from its depths, and stared at Sara. She grew unnerved and trepidation began to set in. She felt like she should run, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate with her mind. Without warning, a stark fear over took her. She wanted to get away from the window, to move to a safe location but couldn’t. It felt as if it something was holding her in place as the menacing face in the clouds grew closer. Everything else faded from sight. Her periphery was gone, the city below vanished, even the feeling of Beth’s presence behind her evaporated quickly, like water poured on an Arizona highway asphalt in the middle of summer. There was nothing now except just her and the menacing clouds moving closer to her. She struggled to get away, but nothing would budge her. She felt a slight pull from the other direction and wanted to run to it but couldn’t muster the strength. Her legs suddenly felt weak. Like all the muscle was torn from them. The face of the clouds was right outside the window, its mouth open wide. Sara heard a high pitched shriek come from all around her. Just as the face was about to break through the glass, she felt a hard tug come from behind and she went flying backwards onto the floor, a weight landing on top of her.

  Her eyes began to come back into focus and she saw Beth’s face inches from hers. Beth’s eyes filled to the brim with fear and uncertainty. Sara wondered if Beth saw what she did, was that the reason for her fear? “Sara! Snap out of it!” Beth was yelling at her. She sat up a little too quickly and got light headed. “What? What is it Beth?!” She wanted her friend to be the first to mention the face in the clouds. “Sara! What the hell were you thinking? Seriously? Were you just gonna break the glass and take off flying? Do you have some super power I don’t know about?!” Beth was livid now. Any trace of fear gone. The girl was pissed. “Break the glass? Beth what are you on about?” Sara was confused now. “You’re honestly telling me you don’t remember standing there just a few minutes ago banging on the glass so hard the whole wall bowed out? Really? You don’t remember that? Really?” Sara had never seen her friend in this state before. “You, you didn’t see...” Sara began, but quickly realized just how crazy it would all sound to someone who didn’t see what she saw or feel what she felt. She looked back towards the window and the dark gray matter in the sky was still twisting and turning in on itself. The menace it held only a few minutes ago now dissipating. “See what?” Beth asked, her voice still holding a touch of harshness to it. “Nothing, I must have spaced out. I don’t know what that was. I honestly wasn’t trying to break the wall.” Sara knew her statement was lame, but it was all she had. “Soooo you don’t remember yelling for me to get an axe or something heavy and begged me to help you break the ‘monster in the glass’?” Sara had nothing to say to this. Nothing. What exactly had happen to her? Sara looked to her friend and felt utterly helpless. “I think I may need help.” Sara was able to finally admit to herself that she may in fact be cracking up. She needed to get help because she couldn’t continue living like this anymore. Whatever was wrong, she would face it head on and get past this. She didn’t feel crazy, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t on the short trip to that side of town. “I need help Beth. I can’t do this anymore.” she sobbed. Beth sat there and stared at her friend for a moment, unsure of what to say. “Didn’t your Doctor at the hospital say he had a friend who worked in psychiatry?” She asked. “You mean Doctor Kills-A-Lot?” Sara chuckled at the fictitious creation of Beth’s night shift Doctor slash midnight mass murder. “Yeah him and don’t laugh, he could have been one!” Beth insisted. “I’ll give him a call and see if I can get a number. He should be coming on shift soon.” Sara’s legs still didn’t really want to work, but she pushed herself up off the ground and went to retrieve her phone.

  Finding the number to the hospital was easy, tracking down Beth’s Doctor Death was a bit harder. Sara left a message with the nurse’s desk and asked them to have him call her back at his earliest convenience. Meanwhile, she and Beth kept themselves busy getting dinner ready. Sara knew Beth still wanted to talk about the episode on the street earlier in the day when Sara thought she saw her dead husband, but she just didn’t have the strength for it. In truth, the scene at the window had zapped all of her strength. Instead, they sat together on the couch and watched mindless TV and waited for the phone to ring. A couple hours later it did, and Sara got the number to the Doctor’s psych friend. She would call in the morning and make an appointment. Something had to change. She and Beth returned to the TV, it was nice, for once, and Sara didn’t know how long it would last, it was nice for some level of normalcy to enter into her life. To do something normal. They ate ice cream and watched old Dukes of Hazard reruns. Laughing at the cheesiness of the show. Bedtime drew near and Sara faced it as though it was a task she dreaded. She didn’t know why, but she loathed the idea of going to sleep, but she had to. She and Beth were drifting off just sitting on the couch. She got up and hugged her friend good night and began the walk of fear. It seemed like a mile to the staircase, the expansive living room for once felt to big. She made it up and quickly brushed her teeth, she fell into bed and didn’t bother to pull the covers over her. She slept and she dreamed. The thing she was afraid of most. Bright colors flickered and flashed, known and seemingly unknown faces flashed in and out. Then darkness. She was running. She didn’t know from what, but she was running and she was scared. Sara stopped and looked down at herself, she was wearing the cloths from the New Year’s Eve night. The dress hadn’t been torn yet. Theoretically it should make it hard to run in, but the tight fit around the thighs and flowing all the way to her ankle
s didn’t impede her speed any. Hell, she wondered if she could really run this fast in heels. She didn’t know. The clothing scared her. The large black mass scared her. The future, not knowing what she was running to, scared her. She was petrified. No longer running, but just standing there. Indecisive and not know with way to go, she screamed out, looking for anyone who could help her. She turned around and was facing the street in front of the building she lived in. Cop cars were coming from the left, and a single man was standing by his car on the far right, looking up. Sara stepped out of the shadows of the building and followed the man’s gaze upward. There, in the distance was a single figure who seem to be clinging to the railing of the fire escape. Sara gasped with shock. She knew this scene. That was Tommy hanging from the railing and she couldn’t see herself, but she knew it was she who standing above him, smashing each of his hands with the heel from when of her other shoes. In a few minutes he would plummet to his death. She watched. She couldn’t take her eyes off the scene even if she wanted to. The man at the car moved closer and the sirens of the police cars seem to hang in limbo. They should have been here by now. Sara stared, mouth open. A single snowflake landed on her nose, and she crossed her eyes to watch it sizzle and melt into her skin. The little flake just sat there. It didn’t melt at all. Instead, the little flake began to gain weight and grow. Sara tried to knock the little flake off, but it wouldn’t budge. It simply grew and began to weigh her down, she smacked at it furiously and yet it refused to budge. Finally the growing flake shot up, like a gust of wind blew up underneath it. It twirled and danced on the imaginary winds and kept gaining in size. It also began to change colors and form. Morphing into something else, something yet defined. Suddenly fear gripped Sara. A fear that refused to abate. It grew as the now snowy blob continued to morph. Sara looked around for anyone who could help, anyone who could help her escape. There was no one on the empty streets. The only thing out on this night was Sara, her fear and the morphing, color-changing blob. She began to run. She didn’t know where, but she had to get out of here. She had to get away from the blob that was growing and threaten to consume her. As she ran, her dress began to rip up the sides and become tattered, Sara looked down and the dress looked like how it had ended up that night. It was ripped in two at just above the knee and it had blood all over the front. She continued to run. Her hair fell from the style she had worn that night and now tendrils dangled in front of her eyes. Sara looked back and saw that, even though it felt like she had ran a mile, she was only 10 feet beyond where she had started. She was breathless and every muscle in her body ached. She was tired, yet the blob continued to grow. It finally settled into the shape of a man. Even though Sara couldn’t yet make out his face, she knew it was Tommy. The fear in her grew even deeper, almost to the point of paralyzing. She couldn’t move. Every step felt like she was running in molasses. Sara’s fight or flight kicked in and since she couldn’t take flight, she turned around and readied herself for the fight. She closed her eyes, regained her breath and focused on her training. She had beaten him before, she can beat him again. She opened her eyes and Tommy was standing there in front of her, except Sara saw something she hadn’t expected. Beth was cowering at Tommy’s feet. Stricken with fear of her own. Sara’s blood boiled and anger rose like bile into the back of her throat. She wanted to kill this man, again. It wasn’t enough he tried to take advantage of Sara, wasn’t bad enough he killed Chris, the fact he was holding her best friend hostage infuriated Sara. She knew this was only a dream. It was all in her head. If it was in her head, she should be able to take charge of it, yet she simply couldn’t find the way to do that. Throwing caution to the wind, she lunged at her attacker. By simply raising his arm up and batting at her, he sent Sara flying. She rolled across the street and smashed into the curb with the back of her head. Tommy and darkness approached. She heard his maniacal laughter. “Now, to finish what we started that night. You’re mine bitch!” he roared as he ripped the rest of her dress off.