chapter 21

When work was just about finished, I received a call from the foyer downstairs. A package had

arrived downstairs. Quickly ducking down, I retrieved the box and made my way back up, curious to

see what the package was. Grabbing a pair of scissors, I opened them and slid the blade down the

sides to tear the tape. Once I had removed the tape sealing the box, I opened it.

I sat back in my seat, I completely forgot about my mother's remains. I was supposed to get a

call to pick them up, not have them posted. The hospital was directly across from us. Why didn't

they ring me instead of shipping them over? I could feel my bottom lip tremble as I pulled the urn

out. I bit down on it, trying to stop it from quivering. I looked at the plastic urn, this was all that was

left of my mother. It just didn’t seem real that a woman so strong willed and full of life could be

reduced to ash. Trying to hold everything together, I placed her back in the box. I just didn't

understand the meaning of life if death is how it ends. I remember when I was a child and a close

friend of mine died, I asked my grandmother at the time that exact question.

My grandmothers reply was, “It's the memories in between that of life and death that matter.” I

didn’t understand what she meant back then. In a way I do now. It's the memories we leave behind

the good and the bad, the memories others hold of us that get to live on. Now that's all I have left

of her, memories. Memories are what I will now have to hold closest to my heart because now that

she is gone, they will be the only thing to remember her by. Suddenly realising I will never hear her

voice again, never feel the warmth of her hugs, all the emotions I have been forcing to the back of

my mind rushing forward because of a small plastic urn, the only thing left of the amazing woman

she was.

Lost in my thoughts, I was staring off blankly into space. Only when Tobias came out of his

office did my attention go back to the present. “What's in the box?" he asked, about to open the lid

and peer inside.

I closed the box before he could see. “Nothing,” I said, picking it up and following after him.

Theo walked out of his office and started heading to the elevator seeing that we were ready to

leave.

I stepped in the elevator and moved to the back behind them, the box clutched tightly in my

hands. I felt like I was autopilot, going through motions but not really experiencing it. Walking to

the car, I jumped in the back. Ignoring Tobias trying to tell me to get in front. I couldn't sit near him

after today’s earlier incident. I suddenly felt guilty that Theo kissed me. Did I lead him on in any

way? Tobias hasn't mentioned it. But by the way he refused to talk to me most of the day, I could

tell he was pissed off. When the back door opened, I was surprised to find Tobias hopping in the

back with me. Theo got into the driver's seat, for which I was grateful.

“I am not done speaking to you. Until I am, you will listen to what I have to say.” I ignored him

and walked straight up the stairs of the apartment building. Theo was still waiting in line with the

build-up of cars that lined the street. Tobias however was right on my tail, refusing to let me escape

him.

Walking through the foyer, the young woman at the front desk called out, “Boss, I have some

letters for you.” She grabbed something from behind the desk and running over to him. Tobias

stopped and huffed in annoyance.

Boss? Let me guess, he owns this place too. Wouldn't surprise me. Escaping while he was

distracted, I made my way to my apartment, jamming the key in. I unlocked the door, quickly

stepping in and closing the door and locking the deadbolt.

The stray was gone again, but I had no doubt he would be back later tonight. He always

seemed to go walk about of a day. Going over to the courtyard door, I quickly closed it so Tobias

couldn't get in to go on one of his rampages. When I was walking back out to the loungeroom,

Tobias was leaning on the counter. I jumped and shrieked at him just appearing out of thin air. “How

did you get in?"

“I have a key,” he told me, holding them up and showing me.

“Please Tobias, can we argue another day? I'm sorry I kissed Theo; I know it was wrong. I get

that, but please can we do this Tomorrow?”

He didn't say anything, just turned around and started rummaging through the cupboard

Pulling bottle after bottle out of the box I had stored mum's spirits in. Walking over, I grabbed them

trying to place them back in. He ignored me and pulled them out again.

“What are you doing, Tobias?”

“You have a problem, and I am removing the problem.”

“I don't have a problem.”

“Well, this says otherwise and the fact that you are constantly hungover at work.” I jumped up

and sat on the bench and watched him.00000O