Shattered Rose (Winsor Series) - By T L Gray Page 0,97
mouthed the words, “I love you” with the song. It was magical, better than any dream I could have ever conjured up, and I wanted to pinch myself just to believe it was really my life. I felt like Cinderella at the ball, only I wouldn’t lose my handsome prince at midnight.
The music continued all night, ranging from current hits to timeless classics. Parker and I danced the night away, getting lost more than once in each other’s arms. When it was nearing midnight, waiters came around passing out champagne to every person. The whole room started the count down and with each number, I felt the weight of the year start to fall off my shoulders. I had done it. At midnight, it will have been one month, and there was nothing but promise in the New Year.
We clicked our glasses together as we cheered, “Happy New Year!” Parker gathered me in his arms and kissed me with all the joy and promise that encapsulated the room. Others came by to hug us or kiss our cheeks, but I was always acutely aware of Parker’s presence, making eye contact every chance I got.
The high we got from the evening remained as we drove home, the hum of the car engine matching the peace and comfort we felt with one another. I was tired, but was willing myself to stay awake and talk to Parker for the duration of the drive, not wanting him to get drowsy himself. He seemed alert, and perfectly comfortable behind the wheel, allowing me to dose off for just a few minutes.
The sound of gravel under the tires brought me back to consciousness and I sat up startled, unsure where we were.
“Shh. Its ok, we just got home,” Parker said softly, rubbing his hand on my back.
“I slept the whole way?” I asked horrified. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why? I loved watching you sleep,” he assured me with a smile.
The lights were on when I looked up towards my apartment and dreaded the scene I was going to walk into.
Parker opened my door and walked me upstairs. It was almost three o’clock in the morning, and I knew he was tired. I tried to get him to go home, but as usual, he first insisted on seeing me safely to my door. It was cracked open when we got to it, and I pushed it a little to see how many people were still there. Surprisingly, it was quiet.
I walked in with Parker not far behind and was struck by the disaster that had once been my apartment. Red disposable cups lined the floor. One of the kegs was laying on its side while the other two still had beer dripping from the nozzle. Liquor bottles covered the bar, and a thick, red substance was dripping to the linoleum floor in the kitchen. Around the blender on the counter, you could see droplets of thick goo, where someone had obviously forgot to put the cap on when they turned it on.
Jake was passed out on the couch, fully clothed, but with a half-full glass of beer sitting on the coffee table. I walked towards Issy’s room, careful to step over the cups along the way and noticed a large hole in the wall right by her room. Her door was slightly open and I pushed it a little, feeling my stomach turn with uneasiness.
She was laying face down on the bed with her arm hanging over the side. Right below her fingertips sat the silver flask I had given her for Christmas. The delicate bottle was turned over on the floor and sat in a puddle of liquid. The room was dark, but the light from the living room was casting a glow over her.
I could feel my heartbeat start to pick up. Something was off. There was something about her color that didn’t seem right. She was always pale, but tonight it looked sallow…almost blue. I inched closer, starting to worry.
“Issy?” I whispered, hoping to get some response. She was laying eerily still and didn’t move even when I said her name two more times. I approached the bed and realized her head was lying in a puddle of vomit. I started to panic and shook her fiercely with no response. Her hands were cold and I could tell she wasn’t breathing.
“PARKER!” I screamed as adrenalin rushed through every part of my body.
Parker was there in an instant, taking in the sight that had me so