The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
Chapter 3
Todd waited for his dinner, tapping his fingers on the bars impatiently. It wasn’t hunger, but rather the loneliness that made him anxious. His two greatest fears had always been of being alone and being incarcerated and now, here he was, being punished by a source and power he didn’t comprehend which had accomplished both. But, he wasn’t completely alone, his sins were all there, locked inside with him, day and night for three, long years and, on some level, he had made peace with them. In three years he’d come to learn a profound lesson...realizing that his past abuses were not the most painful experiences of his life, but the loss of love...of Tea and Starr were.
Waiting for Tukluk to bring his dinner was the highlight of his day. He’d developed a friendship with the Inuk and his conversations with him were the only thing that kept him from falling into the dark abyss that he teetered on emotionally. Each spoke of their lives, and Tukluk listened with patient kindness as Todd talked of Starr and Tea, about Vicki and Sam, his penthouse and his newspaper...even his past sins. It felt good narrating the chapters of his life to Tukluk, reanimating his past experiences, making them seem like actual events rather than the distant, shadowy memories they were becoming.
Finally, Tukluk arrived with his tray as an armed guard accompanied him. Tukluk slid the tray through a special slot in the door then turned to the guard.
“I’ll wait till he finishes so that I can take the dishes back upstairs. No use making two trips, man, I’m dog-tired.”
“Alright, but make it quick...and no talking,” said the guard, walking away and disappearing around the corner.
Tukluk leaned against the bars as Todd sat down in a chair and placed the tray on his lap, eating slowly without appetite.
“What’s going on up there, Tukluk,” he asked in a quiet voice, “I hardly see a soul anymore.”
“The place is practically empty. And people keep disappearing.”
“I feel like I’m disappearing,” said Todd, setting the tray on the floor and getting up. “Three fucking years. I’ve gotta get outta here...or...I’ll die here. I know it.”
Tukluk looked down the corridor making sure the guard wasn’t around, then approached the cell.
“Why hasn’t anyone come looking for you?”
Todd closed his eyes and winced a little, shaking his head.
“I burned a lot of bridges, hurt a lot of people. After Tea left nothing much mattered to me...I just lost it, pissed on everyone who cared about me.”
Todd rubbed his eyes.
“Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they declared a fucking holiday in Llanview marking my disappearance...gave a parade, threw confetti, dragged my burning effigy through the streets as the crowds cheered and jeered and spat on me. The truth is, Tuk, everyone in that town hated me...accept maybe for my kid. I don’t imagine anyone is too broken up about my disappearance. But...Tea. I thought Tea....” said Todd, turning away, unable to finish his thoughts and wiping his eyes with his sleeve. “I wonder if she even thinks about me anymore...”
Tukluk moved away from the bars as he noticed the guard returning.
“Todd...give me your tray. He’s coming.”
Todd lifted the tray from the floor and slid it toward Tukluk. The guard waved his gun at Tukluk, motioning for him to come away.
“Love provokes memory. Todd, as long as someone loves you...you won’t be forgotten. Tavvauvutit, my friend,” said Tukluk, before walking away.
Todd closed his eyes.
“Tea...”
* * * * *
“Todd...” Tea called out.
She bolted up in the darkness of her empty bedroom and looked around desperately, wiping her hand across her brow, her fingers sliding across a warm film of fine sweat that clung to her damp skin. Clutching her throat, she gasped for air.
Turning her bedside lamp on, she took a few deep breaths and leaned back against the headboard, her heart pounding with an indescribable fear, a palpable terror that told her he was in danger...she felt it in every part of her.
On her dresser a photograph of a handsome man with deep, blue eyes smiled at her disarmingly and reaching over she touched it for reassurance as if dipping her fingers in holy water and keep her heart sacrosanct from harm.
“Dios mio, por favor, help me be strong. Please, God, let me be happy without him...please...I beg you...” she whispered, closing her eyes.
*****
2003 Copyright by Trog
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