The next day Marissa had a garage sale. She sold almost everything that was of no use to her. After the long hard day of seeing her family belongings get sold, she curled up on the living room floor. The piano was sold so she could not go play. She would have given anything to feel the keys beneath her fingers one last time. Her heart was aching and there was nothing. No one, just the silence. She felt a strange warmth all of a sudden and looked up. Leaning up against the wall was the family portrait from just months before. A glow surrounded her brothers face. “Take Care of Yourself Rissa!” The distant voice of her brother called to her. Too choked to speak and too scared for that matter, Marissa nodded. Then just as quickly as it had come the light and warmth was gone. OH GOD I AM GOING INSANE! Marissa thought as she closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep.
Saturday was long and boring. She packed her things in boxes and called friends to let them know of her departure. In the early afternoon the doorbell rang. Marissa cautiously opened the door. A young man stood before her. He looked no older then she.
“Marissa Austin?” The boy asked.
“Yes?” Marissa said with a raised eyebrow.
“We’ve been sent by Mr Mackenzie to help you in moving your things to the Mackenzie home in Los Angeles.” He said.
“Oh right! come on in. Everything is downstairs.” Marissa said as she told him where her belongings were.
“Thank you” He said as he pushed past her and went down the stairs.
“Hello” an older man said as he passed through the door and followed the younger man down the stairs. Marissa went down the stairs.
“So all the boxes, the bed, dresser, couch, end table and desk are to go with you. Oh and the two trunks will go with you too.” Marissa said telling them what they should take from her room.
“Okay.” The young man said.
“I’ll be upstairs” Marissa informed them, turned and left the room.
Picking up her new book by Lurlene McDaniel ‘Until Angels Close My Eyes’ Marissa wound herself into the story of the girl and an Amish family.
“Marissa?”
She looked up and found the young mover standing in the door to living room. “Yes?” she asked him.
“Can I use your phone?” He asked.
“Uh sure it is in the kitchen” Marissa said as she went back to her book. But Marissa found it almost impossible to concentrate on working with him talking on the phone. Eventually she let herself eavesdrop on his conversation.
“Pat, Look I said I ain’t going to come out there at all. You know that the horrible time I always have whenever I am around your parents. No....Fine whatever... Fine then... Okay fine if that is the way you want it.. Fine Goodbye.” The young man hung up the phone heavily. Marissa wondered what had gone on but decided to go against asking him.
He came into the living room and spoke to her. “Sorry about that. Well it looks like we are almost done with loading all you stuff into the truck.” He wrung his hands out of nervousness.
“Oh All right. Thank you so much.” Marissa said her eyes glued to his hands.
“So.. I’ll go finish and leave you be. Thanks for letting me use the phone.” He said as he turned and left. Once he was gone, Marissa let out a sigh.
“Miss. Austin” She heard the voice coming from the doorway and got up.
“Yes?” She asked as she made her way to the top of the stairway.
“We are ready to go. If you would please sign the work form where the X is and we shall be on our way.” The older man said. She went down to the landing and took his clipboard.
“So I sign here?” She asked pointing to a line on the page. He nodded and she quickly scribbled her name in perfect loopy letters.
“Thank you” The man grumbled as he exited.
“Good-bye” Marissa called out the door. She shut it silently then went into the empty living room. She stood there looking around at the bare walls. The emptiness settled deep within her and before she could stop herself she was crying. Memories flooded her mind. She could almost picture the family gatherings from her childhood when her grandmother was still alive. She could almost see the Christmas tree with dozens of boxes wrapped in glittering paper scattered under it. Her vision blurred as she wept. She leaned against the wall and began to sob. Eventually she slid to the ground and curled up into a ball. All this happened in minutes though it seemed to take hours. Suddenly someone was holding her and rocking her back and forth as she cried. Scared she looked up and found that it was the young mover. “Oh... Uh.. Um.. Hi?” Marissa said as she suddenly became very aware of herself.
“You okay?” He asked.
“Yeah just fine.. I was just remembering that’s all” She quickly explained.
“I heard about what you have been through and I would like to say that I am sorry for you loss” He said to her.
“Well thank you..... Uh.. I don’t know your name..” Marissa said as she blushed.
“Jeff Mitchell” He said.
“Thank you, Jeff” she said as she pulled away from him and stood up. Her tears had stopped and she was feeling ‘normal’ again.
“I am guessing that is what you were crying about..” He asked his voice was full of concern and she could see he was worried about her.
“Yes that and so many other things.. I was remembering Christmas and how we always put the tree up over here.” She moved to the corner of the living room. “And there were always dozens of prettily wrapped presents. And how we would decorate the windows with fake snow and a mangier scene. It always was perfect.” Her voice became forced as a lump formed in her throat.
“It must be hard..” He stepped towards her and reached out for her hand. “I am truly sorry for you.”
She didn’t place her hand in his but instead looked at his hand then looked away. “Thank you but really I am not looking for your sympathy. You really should be going now Jeff. I can see your father is waiting in the truck for you an...”
“He isn’t my father..” Jeff interrupted her.
“Oh well your boss is waiting for you. So you better get going.” Marissa said as she moved towards the door and he followed. She saw him to the door then shut it after he left. She went down the stairs into her now practically empty room. She made a bed on the floor, changed into her pyjamas, and climbed underneath the covers and fell to sleep.
