#chapter one:gone

6:00 PM ,14th October 1996. 

Linda walked down from the parking lot to the community centre. It surprised her to see how many people were already walking around there. A lot had showed up with food or other things that they wanted to give to the family. To her family. Most days it still didn’t feel real to Linda, she expected to open Brian’s room door and find his small back turned to her as he slept deeply. 

Someone came to stand next to her. It took her a second to push her memories away again as she turned to the person, sadness still evident on her face before she turned her lips up into a smile. “Hi, good evening,” Linda spoke up first, “Anything I can help you with?”

@juliiewest

Linda sat in her kitchen, preparing a cup of coffee. It was afternoon now. The October weather as surprisingly warm today. The sun had managed to warm them a little but not enough for them to forget that it was late autumn. As she stood in the kitchen, the sunlight shone on her face as she grabbed a cup to make a cup of coffee. The smell spread like wildfire through the kitchen. Her eyes looked down as she stirred the coffee. She might have been stood there for a minute or an hour, Linda couldn’t remember. All she felt was this weight on her shoulders. Beth and David were now at school or out, so it was just her. She usually was busy, running errands or doing small tasks. There were moments she felt lost in time or memories. Just standing there as time passed her by.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, pulling Linda out of her thoughts. She walked to the front door, opening it. Her eyes landed on a young girl, she must be Beth’s age or around there. Her long blonde hair was pulled back, and she was holding a plate in her hands. 

@mayor-hawker

After dinner, Linda had enough chores to do. She cleanly packaged the leftovers and cleaned away all the dishes and cutlery that had been used. Setting them aside to dry, she wiped her hands clean and walked upstairs. Beth and David were around tonight, unlike most nights when they were out somewhere. Linda had no problem with her children living their lives and being out, she was having a little trouble letting them go most of the time but she knew that’s what she wanted and that’s what she kept in mind. Sitting at the top of the stairs, it warmed her to be near them even if they were their own forces. Beth had a soft side to her which she shared with her mother. It was up to others who had to deal with the hurricane that her daughter normally was. David was a lot more reserved but wanted more space for himself. Her eyes fell on his closed room door and they automatically slid over to Brian’s door. She let out a strained sigh as she wished she could find her son. 

The doorbell rang and Linda rolled her eyes. She’d had so many guests the past few days that it was starting to become a little tedious. Everyone wanted to come to wish her well or come and see what the Goode family was like. She wasn’t really feeling like company tonight. Opening the door she was about to say just that, in nicer words, as she suddenly realised who was stood before her. 

“Oh! Mayor Hawker. I didn’t expect to see you.” She replied honestly as her eyes widened. “What can I do for you?”