“It’s true. I haven’t seen him since last month, and I haven’t talked to him in a couple of weeks.” The pain in Tallin’s voice was evident.
She stared into Tallin’s face, finally seeing a sliver of sadness break his otherwise steely composure.
“He’d been working in Silver Spring for the last week on some big construction contract. He was actually on his way home. We were all going to get together since it had been so long.” Riley shook his head, stopping for a second. “He was ten miles from his place when he ran over some black ice and went into a ravine.”
Lilly placed her hand over her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut. She’d known what had happened, but hearing it from Riley, from one of the men she loved so much, that knew Christian the way she did, was so hard.
More tears came, but she got control of herself, knowing she needed to be strong. Despite the fact she didn’t want to envision it, Lilly couldn’t help but picture the whole horrific accident in her mind.
“He must have been so scared,” she whispered. She tried to push the thoughts away, but they were like a broken record, playing over and over again. Tallin brought her closer, and she rested her head against his chest.
“The way he crashed made his death instant,” Tallin said softly, but it didn’t make her feel any better.
Even though the pain was indescribable, she was glad Riley and Tallin weren’t keeping this from her. She wanted to know the details, wanted to know how one of her best friends had left this world.
Call it sick or dark, but she needed to know.
“I’m glad he didn’t suffer.” She pulled away and turned to look into Riley’s eyes, knowing he would have been one of the first people to be at the scene.
“We are, too, sweetheart.” Riley smiled softly, sadly. Riley reached a hand out and brushed away one of her tears.
“Things will be okay, Lilly.” Tallin continued to rub her back in slow and gentle, but sure strokes
“I don’t think anything will ever be okay, Tallin.”
Tallin embraced her again and kissed the top of her head. “I hope that’s not true.”
She didn’t want it to be true, but right now life seemed pretty meaningless, even with Riley and Tallin beside her.