Michelle reached out to put her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “You have been a true inspiration to me through this.”
Chapter 4
Amy slept in that chair, and didn’t know when she fell asleep. She awoke to the sound of Michelle shuffling around in the kitchen. Bacon sizzled in a skillet, wafting a tempting aroma. By the time Amy made her way to the kitchen, toast was popping up. Amy knew she needed to try to eat something, to keep up her strength. The days ahead were only going to get worse. Michelle told her that the funeral home director had called to say that Robert’s body had been released, and that she could come down today to start planning the funeral. “ I don’t know how I am going to get through this, it’s all so over whelming, I don’t know where to start.” Amy confided as she munched on a piece of toast. She had thought her stomach wasn’t going to take food very well, and she had been right. Even this toast was making her stomach churn threateningly. Grabbing some juice on the way to the showers, she gulped it down in an attempt to make the toast stay down. The shower helped more than food. Amy took her time, letting the water flow over her, and wash away all the built up tension. Amy knew today was going to be hard, and she was in no rush to get it started. After her shower, Amy blow dried her hair and applied some make up. She wondered when she would be able to get some of her things for the house. The thought of going back into that house made her sick to her stomach. The toast that she just ate didn’t stay down, and she found herself over the toilet. When Michelle heard her retching she rushed in to help her by holding her hair back and pressing a cold cloth to her forehead, and doing all she could. When the nausea seemed to have passed, Michelle helped Amy to the living room. After seating her in what had become her favorite spot, the chair next to the window, Michelle got Amy a sprite. It was a while before Amy felt well enough to go to go to the funeral home. The drive over was quiet, Amy was lost in her own thoughts and Michelle didn’t try to pull her out of it. At the funeral home the kind, gentle director greeted them. Amy picked out a dark, mahogany casket and discussed the service, which was set for the next day. She decided to have the service at the church she and Robert had attended together, and to lay him to rest next to his Mom in their family cemetery. Michelle offered to see to clothes for Robert, which lifted a huge burden from Amy. She thought it would be best to bury him is more casual clothes, since he hated suits and despised ties. One of his Polo shirts and kakis would be perfect. With the arrangements made, Amy decided she better buy a new dress, since she couldn’t access her own closet, and didn’t want to bother Michelle more than she already was. Amy never was one who liked to shop, so she chose a dress quickly, the first one she liked. While she was out, she bought a few things that she needed, like make up, a hairbrush, and personal items, so she could have her own things and not have to use Michelle’s things anymore.
Once back in the car, packages in the trunk, silence hung heavy.
Amy began to wonder what Michelle was thinking. She had been such a wonderful friend through all of this; she would have to find a way to thank her when she was able to get her life under control again. When they arrived back at the apartment, Amy was exhausted and decided to lie down for a while. Michelle straightened the apartment and started dinner while Amy was sleeping. When Amy awoke, she as disoriented and struggled to remember where she was, and how she got there. Why wasn’t she at home with Robert? Sleeping in her own bed? What was going on here? Still groggy, she stumbled into the kitchen. Michelle was asleep on the couch. Amy moved quietly to keep from waking her. She sat down in the chair by the window. Her head just refused to clear, so she decided to read the paper for a while. She picked the copy from the table beside the chair and began flipping though the local news. She froze when she saw a picture of herself and Robert, eagerly she started reading, and then it all came back to her. Tears filled her eyes and sobbed racked her body when she remembered that Robert had died, and everything that had happened since. Michelle stirred on the couch, but quickly realized what was happening, going to Amy, she put her arms around her, not asking questions about what had set this off. There would be time for that later, when Amy was ready to talk. For now, Michelle knew she just needed someone to be there, and hold her while she cried. When the tears retreated, Amy told Michelle about waking up and not being able to remember the past few days. “I thought I was doing ok, but I guess I’m not.” Amy sniffed “You are doing well, better than I would be. I’ve been surprised at how well you are holding up. If I had been in your place I think I would have just gone to pieces after all you have been through. To tell the truth, I don’t know how you are doing it.”Michelle reached out to put her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “You have been a true inspiration to me through this.” When Amy felt stable, both women sat down to dinner, but Amy only picked at her food. That evening, they decided to watch a movie to take their minds off things. Amy sat in her favorite spot, wrapped in a thin blanket, enjoying the Italian classic with subtitles. Michelle had an Italian background, so she understood the dialogue better; Amy had to read the subtitles carefully to keep up.
