themissingdays

Part 25 To make Peace Graham and Cody were sat in the room they once shared. They had their back's rested up against one another. Both of them were emotionally spent. Still it felt good to be sitting with one another, both of them feeling as if they had been apart for some time. “Hey Cody,” Graham finally spoke up. “Yeah?” Cody asked. “Thanks,” Graham said. “For what?” Cody asked. “For keeping your promise,” Graham said.”You know for bringing me back.” “Oh,” Cody said his voice mixing in with some shame. “I didn't really do anything. I think you kind of helped yourself. Especially with this,” Cody said lifting up Graham's writing. Graham was silent as he thought about his next words. Graham could only surmise that wasn't true. Cody had played an integral part, how it all worked though Graham wasn't sure. “What is this anyways?” Cody said as Graham heard the rustling of paper. Graham quickly twisted around and grabbed the paper out of Cody's hands. “Don't read that,”

Part 24 A Painful Homecoming Graham sat on the floor of the living room playing with his boat. Yet it brought him no joy, it just wasn't fun. All day he had been feeling off. After Mommy had left him at preschool he had spent most of his time sitting by himself hugging Ruffer. Even when the other kids had offered to play with him he had refused. He didn't like the preschool it made him feel weird almost as if he shouldn't be there. But that seemed wrong too. He was a big boy who went to school but their was a nagging at the back of his skull that told him he was not. So then what was it, was he a baby? Graham got to his feet. That could not be. He definitely wasn't a baby, but he wasn't a big boy, was there something in-between? He wanted to ask Mommy about this, but he hesitated. She would tell him he was a big boy surely. She had already made a big deal upon getting home and letting him change out of his pull-up into some undies making sure to tell him what a big boy he was.

Close and Far Claire sat at her desk staring off into space. She hadn't got much of anything done that day. She knew something was up when she walked into her office that morning to find Gretchen waiting for her. That's when she had been told about Graham. Claire had kept herself composed, although it had felt terrible to hand over Graham's file as she would no longer be counseling him. Gretchen had been sure to mention that this had not been done due to some shortcoming on Claire's part and she reassured her up and down that she was doing a wonderful job – it did not give Claire any comfort. That morning she had an appointment with Zen. He never mentioned it which could only mean that Cody hadn't told him. She didn't blame him, she didn't really want to believe it either. Claire herself had already cried that morning, right after Gretchen had left. She grieved for her friend, the boy...no the man who had become her closest confidant. She wanted nothing more than to go to him if

Part 22 Abandonment issues Cody's stomach felt like a tight knot. He was standing in front of the door in the garage. He couldn't bring himself to go in. Right now he could just tell himself it was a joke that it wasn't real. Yet Gene wouldn't joke like this. Cody knew this, but standing here and not seeing it meant Cody would not have to accept it as reality. He didn't want to go inside. What he wanted to do was scream. How could they do this and how in the world could they just tell him about in the span of a fifteen minute car ride? Did they think that's all it took? That Gene could just tell him he had to be a good big brother and that everything would carry on as if it was normal? That he would just accept it? “Coming in?” Gene asked as he held the door open. Cody looked up at him his emotion not being able to be masked. Gene let out a sigh before closing the door and kneeling down to Cody's level as he put a hand on his shoulder. “Cody, I know this is a lot to take in, but

Connie and Nick walked into the hospital. They had left Paul back home with Lisa. He had seemed okay staying and he had seemed more interested in watching the Puppet Pals than coming along. Both of them seemed to chalk it up to him not wanting to cause any hardship for them. The car ride over they had discussed what to tell Lisa when little Willy suddenly disappeared and Paul re-appeared. They had decided they couldn't wait until after she left. Upon getting to the hospital Connie lead the way to where Cecily's office was. Walking in they found no sign of Cecilly. Connie looked around at some of the papers on the desk but only found some mail that had been piling up. “It doesn't look like she been here for awhile,” Nick said running his finger through some light dust that had collected on the desk. “Someone has to have seen her lately,” Connie reasoned. “Its not as if she just up and quit, I would have known.” Connie walked out to a nurse's station where she found the head

Chapter 21 Pushed into Place Graham stared at the corner of the room where Sebastian sat. This had to be a dream. Yet as Graham kept on staring he knew he was awake. The cold hard reality is that Sebastian was here in the room with him. “Cat got your tongue?” Sebastian asked as he crossed a leg over his knee. “What are you doing here?” Graham asked finding his voice. “Well my parents have been been on my case about visiting more often and I got some time now so why not?” Sebastian said. “And you came to see me?” Graham questioned. “Did you break in?” Graham said becoming somewhat alarmed. That seemed rather brazen even for Sebastian. This was the Callaway's house they were high up in the organization that Sebastian worked for. He couldn't just walk in here like he owned the place. “You're a little slow in your young age,” Sebastian laughed. “Although I guess you did just wake up.” “Wha,” Graham stuttered shaking his head. “You really haven't figured it out yet?”

Chapter 20 Unconditional Graham was sat in Claire's office despite the fact that school was off for today. Gretchen had told him though that he still needed to attend his Friday afternoon counseling session and had brought him to the school while Gene had taken Cody and Angie to the park so that Cody could still do his after school rec league basketball that he had let Gene sign him up for. Graham had refused. It didn't bother Graham that Cody was doing it either. It seemed like Cody enjoyed it, and it was just basketball after all. “Anything you want to talk about?” Claire asked sat behind her computer. Graham wasn't feeling up to having a counseling session that day instead turning his attention to something else. “How's Zen doing?” he asked. “Who?” Claire asked. “I mean Micheal,” Graham corrected. “His real name is Zen though so you should call him that.” “Oh well he never told me that,” Claire said. “We only had one session.” “Is that his file?” Graham asked seeing

Playdate Graham was sat in his booster seat in the back of Mrs. Nestor's car. Graham looked over at Zen. Their eyes met before Zen quickly looked away. It had been like that for the whole ride. Zen hadn't said a word to him. Graham could tell he was embarrassed for some reason. Graham didn't know why. Its not like it was a great secret how Zen was treated. Graham was in the same boat as him. The car pulled into a driveway and Graham saw they had arrived. Zen's house looked normal enough. It was a two story house with a front path with some flowers on either side. As they got out and walked up the front Mrs. Nestor seemed bubbly as they entered into the house. “So lets give you the grand tour,” she said as if Graham was one of her friends she was showing off for. “Here's the living room,” Mrs. Nestor said bringing them into a room that seemed normal enough. It was furnished like something out of Better Homes and Gardens. Throw blankets draped a couch and a rather large tv was

Little Time Paul sat in his highchair eating his breakfast of cut up waffles quickly, even going so far as to abandon the little silverware and eating with his hands. He didn't really care if his hands got sticky. He needed to get done quickly or he would miss the beginning. He shoved the last piece of waffle into his mouth. “Out, out, out,” Paul repeated as if to summon his Aunt who was washing up at the sink. She came over seeing he was done. “Hang on you're all sticky,” she said using a wet washcloth to wipe Paul's face and hands before removing the tray and lifting him down and setting him on the ground. He took two step before trying to toddle off but was stopped as his Aunt put a hand to his chest and pulled the back of his diaper out. “Hmmm not you,” she said before smiling at him. “Off you go then.” Paul went toddling off before going to all fours and crawled to the living room since it was faster. He came into the living room to find Mckenzie on the couch. On the tv