10-29-2020, 09:31 PM
Johnny and Delia sat facing each other on the side of her bed.
Delia trying to find the words to explain the unbelievable ordeal she had been
through. Johnny's eyes never leaving her angelic beauty. As difficulty swelled and her
struggle became apparent, Johnny leaned in to hug Delia as she again was moved to
tears. Out of the soft, quiet room came a light rapping on the window glass.
They both turn to see a crouched Orville, smiling and waving from the fire escape.
"What in God's name is he doing here?" asked Delia.
"I guess he figured it out" Johnny said in an amused tone.
Once inside the room, Orville stood beside Johnny at the foot of Delia's bed. Seated, she continued on
with her story.
"As part of the original deal, Vickie wanted me to kill him" she said as she motioned towards Orville.
"Well, nobody would've missed him" Johnny said in that same amused tone.
"I'm standing right here guys" Orville pointed out.
"But she figured it was a waste of time, that he'd do himself in, sooner or later" Delia continued.
"I can see that" Johnny said with a near smile.
"STILL right here!" exclaimed the peeved Orville.
But then Delia went on to the more heartbreaking details of her story. At least they would be for Orville.
She stood up and gracefully walked over to him. Looking up into his bloodshot eyes.
"I'm so very sorry" she said as she hugged the towering giant.
Orville lost all color. Not that he had much to begin with, but this drained him. His face now
crumbling under the weight of it all. Sure, he assumed the worst but there was nothing like
cold, hard reality setting in to crush your soul. He couldn't even reciprocate the hug. His breathing
became labored and the dam behind those red eyes gave way to painful rushing waters.
"It was fast, she didn't suffer. I promise you" Delia went on compassionately.
Orville pulled away from the Detective and walked mechanically back to the window, where
he stood looking out over the alleyway.
He wept silently. His only movement being the sobs he couldn't contain.
Shattered. Thoroughly shattered.
Delia trying to find the words to explain the unbelievable ordeal she had been
through. Johnny's eyes never leaving her angelic beauty. As difficulty swelled and her
struggle became apparent, Johnny leaned in to hug Delia as she again was moved to
tears. Out of the soft, quiet room came a light rapping on the window glass.
They both turn to see a crouched Orville, smiling and waving from the fire escape.
"What in God's name is he doing here?" asked Delia.
"I guess he figured it out" Johnny said in an amused tone.
Once inside the room, Orville stood beside Johnny at the foot of Delia's bed. Seated, she continued on
with her story.
"As part of the original deal, Vickie wanted me to kill him" she said as she motioned towards Orville.
"Well, nobody would've missed him" Johnny said in that same amused tone.
"I'm standing right here guys" Orville pointed out.
"But she figured it was a waste of time, that he'd do himself in, sooner or later" Delia continued.
"I can see that" Johnny said with a near smile.
"STILL right here!" exclaimed the peeved Orville.
But then Delia went on to the more heartbreaking details of her story. At least they would be for Orville.
She stood up and gracefully walked over to him. Looking up into his bloodshot eyes.
"I'm so very sorry" she said as she hugged the towering giant.
Orville lost all color. Not that he had much to begin with, but this drained him. His face now
crumbling under the weight of it all. Sure, he assumed the worst but there was nothing like
cold, hard reality setting in to crush your soul. He couldn't even reciprocate the hug. His breathing
became labored and the dam behind those red eyes gave way to painful rushing waters.
"It was fast, she didn't suffer. I promise you" Delia went on compassionately.
Orville pulled away from the Detective and walked mechanically back to the window, where
he stood looking out over the alleyway.
He wept silently. His only movement being the sobs he couldn't contain.
Shattered. Thoroughly shattered.
