In Lieu of Flowers Page #6

dry summer.

You been shopping classifieds?

Yeah, the personals,

"Lonely, creepy bachelor

seeks same."

Oh.

Actually, I'm thinking

about finding a new place.

Neighborhood's a bit

of a ghost town for me.

Have any plans for the summer?

You know, not really.

I don't know.

I make a lot of...

Every summer I make a lot

of big plans, you know?

Whether or not they happen.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Look, Eric, um...

About that night I, um...

I wanna...

I just want to make sure

that you know that I am...

Rach, hold on!

Rach!

Rachel, listen, listen!

I know how this looks, okay?

Rachel, I know you think

I lied to you.

I know you think I made

this whole thing up

but I didn't, Rach.

Okay, I didn't!

Everything else

I told you was true.

No, it wasn't.

Four months ago, she disappeared

without any warning whatsoever.

She moved 3,000 miles away

and I was never

going to see her again, ever!

And yet, here she is.

Rach, until today,

she might as well

have been dead.

Eric, Eric!

If she was dead, you would never

have to explain it, ever!

And you asked

what you wanted

And the rest, it begins

With attacking tone

For crying,

I don't understand

When you find it's over

Seeing the light up ahead

Is the darkness over

Starting to break and forget

Cause I know one way out

They seemed to have isolated

themselves to the inner thigh.

Everything else

looks pretty good.

How much longer do you think?

Till they go away.

You still think

about something else

each time I spray?

Yup.

Still the same thing?

Really depends.

Okay, you're good for today.

Let's see.

It's pretty good, huh?

I thought the cold sore one

had a better ending

but that is a pretty solid

page turner.

What are you doing here?

Dr. Rice is my dermatologist.

Dr. Rice is my father.

Small world.

Hey sweetie.

Hi.

Here they are.

Thank you, thank you.

Um.

So, I guess

you already know Eric Battie?

Yes, indeed I do.

Eric and I, uh...

We both used to go

to that group together.

Ah, oh.

Oh.

Well, I have someone waiting.

- Okay.

- Have fun, sweetie.

Thanks.

Any plans?

Another wedding.

Have you been going to the...

Yeah, me neither, obviously.

Well, I mean, don't worry.

No one knows about it.

I didn't belong there

to begin with.

Besides, I'm actually

moving back downtown.

When?

Today.

Yeah, I think it's more my speed

and plus it's closer to school.

Oh, so you decided to go back?

Yeah, figured I'd give it

another shot.

Well, um, good luck with that.

Thanks.

Enjoy the wedding.

Did you talk to her?

What did she have to say?

Doesn't matter.

Anyway, she took off again, so.

- She did?

- Yeah, she was just in town

picking up the rest

of her stuff.

She's back in Oregon for good.

Did you say anything to her?

Yeah, I told her to find

a good dermatologist.

Well, I'm gonna go.

It was good seeing you again.

It's from my brother.

Oh.

How's he doing?

Surviving.

Rachel... I'm so sorry.

I never meant to...

I just...

I couldn't shake it.

I couldn't shake the feeling

that someone had died.

I was certain of it

but I was wrong about who.

Eric, no part of you has died.

- Eric.

- I can't imagine

what you went through.

I just can't imagine.

How did you survive?

Thank you.

- Oh, man.

- We're going downtown?

Yes.

Yes, please.

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