Chapter Text
After You.
Fran | Marla Grayson
“My cheeks are aching from forcing that smile for so long!”
“What should we do now?”
“Whatever the fuck we want.”
“Hey Bitch!”
“Oh, listen. I don't have time-”
-
1 year later…
I will probably never forget the saddest day of my life. Filled with horror and misery.
The day Marla died.
To this day, I can still feel her body weaken in my arms. The blood seeping through my clothes. I can still see her eyes slowly close.
It’s been a year and I still haven’t managed to stop thinking about it. There hasn’t been a night that I’ve slept completely. I wake up afraid and sweaty, hoping that Marla would be there, laying beside me to hold me and tell me it’ll be okay.
But she’s gone. She’s gone forever.
I decide to finally get up. I’m glad I’ll be taking the day off today.
When Marla passed, I knew that no one else would be able to take her place. But I knew I had to. It was what she wanted and I couldn’t let the business she worked so hard on die down. Of course I had to adjust to doing more than I normally did while working with her.
-
“Fran, when I die, I want you to take over Grayson Guardianships. There’s no one I trust more than you.”
“Mar, baby, are you crazy?! You aren’t dying… and you know I’ll mess all your hard work up. I’m not as good as you.”
Marla released a chuckle.
“I mean you never know… I can die in any second. And I know you can take care of our business. We both worked so hard on it!”
“I don’t know Mar…”
“I trust you baby. Only you.”
I then fell asleep in Marla’s arms.
-
I sit on the porch of our house as I take a sip of my coffee. Marla always said she wanted a small home. She always said that just because we had a ton of money didn’t mean we should own a mansion. And I agreed.
My heart aches of the thought.
-
“You know Fran, we should buy a small home. I mean it’s just the two of us.”
“I totally agree baby.”
“You know, we should have a separate room for possible kids in the future!”
I bust out laughing.
“You were serious about that the other day.”
“Yeah I was. But I think we should adopt.”
“I agree on that one too.”
-
I walk back inside the silent house, my feet touching the cold floor. It was still weird not hearing Marla’s voice. She would normally be talking with herself about her work or she’d sit out with me. She always had time for me, even on the busiest days.
And we hardly ever argued. If we did it would be for minor reasons. There were nights Marla would cry and ask herself what she would do if I left her alone. Never in my life have I thought of leaving her. As much as I knew it was risky and that I could get physically hurt, I didn't care because as long as I had her, I would always be there.
I sit down and turn on the TV, just to see a news reporter talk about Marla’s death. It was hard for me to rewatch her interview. Hard to see her smiling face and that beautiful body.
I shut it off after a while, not being able to hold back the tears. I curl up into a ball on the couch we used to sit on and talk for hours. I found myself not being able to move. It was hard to breath. I lay down and let my eyes rest.
-
I wake up after an hour, having trouble adjusting to the bright sunlight, entering through the window. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror seeing that my eyes were all puffy and red, which was nothing new to me. I undress myself and turn on the hot, steamy water. I walk into the shower, my eyes beginning to tear up once more.
I remember that afternoon when some of Roman’s men came in and attacked me. I couldn’t stop thinking about Marla’s safety. I thought the both of us were dead. But then she came and saved me. She cleaned the blood off my skin. And we showered together, holding each other, knowing things would be okay one day.
And now I’m standing here, in the quiet, Marla’s footsteps nowhere to be heard.
Once I am done, I change into some clothes. I wore one of Marla’s black dresses. Her closet was left the same. All her clothes were organized as how she left it. I slid on my boots and then I made my way to the cemetery where Marla’s body was buried.
I exited out of our car, I then made my way to the spot. I dropped to my knees as I began to sob. The flowers in my arms fall onto the ground. The picture I had set down of us was still there. There were a few leaves and branches laying around. I cleaned up the spot as I began to speak to her. It’s been a while since I’ve visited.
“Mar. It’s been a year since you left me. You don’t know how hard it’s been…” sobs escape my lips as I try my best to speak.
“I promise I’m making sure everything is going smoothly with your business. I know that if you were here you’d probably remind me that it's ours but I still believe you could have done it all without me…”
“I wish I could have stopped him Mar…”
“Nothing is the same anymore. I wake up in an empty bed. I cry myself to sleep. I look up at work and you’re not sitting in the spot you used to sit in. Everything has changed. And I still miss you. I’ll always miss you Marla.”
I finally get the courage to get up. I kiss the picture of us and set it back down. I touch the stone with her name on it. I make sure the flowers are set down well. I know she always preferred me being there instead of bringing her flowers but I still did it occasionally. I wish I did it more when she was here. She was appreciative.
I turn around and get inside my car. I drive back home, my eyes still filled up with tears. I hit the steering wheel in pain, knowing I’ll never be able to bring back my wife.