Chapter 70: Ice cream
As the car glided through the silent streets, Abby’s voice broke the stillness, her words heavy with a sense of resignation and longing.
"I don’t want to go home," she confessed quietly, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. "I need a distraction, a break from... from everything. Just for tonight. Pretend like nothing happened today. At least until tomorrow, when I have to see my father."
Remo’s heart ached at Abby’s words, the weight of her sorrow palpable in the air between them. He understood her need to escape, if only for a fleeting moment, from the crushing weight of reality.
"I heard people get drunk to forget their problems," Abby continued, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Can I... can I get drunk too?"
Remo’s breath caught in his throat, the raw vulnerability in Abby’s voice piercing his soul. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, offering a silent gesture of understanding and support.
"Abby," he began, his voice soft and reassuring, "getting drunk might help you forget for a little while, but it won’t make the pain go away. It’s okay to want a distraction, but I don’t want to see you hurt yourself in the process."
He paused, searching for the right words to convey his concern and care for her well-being. "Let’s find a different way to take your mind off things tonight. We can go somewhere quiet, talk, spend time together. Whatever you need, I’m here for you."
Abby shook her head, her resolve unwavering despite Remo’s gentle words of caution. The weight of her sorrow felt too heavy to bear, and the allure of temporary oblivion beckoned to her like a siren’s call.
"I want to get drunk," she whispered, her voice tinged with a mixture of desperation and determination. "I just need to numb the pain, even if it’s just for a little while."