In an unspoken agreement, Tom had packed a bag and officially moved into Booker’s apartment. The dark-haired officer tried his damnedest to make the living arrangement work, but life in the cramped quarters was proving problematic. Tom spent most of the day asleep in the bedroom, the door closed, the defiant act a clear warning for his friend to leave him alone. It wasn’t ideal, being relegated to the couch in his own home was inconvenient, but Booker understood the reasons behind Tom’s behavior. The young officer needed time to process the senselessness of his brother’s death, time and space. But as the days dragged by on a weary, repetitious cycle, Booker knew he needed to address the elephant in the room. The coroner had cleared Will’s body
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But he knew in his heart he couldn’t avoid the conversation forever, and knocking again, he cracked open the door. “Tom? Can we …show more content…
Wrinkling his nose, he walked into the room and pulling back the curtains, he threw open the window. A blast of warm spring air wafted into the room, the channel of air rhythmically caving and billowing the sheer drapes. He breathed deeply, the scent of hickory and oak intermingled with exhaust fumes preferable to the musty smell inside the room. He couldn’t remember the last time Tom had showered, and it showed. But all that was about to change. Grief was one thing, depression was another, and he’d be damned if he’d continue to sit idly by and watch the dreaded black dog drag his friend into the dark, swirling vortex of reckless despair. Life was a gift, every new breath a blessing, and it was time to support Tom by actively helping him move forward. Laying Will to rest was the first, and probably the most challenging step of the intervention, and though he questioned his ability, he knew he had no choice but to man up and give it his best shot.
Turning around, Booker stared at the rumpled bed. Tom’s brown hair peeked out from beneath a swathe of covers, the sleep-mussed tresses bringing a sad smile to the dark-haired officer’s lips. The vision reminded him of a small, vulnerable child and his heart skipped a beat. Sleep afforded his friend some peace from the horror of his brother’s death and waking him up would cast him right back into the harsh light of
But he knew in his heart he couldn’t avoid the conversation forever, and knocking again, he cracked open the door. “Tom? Can we …show more content…
Wrinkling his nose, he walked into the room and pulling back the curtains, he threw open the window. A blast of warm spring air wafted into the room, the channel of air rhythmically caving and billowing the sheer drapes. He breathed deeply, the scent of hickory and oak intermingled with exhaust fumes preferable to the musty smell inside the room. He couldn’t remember the last time Tom had showered, and it showed. But all that was about to change. Grief was one thing, depression was another, and he’d be damned if he’d continue to sit idly by and watch the dreaded black dog drag his friend into the dark, swirling vortex of reckless despair. Life was a gift, every new breath a blessing, and it was time to support Tom by actively helping him move forward. Laying Will to rest was the first, and probably the most challenging step of the intervention, and though he questioned his ability, he knew he had no choice but to man up and give it his best shot.
Turning around, Booker stared at the rumpled bed. Tom’s brown hair peeked out from beneath a swathe of covers, the sleep-mussed tresses bringing a sad smile to the dark-haired officer’s lips. The vision reminded him of a small, vulnerable child and his heart skipped a beat. Sleep afforded his friend some peace from the horror of his brother’s death and waking him up would cast him right back into the harsh light of