the end of a beginning

 

Mick knew this was bad. He'd never seen Jools so strange. Jools kept to himself the night before and went to bed early. He hadn't come out of his room since. Mick went to work, came home at noon and Jools was still in bed.

"You don't think it's COVID, do you?" Mick asked Jools' bedroom door. Not a word came. Mick opened the door and Jools was under the covers hugging a pillow. He would not look at Mick.

Of course, Mick left with a sigh and a peanut butter sandwich. He went back to work but finished up early so he could check on Jools. He couldn't imagine Jools losing his job at the University. As it was, he knew Jools called in sick.

So Mick got home and turned on the electric kettle to make Jools some instant Ramen. He knew he hadn't left the bed. When he brought it to him, Jools only shooed him away with his hand, but Mick knew his face was puffy from all the tears.

"What's wrong?" Mick held the cup of Ramen.

"Just go away," Jools told him.

"But."

"GO AWAY!" Jools demanded.

That's when Mick called Vicki and accidentally ate the soup.

"I'm sorry I ate the soup," Mick apologized to Jools. "I just wish you'd tell me, what's wrong."

Jools had his back turned from him hugging his bed pillow. Finally Mick touched his shoulder and in an instance, like some sort of freaky impulse, Jools grabbed him and hugged him tightly, crying into his chest.

"Evan isn't coming back," he managed to say. "He no longer exists."

Mick only squinted letting Jools hug him harder. He told him that his ex died of COVID. There hadn't even been a funeral and some distant relative had Evan's ashes.