> Sit with me here in this room, I'm alone, but if you sit with me
>
> Maybe I won't feel like I'm alone (I'll feel like I'm home)
>
> “Waving Goodbye”, Bug Hunter
- Popper -
(January)
About a week after my big jump, I moved out of my small apartment and into my dad’s house. Or rather, I moved into my house, which still feels strange to say these many months later. I texted Uncle Ray to ask for his help and he replied almost immediately. Over the next few weeks he took care of all the stupid details and lawyer visits and everything else that I had no desire to deal with.
I know I’ve mentioned Uncle Ray before, but I’ve never properly introduced him, at least not in this journal. He’is not really my uncle, but he was my dad's friend for far longer than I can remember. Growing up, he was around more than anyone else, and he usually dropped by the house at least once a week.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
After the funeral, when I had shut myself off completely from the world, Uncle Ray kept texting, usually twice a week, to let me know he was there and occasionally to invite me out for a milkshake, which is something me and my dad would do from time to time.
He still texts regularly, by the way. I know he’s not trying to take over for my dad, but we both know he’s the closest thing to family I have left.
On the first day that Uncle Ray came over, he stepped into the house and gave me a huge hug that I hadn’t known I had needed so very much. I suspect he needed it too. One of the things I’m realizing, as I scribble down all these memories, is that I was not the only one affected by my dad’s death.
So me and Uncle Ray sat in the living room and he helped me figure out my options. I’d never really noticed before, but he is smart. Very smart. Probably not as smart as J, but few people are.
After we were done with all of the business stuff, he invited me for milkshakes and I accepted and it was nice. We didn’t talk about anything in particular, especially not my dad, but it was the first normal interaction I had had with anybody in months. Like I said, it was nice.