No answer. This was unusual. Ryan always answered. Where was
he?
“WYAN!!!” Bing yelped, a bit louder.
Still nothing. The darkness beyond remained silent. Eerily silent.
Bingham was growing frantic.
“WYAN!” Bingham screamed, hysterically.
The lights came on in the room and Samantha, Ryan’s fiancée,
entered. Walking over to Bing, she began to rub his back.
“What’s wrong, Bingham?” she asked sweetly.
“Whehewe ith my bwudew?” he asked frantically.
“He’s at work, Bing, honey,” she answered, “he’ll be home in a
couple of hours. Don’t worry. He left me a list of things he wanted
you to do...and some pre-cooked meals for you to eat. All your
favorites.” She smiled, reassuringly.
Bing frowned. He didn’t like this change. Sure, he could accept
Samantha as part of his family, but this work thing...well, it was just
too much. Work meant that Ryan would no longer be around to care
for him and ensure that he remained out of trouble. And it was this
that he couldn’t stand. It was too drastic a change in his schedule
for his liking. He was too used to going everywhere with Ryan. They
were inseparable.
2.
Ryan returned at three p.m. He’d had to take on a job to
supplement their normal income, so he went to the only place he
thought would hire him...the farmers’ market. He’d taken Bing there
a few times when he went shopping. But now, he had to get Bing
used to the idea that he would have to be alone from time to time.
Hell. He had to get Bing used to the idea that they wouldn’t always
be together. There would be a time when he, Ryan, would no longer
be around.
Whether he wanted to or not, he had to face the fact that death
was inevitable. His, Sam’s, and Bing’s. No matter how long he put it
off, the topic still needed to be addressed. Even their parents had to