A Car Ride Home

W O U N D S

P r e v i o u s l y . . .  

Lilly laid across the new bed excited, "We did it," she exclaimed. Al laughed watching her, and found himself joining her, falling back on the bed. He was over the moon by the thought that this was his room, before he could say anything, Brody came in holding his leash in his mouth. "Okay, sweet boy. Let's go on a walk." Lilly said, getting up from the bed, and looking at Al.

"Your dog tells you when it's time?" Al asks, stunned.

"My baby is filled with many tricks. Isn't that right?" Lilly asks Brody her voice taking on that same high pitch. She slips on his leash and Al decided to go with her. 

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W h e n   A l   a n d   L i l l y   w a l k e d  out of the house there was no doubt who was leading the pack as Brody made a point of getting to the front. Al found himself laughing at the dogs personality. "You've got a good dog," he commented.

"Yea," Lilly replied, looking down at her little friend. "I do," she smiled. 

"So, the uniforms I took in for you last night? How many jobs do you have?" Al asked, trying to get to know Lilly a little better without touching an sore subjects.

"I have three, which really isn't a lot. There are plenty of people with more," Lilly was quick to defended after hearing enough times that she works too much, or that she should relax. She likes to work, it helps keep her mind off of her life. 

"I understand, but I saw the books in your car and the backpack. You're also a student," Al said, not as a question, but Lilly nodded any way.

"What are you studying?"

"I'm getting my teaching credentials," she answered easily.

"Why'd you chose teaching?" Al asked.

Lilly felt her heart skip a beat has she thought of the answer. It's a question she had been asked countless times, and she was able to recite the answer without event thinking, but that was before. Before the accident. Now, it's different. Everything is. 

"Lilly?" Al asked, thinking maybe she had zoned out watching her dog. Her blue eyes meet Al, and he saw that they were fighting back tears. "What's wrong?" He asked nervous she had gotten a cut or something, but she shook her head, and Al realized the cut was not something he could see or heal on the surface. 

"My family," she sobbed. Her walking had stopped, and Al found himself wrapping her small frame into his arms once more. Al didn't have to ask to know it was bad, so he didn't push it. Instead he let her stand there in his arms. 

Twice. I have broken down in front of this man twice. Lilly thought frustrated with herself. Not many have seen her cry, but here Al has, and he has seen it twice in one day. If I am going to be able to recover this night in any way I need to stop crying. Lilly started to take soft soothing breaths and soon her sobs subsided. 

"I'm so sorry," Lilly stated, running her fingers through her hair. "You don't need a sappy mess on you. I promise that is not usual for me," she added, before looking at Al's hair. "Would you mind if I cut your hair?" She found herself asking. "You don't have to say yes."

Al looked down at Lilly, she appeared flustered, and Al found himself nodding to her simple request. In that moment he realized if she had asked him jump off a cliff, he would have done it with a wide smile on his face. 

When they got back to the house, Al unhooked the leash from Brody's collar, and watched as the little dog ran around the house happily. Al smiled at the pup. 

Lilly use to help her mother cut her father's hair, while she was growing up, so she knew cutting Al's hair would be easy, but for some reason she found herself nervous. He needs a hair cut, if he is going to get a decent job, she thought to herself. And he would look better with the inches off. Not that he doesn't look good now, or anything, her mind continued to hold a conversation with itself, as she felt blush form across her cheeks. 

Lilly pulled the dining room chair into the kitchen, found the clippers, and razor her mother use to use. They were still in perfect condition. Then, she got a comb. When she got back to the kitchen Al was looking unsure. She was becoming use to that look. "Hello, sir. Welcome to Lilly's Clippers. How can I help you?" She smiled.

Al felt wrong having her do all of this for him. Again, he felt like he was using her, even though she offered, but he couldn't tell if that was just in nature or if she felt obligated. He didn't want to be a burden to the woman, who has done so much. When she came into the kitchen holding the necessary tools to cut his mop of hair, he couldn't help, but play along, "I'm looking to get a couple inches off here," I pointed to all of it, enjoying her smile far too much.

"All righty, step into my office," she stated, walking behind the chair, and patting the seat. Al did as she said. "Sorry, there are no mirrors, so you won't see your hair until the end. Do you trust me?" Trust. That was not a word Al thought about too much. He hadn't trusted anyone since his friends, but they were gone. He never thought he would need to trust again, and even though Lilly's question was out of humor, he answered it out of truth.

"Yes."

And she began. 

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To be continued...