My Weekend and Other Stuff

[_dawnie_]

When I got home Sunday afternoon, there was this overall sense of, "Oh. You went somewhere?" Fred and Tara were doing their usual dining-room-table research session, Oz was nowhere to be found, and Faith was moping on the bed in my sister's room -- she barely even looked up as I walked by. That was fine with me, because I feel so different, it

Comments

[avasa_edan]

I put the last of my clothes in my suitcase and zip up the bag. I have the nagging feeling that I've forgotten something and do a mental double-check, still not entirely satisfied. The taxi will pick me up in twenty minutes, the plane ticket to LAX connecting to Portland is in my breast pocket, the cell phone is in my pants. "Okay, okay." I rub my hands together, crack them and then pick up the suitcase, casting one last look in the cabin before walking out, hoping to find Dawn before I have to leave.

[_dawnie_]

I meet him on the path and am puzzled by the suitcase in his hand. "What's going on?" I ask.

[avasa_edan]

I set the suitcase down at my side on the dirt path, tilting my head to one side, "she doesn't know, she doesn't know--" my head shakes vehemently, I had lost all sense of control the moment I had left the grief in and it was becoming harder to keep the voices out. "She thinks it was something she did, no, no, never--." I break off, a pained expression on my face. "Dawn," I say her name hoarsely.

[_dawnie_]

"Avasa?" I move closer to him, putting my arms around his waist. He was acting a little bit like he used to, when I first met him. "It's okay. Tell me what's wrong."

[avasa_edan]

"No, you can never say it too much," I agree with a smile, hoisting the suitcase in my hand.

[_dawnie_]

"Is your sister gonna meet you there?" I ask him. It'd be nice to know he's not going to be by himself; I can't help but worry about him a little.

[avasa_edan]

"She is," I lead Dawn to the front of the store. "She'll take care of me."

Leaving Sunnydale, Dawn, everything I've come to know and love... perhaps this is the first test of a man's strength? I don't want to leave, but I must, and that makes me petrified. There's much I don't understand out there. There are many people between Sunnydale and Portland. A test of a man's strength? Yes, that sounds right...

[_dawnie_]

I hug him again while we're waiting for the taxi, putting into it how much I love him and how much I'll miss him until he's back. I know he'll be fine, but I'll still worry about him. Can't help it.