Liam grabbed a chair and stayed at a comfortable distance away from Tim. They barely knew each other, so he didn’t want to invade any personal space. He was, after all the one who initiated conversation. For a moment he just ate at the cookie and stayed silent, so many questions dashing in his mind. He could feel a question rising in his throat and though he tried to push the words down, they surfaced anyways. “Your daughter…” He took a bite from his cookie, teeth biting his lip as if he were punishing himself for even bringing her up. It wasn’t his business, none at all. But Liam had issues with holding his sharp tongue. “She’s…she’s gone isn’t she?” He felt a pang of guilt and remorse mingled together. He couldn’t believe he asked and he wouldn’t blame Tim for telling him to piss off.
He looked towards the ground, not at all fond of the silence, so he continued. “My family…I lost them. So, I can relate to some level.” Or maybe he couldn’t. Liam also lost his flesh and blood but the loss of a child was simply devastating. Tim, well rather no one deserved to suffer from such a fate. This was one of the things that made Liam angry at God, caused him to not understand why such horrible things happened to good people. He knew the virus didn’t pick and choose favorites, but even so. The childish part of him screamed about how unfair the entire ordeal was. Family and friends lost due to some fucking virus people couldn’t control.
“This time reminds me of my family and Christmases we used to spend together. Things feel somewhat empty now. I don’t know many people and it’s not like anyone will become close enough to me to be considered family.” He knew now could be the time to look back on fond memories, but he just didn’t have it in him. He was always “fine” with not thinking about his family because when he did his heart felt like it was dropping. He spoke of them now to let Tim know that he wasn’t’ at all alone in feeling heavy hearted about celebrating moments that could remind one of their past.