Thread: Forlorn WHO: Tanek Hórvath, Van Carlyle and Micah Kaden WHEN: Early evening, just before sundown WHERE: The graveyard, by Sorin's marker
Ms. Menides had forbidden him from sleeping in the graveyard. He had not wanted to listen, just as he had ignored Mr. Kaden's imperative to come to his office. What was the worst they could do? But he had tried twice after, and every time he woke up in his bed again. So now, after visiting Sorin's grave, Tanek returned to his room and drank until he slept. One time, he found all of his liquor had disappeared - a misguided teacher, perhaps - but Tanek could drink himself into a stupor with lots of things - antifreeze, bleach, deodorant. Or drugs.
But tonight, Van was here. In his room, they talked about their summers, avoiding the subject of Sorin. During the walk to the graveyard, conversation winded down to sparse comments and then, at the marker, silence fell. Van was probably unsure of what to say and Tanek had no need for words.
He looked at Sorin's grave without seeing it. Once again, he felt it clawing at him: that pitch-black darkness that swallowed everything that Tanek tried to think or feel that was not about Sorin. Despair lapped at him at every turn, and Tanek was only marginally successful at keeping it at bay. He had never been that kind of guy, but Sorin had always been there. Sorin had always been able to call him back, or scold him, or care for him, or love him.
And now Sorin was gone, and he did not know what to do. He had an entire life to fill and he had no idea what to do with it.
Quietly, without much of a warning, Tanek's shoulders began to shake. Silent tears began streaming down his cheeks.