The Drazen World: Purgatory (Kindle Worlds Novella)

eternity.
"We haven't decided yet. But here is a question for you, Gabrielle. Did you walk off that pier to end your life or did you let the alcohol decide your steps for you?"
And there was the crux of the problem. I fell silent, my words and thoughts a jumbled mess running amuck inside my tired brain. While I tried to make sense of that fateful night, I focused on the gentle man's eyes. Their color was never the same, I realized. Depending on the discussion at hand or the emotional level of the conversation, the shade shifted from a warm brown to a troubled green. At that moment, the seriousness of the matter called for the latter. We stared, in silence. The only sound, my heavy breathing as I tried to push play on the memories of that night.
I was angry. Pissed off that Monica would betray me. Betray our music. Sell out to the big wigs and leave me behind in the process. It was a set-up, this much I knew but the fact that she didn't anticipate the coup, that she didn't send them off with a big fuck you middle finger tore at my already faltering ego. Monica was smarter than that, though. Sure, she had a fiery streak the size of a Kardashian's ass but business was business. As it should be.
However, that night, as I drowned my anger and fired up my indignation, I couldn't see reason. Hell, I didn't want anything to do with it. My reasoning was simple: Monica sold out and I just didn't give a fuck anymore. But purposely off myself? No. Yes. Maybe.
"I don't know," I answered truthfully. I could have lied and tried to argue my mental state but what was the use when Ernest knew, better than I, that uncertainty was my enemy.
"Did you hear music, Gabby?" The sudden change of subject threw me for a loop but once my brain caught up to the conversation, my lips tilted upwards and I could feel the smile all the way up to my eyes.
"God, yes!"
Ernest frowned at my words, silently scolding me.
"Sorry," I quickly added, feeling admonished.
"Go on, tell me what happened."
"I read Darren's story which made me cry like a baby. But then, Hunter was there. He held me without judgment or concern that I would have a complete breakdown. He just...he held me, you know? I felt safe for the first time in...ever, I think." I could feel the tears burning, trying desperately to overflow onto my cheeks. I didn't have it in me to hold them back so with a breathless sigh, I set them free. "I mean, Monica was my best friend. She was always there for me. She would hold me and rock me and sing to me but...her every action betrayed her fear of my next move. Not Hunter. He just wrapped me up in his arms and let me purge my emotions. It was...nice. Great, even." I felt the veracity of every one of my words, deep in my bones.
Ernest smiled and with a slight upturn of his chin, he directed my attention to the bookshelves. Sitting alone, engulfed in the empty space, sat a decent sized book. I rose to my feet, pulled like a magnet to the right hand corner of the room, my feet on autopilot. As I neared the wooden structure, I zeroed in on the book. The cover was some type of leather with gold trimmings. The contrast in color was a visual gift. Slowly, I raised my hand and ran my fingers along the spine, reading the title out loud.
‘Unconditional Everything’
Almost out of fear, I turned to look at Ernest for reassurance but he was gone.
Alone, I pulled my shoulders back and took a deep, fortifying breath.
‘I can do this.’ My new mantra.
Slowly, I pressed my fingers around the book and pulled it out of its space.
My forearm swiped the front cover, clearing some invisible dust as though I were an archeologist discovering the original edition of the Bible. Needless action when the cover was pristine, as was the entire room. Or Purgatory for that matter. Not a fleck of dirt or dust.
When I opened the cover, my eyes landed on the first page, ripping a gasp from my already sore throat.
"Darren and Gabby were the reason they loved life. The first thought as they woke, their last as they fell asleep. Every plan, every project and every word was with their children in mind. A love so unconditional it radiated around them in a bright aura of perfection."
"Jesus...shit...I mean," I looked around as though God himself would sweep down and put me in the corner where I would recite ‘I will not take the Lord's name in vain,’ a hundred times. "Sorry," I finally said before returning my attention back to the book.
Patrick Reese held his baby girl like a treasure worth all the millions the world had to offer. Bringing the infant to his eye level, he rained soft kisses across the baby's wrinkled skin and branded his instant and unwavering love all over the child.
'I will love you more than life and protect you with every bone in my body.'
Closing the book, I turned on my heel and walked out of the office library. I needed the comfort of my own room. Or maybe I needed the possibility of having Hunter catch me when the fall would inevitably come.
Practically running, I quickly made my way to my bedroom, flopping down on the mattress and laying on my stomach with my elbows propped up. It was my parents' story and yet I felt as though I were more detached than for Darren. And maybe I was. They were ripped out of my life so early and more importantly, I leaned on Darren for everything. He undeniably took on the