Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1599

Before, when he fell from a tree, Bernard would catch him before he even hit the ground. When he tripped, Bernard would instantly appear by his side, asking, "Does it hurt?" When he fell into a mud pit, Bernard would pull him out, clucking with concern while laughing at him. When he was in danger, Bernard would always charge ahead to protect him… But today, when he fell from the tree, Bernard didn't appear to catch him. When he tripped, Bernard didn't show up to ask if he was okay. When he fell into the mud pit, Bernard didn't come to pull him out. When he was in danger, Bernard wasn't there to shield him. He went to every single place he had ever been with Bernard, calling his name over and over… But tragically, no one answered. Finally, he collapsed. He fell beside the mountain spring where he and Bernard often drank, crying all alone. "Great-grandpa, where are you? I miss you. I’m hurt... please, make the pain go away… I want to hear you tell a joke. I want you to hug me." "Why? Why would you do this?! Damn you! Give him back to me! Give him back! You can't take great-grandpa away." He was in so much pain. His whole body ached. Even breathing hurt. Whitey, his wolf, lay down beside him, nudging his chin with its forehead in silent companionship. As dusk fell, Elliot finally found him. Elliot and the scarred man had used a tracker to locate Evan. He lay flat on the cold earth, eyes fixed on the gray void above. The light had gone out of them, leaving behind a hollow shell of a boy whose world had just collapsed.

Elliot’s heart broke. "Evan!" Evan didn't react at all. "…" Elliot gently shook his arm. "Evan!" Evan turned his head and looked at him, his expression blank, like a machine devoid of emotion, as if he didn't even recognize him. Elliot was terrified. "Evan, wake up! Don't scare me!" It took a long moment before Evan seemed to recognize Elliot. His little lip quivered, and he started to cry. "Elliot, great-grandpa is dead. We don't have great-grandpa anymore. Great-grandpa's gone. He doesn't want me anymore." Elliot’s own tears streamed down his face. "Great-grandpa didn't abandon you. He loves you very much. He just went to live in another world…" Evan whimpered, "But I fell and it hurt and he didn't even care. He didn't come to make it better…" Elliot’s heart ached for him. "Great-grandpa does care. He's just asleep. When he wakes up, he'll be right by your side, watching over you…" Evan's sobs were ragged. "But I don't want him to just watch over me. I want him to be here, to hug me…" Elliot helped him up and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Don't be sad, Evan. You still have me. And great-uncle, and Quincy and Walter. And Great-grandma, and Mommy and Daddy, and Emmett, Elijah, and Baby… We can all be here to hug you…" Evan cried even harder. "But brother, what do I do? I miss Bernard so much. I can't stop. I just miss him so much. I miss him…" "Elliot, it hurts. It hurts so much. My heart feels like it's going to burst. It hurts too much. Brother, it hurts. It really, really hurts…" Elliot's tears fell like rain. "I know. I know everything. If it hurts, just cry. Cry it all out. I won't laugh at you. I'm here with you. I'll always be here with you…"