FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 56 ~~~~~

"A lot of things happened two years ago, for you and for me. A lot of things that... I'm not even sure how to say, or even if I could. A person can change a lot in two years, fuck, even less than that. I mean look at you G. you changed a lot since I met up with you again. And it's all for the better. I'm over the fucking moon and back for you."

Gina didn't answer, silently waiting knowing her friend had more to say.

"But... some of the things I've seen. Things that I've done. It's not good."

Gina frowned. "What do you mean?"

Layla didn't answer.

"Layla? Did something happen?" her friend still didn't answer. "If... if something did. You can tell me. And I won't tell a soul."

"You mean it?"

"Yes, of course, I do!"

Layla turned to look at Gina with a sombre smile. "Even if I killed someone?"

A large gust of wind came barrelling through the nearly empty street, filling the silence.

Did she mean that? Did Layla kill someone?

Why? Who? So many questions ran through Gina's mind.

Before Gina could even get her words out, Layla burst out laughing.

"Ha-ha-ha! You should see the look on your face!" she said while laughing as Gina felt a flush of red sweep over her cheeks.

"That's not funny Layla!" Gina snapped as Layla devolved into snickering. "Seriously, that's not cool!"

"Sorry, sorry," Layla said as her laughter finally died down. "I guess I sounded just a bit too real there."

"Not cool," Gina grumbled again as Layla grasped her friend's hand and they kept walking. Soon walking in silence hand in hand, not another word spoken to each other until they stopped in the front of Gina's building.

"And here you are back home," Layla said as she let go of Gina's hand. "Well, until you move that is. When are you moving?"

"The plan is three days from now. I already have spoken to moving companies and the like, so I'll be pretty busy, but if you want to come by, you can."

"I wish could," Layla said as she put her hands into her coat pockets. "But I'm swamped with work those days. You won't even be able to get a hold of me."

"Oh..." Gina couldn't help but feel a little disheartened then realized something. "Is that why you're here today?"

"Yup," her response was quick. "I knew that in these coming days, I'd be too busy, and even though I knew you were leaving, I still wanted to see you." Another moment of silence. Before Layla closed the distance and hugged her friend tightly. "Then I guess this is goodbye."

"It's not like it'll be forever." Gina felt Layla's hold tighten. "We have email, phones, hell even video chat if we really want to. And I can come back and visit, or you could visit me."

Layla didn't respond as she kept holding on to Gina, as though she was afraid that her friend would disappear if she so much as relaxed her hold.

Gina stopped talking when Layla kept silent. And merely closed her eyes and hugged her friend back, just as tightly, clutching at her friend's coat, not wanting to let go.

She didn't know how long they stayed like this, ten seconds, minutes, maybe even an hour. Regardless of the length, regardless of what other people thought when they passed, or even said none of it mattered.

"Gina." Layla's voice drew her out of her Zen-like state as she opened her eyes, but hadn't let go, not yet, as Layla hadn't either. "Know that I am so happy for you, in what you've done and what you're going to do. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be proud of what you've accomplished."