When the body of Emmy was found everyone was off doing their own things - what was Jimmy the campus’s most beloved professor doing? Well keep reading to find out.
From where he sat in the corner of the room, Jimmy could see the memories of a story that ended long ago play out in his mind’s eye.
"No. I won't put our safety at risk, to fight in a war that will never be won!" The shouted words echoed through the memory as if a million voices had been sent to remind him of his failings. "There's no safety to protect," came the growled words from a love that he had done wrong so long ago. Looking up Jimmy could almost picture Edward standing in front of him, in all of his youth but the other was gone and only ghosts were life. He should have fought for him then and in whispered voice he sends out a prayer, "If there's a god, they'll let you know."
Standing up, he walked over to the bookshelf and pulled off a photo album. "I put myself back back in the narrative - I stopped wasting time on fears. If I live another fifty years it's not enough," he whispered to himself, fingers tracing over the photos of friends long gone, of the fight that he had fought in memory of the love of his life. He could feel the presence of the other, almost as though he was watching if only for a few moments.
"I interview ever protester who fought by our side," he said, running fingers over old pamphlets as he flipped through the album. Landing on the page that showed the woman he had always considered a second sister, his smile softened for a moment as a wrinkled finger came up to wipe away a tear. "I rely on Angelica, while she's alive we tell your story," he whispered as he smiled down at the image.
"And I'm still NOT through, I ask myself what you would do if you had more time. And the Lord in his kindness he gives me more time." He flipped the page, looking down at the pages with something akin to pride. "I speak out against homophobia, you could have done so much more if you only had time." He's frustrated now, slamming the book closed and placing it back on the shelf. As he pauses he thinks of something else that makes him proud.
"Can I show you what I'm proudest of?" He asked despite knowing that he wouldn't actually get a verbal answer. Pulling out another photo album, he headed to the couch and sat down. Opening to the first page, he grinned down at the happy young faces that stared back at him. "I helped to raise hundreds of children, I get to see them growing up. In their eyes I see you," he said, fingers tracing over the pictures of the foster children he had taken in over the years.
"Oh I can't wait to see you again, it's only a matter of time," he said, tears openly streaming down his face at this point. In the distance, he could hear his home phone ringing - the Dean set to announce the tragedy that had happened on their very campus.
