Till Dark

Jordan felt a sudden sense of loss for her brother and it was several minutes before she could make herself continue. Andy watched the play of emotions cross her face and wished he could ease her pain. Instead he did the only thing he could think of. "I'm sorry for your loss. You were very close to him weren't you?" Jordan stopped walking and turned to look into big hazel eyes. "How did you know that we were close?" She asked suspiciously. Andy smiled back into her angelic face and answered "Your voice changed at the mention of his name and a faraway look crossed your beautiful features as well. I'm really sorry for your loss. He repeated. "There's something else that I would really like to know?" She hesitated and finally asked, "What would you like to know?" He chose his words carefully; studying her face for a long moment before continuing."Please try and understand that I just want to get to know you better but if you don't want to talk about it then I understand. I mean we really don't know each other that well." Jordan started to laugh a bit. "Andy please get to the question before you forget what it was with all that rambling." He smiled broadly before his face grew serious again. "The day you awoke in my house you had a nightmare. I know it isn't your brother so who is Darien?" Tears filled her eyes and she turned and started a brisk walk trying to get away from his probing question and the painful memories it provoked. "Jordan! Wait!" He hurried to catch up to her but she didn't slow her pace a bit. Reaching out he touched her gently on the arm. She stopped and turned to face him. "Just leave me alone Andy. Take me to the house and show me whatever it is that you want me to see and then back off." Stunned at her reaction his innocent eyes probed hers. "What are you so afraid of? What did that guy do to make you hate men and me in particular? Did he beat you, rape you, or try to kill you? What?" Andy grabbed Jordan's arm without thinking and she jerked away and in the process lost her balance and sat down hard in the sand. She glared up at him through her tears. "What do you want from me? What do you want to hear?" She asked in an emotional voice. He spread his arms wide. "The truth." He stated simply. Who was he to you?" Tears streamed down her face and she sat for a long moment before she finally choked it out. "Darien was my husband." She started to shake slightly with emotion. "Did he leave you for someone else or something?" "No." She sobbed louder. "Was he abusing you?" "No." Jordan cried harder with each question and Andy grew more frustrated with each single syllable "No" she gave him.