It was late the night of January 5th, that I was awaken by the combination of my doorbell ringing, knocking on my door and a man rapping on my living room window and yelling.

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I pulled myself off the couch and looked to the window. I could see someone peering in.

It looked like Peter Maynard.

I tried to be invisible, but he saw me, somehow, in the darkness.

.

"I sees 'im," he yelled to someone.

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A second later, John Maynard appeared in the window.

He too, was yelling and waving to me.

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"Shit," I muttered, as I pulled myself to my feet.

"What day is this?"

I felt like crap and probably looked worst.

I dragged myself to the front door. As I opened it, I could see the tractor parked in front of my house.

Peter and John obviously were ploughing the roads.

The storm seemed to have subsided.

.

The two men came inside the house, stomping the snow off their feet outside, on the veranda, before entering.

.

"You looks like shit, Will boy," John commented, as he closed the door.

"Sheila be so worried about you, boy.

Where did you disappear to, New Years?"

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"I suddenly got sick," I lied.

"I threw up in the bathroom, before I left and I just went home."

I took a coat from the rack near me and put it on, shivering, as I did.

"I have been curled up ever since. This is the first time I have really moved since that night."

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Peter put his hand over his mouth.

"Well, boy, I hopes its not contagious," he joked.

.

I forced a smile.

I was sick, but it was from a massive hangover.

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John patted my shoulder.

"We was all worryin' 'bout yo, Will. Sheila and Henry be beside demselves."

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I nodded.

"Please tell her I am sorry."

I took a deep breath. I really was.

"I will call her in the morning, I promise."

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John nodded.

"You could least answer yer phone, Will."

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"I know," I nodded, apologetically.

"But I have barely had the energy to even feed the cats and in honesty, I don't even know where my cell phone is. I think I might have lost it in the snow on the way home."

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Peter laughed.

"Den youse can kiss dat phone gudbye den, Will."

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"Well, I will go to Corner Brook in the morning and see to getting another one."

A sudden way of nausea overtook me and I quickly sat on a chair in the foyer, my head, literally, between my legs.

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"You okay, Will?"

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I nodded, holding up my hand.

A few moments passed before I sat back up, leaning against the chair.

"I have to go and lay down, guys."

.

Peter nodded.

"Git well, Will."

He looked at John.

"I will meet ya in da tractor."

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John nodded.

"I bes right dere, me son."

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John waited until Peter left and then he crouched down in front of me.

"Whats be really goin' on, Will."

.

"I just told you. I am really sick."

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John nodded.

"I can sees you are sick, me son, but it ain't no flu or nuttin'. Dis place smells like a brewery."

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I took a deep breath, nodding.

.

"What be it, Will?

Is it me sister? I know she's can be a bit of a pain in da arse, but she really loves ya, you knows."

.

"I know."

.

"Then da truth, Will."

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I shook my head.

"The truth? I don't think you would believe me, if I did tell you the truth, John."

.

"You could tries, me son. I am pretty understanding and I believes you do owe me an explanations ...

and if not me, den you do me sister."

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I had to agree.

"Yea. You are right, John."

I stood up, shakily.

"Let me get cleaned up, tonight and I promise that I will come to see you guys in the morning and I will explain everything."

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John nodded, his hand on my shoulder.

"I will be holding you to dat, Will. I believes youse is a man of your word, so I will be 'specting you in da morning, at Sheila's.

Say around 9 fer breakfast?"

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I nodded.

"I will be there."

I hugged the man

"Thank you John. You are indeed a friend."

.

He nodded and then gave me a strange look.

"And clean up, me son. You stinks like a sewer system."

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I laughed slightly, closing the door behind him, as he left.

I heard the horn of the tractor and watched through the living room window, as it pulled away.

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I staggered to the nearest bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror.

I did looked like shit.

Spirit and Ghost sat in the doorway to the bathroom, looking up at me.

"I know," I sighed.

"I am a schmuck."

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I swear they both nodded.

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"You guys are no help."

I went to the kitchen and opened some food for the cats. I was not even sure when I had fed them last.

By their reaction, it had been a while.

I watched them eat for a moment, then headed back down the hallway to my bedroom.

I quickly undressed and got into the shower.

.

I really had been a jerk.

I had something good with Sheila. Something real. Something that could be forever.

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The warm water seemed to bring me back to life.

I brushed my teeth.

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I did love Sheila. At least, I thought I did.

I certainly loved the time we were together and we did connect on many levels, but ...

was it all that I wanted and needed?

Losing Whisper had put a new perspective on my relationship with Sheila.

I wondered if I lost her, would I react the same way.

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I was disgusted by my own answer.

I probably wouldn't.

I would never want anything to happen to Sheila, but if we broke up, I don't think it would have the same effect, that losing Whisper had on me.

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I scrubbed myself from head to toe.

I though about shaving, but decided against it.

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By the time I was out of the shower, I had a new agenda.

And it did not include breakfast at Sheila's in the morning.

I dressed and went to my safe. I kept plenty of cash in the safe and I took it all out, putting it into a briefcase, on my bed. I took some other documents and identification with me as well.

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I paused for a moment, as I saw the ring case, that I knew held the engagement ring I had planned to give to Sheila.

I wiped tears from my eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, genuinely, as I closed the safe.

.

I quickly packed some clothes and a few personal items.

By the time I brought the suitcase and briefcase to the kitchen area, I had a plan, of sorts, in mind.

It was not a perfect plan, but I would work out all the details as I went along.

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I looked at my two cats.

"You guys want to go on a little trip?"

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They simply sat and stared at me.

I was praying to myself that they would dance. That they would give me the sign, that I wanted, a sign that my daughter had returned, but they didn't.

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I had already started my Rav4.

Looking out my window, I saw that it was all cleaned off and had a clear access to the road.

Obviously Peter or John, or both, had done it for me.

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I quickly brought the suitcase to the car, along with the briefcase and a cardboard box with some snacks and such in it.

I got the cat carriers for my cats. They both went in the same carrier.

"Gonna be a bit crowded in there, guys."

They curled up together.

They were certainly good cats.

I decided that I would let them roam when I got on the road.

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I put down the seats and even put in a small cat pan.

I looked at both of them, as I let them out.

"Don't stink me out."

I took extra litter, just in case.

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I went back to the house and adjusted the heat, so that it would keep the house at a constant temperature.

I was on an automatic payment system with all my utilities, so there would be no problems there.

I left on the outside lights and a light in the living room.

I would do something about security at a later date.

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When I got in the car, Ghost and Spirit were sitting in the front passengers seat.

"Buckle up," I told them.

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I started out of my yard and down the road.

I didn't even look in the rearview mirror.

.

And I had no idea where I was going.