Wine Dine and closure

First dates are never easy, but for Silas this would be his first date since the accident and his 3 years spent in jail. He had been out since April, its October now. Eager to return to his normal life he be-grudgingly agreed to try online dating with the help of his interfering loving mother.

His profile read : - Silas Dallas Cole, Male, 29 Former professional swimmer. Former student studied biology. Taking time off to try new things and meet a nice girl.

Silas didn't like all the written formers in his profile. It was a painful reminder of the person he used to be. No longer could he be. And for that matter who was he now?

“I sound bloody boring” Silas spoke out his tone defeated. “no, not at all. You sound adventurous, and open for love” “maybe you should have mentioned I was in prison” he laughed “the ladies will love that” His mother gave him a push “just wait it won’t be long before a girl messages you. Look at that face!” they both looked over at his profile photo. His dark brown hair straight around his pale white face. His eyes had a blank stare he looked awkward, wearing a black jumper, his head had a slight tilt. It was like a school photo. He wasn't even smiling. “god, I look like a dweeb, where did you find that one?” they both laughed his mum placed her hands on his shoulders. “ you look great don’t be silly, I have all the faith in the universe”.

A few weeks later..

His hands shaky as his mother starts to brush his hair for him, “I can do it” annoyed he leans forward away from her touch. He fixes his tie.

“I’m sorry… I know.” she gives him a sincere smile as she sits back over at the kitchen table folding her arms.

He wore blue navy pants, black leather shoes and a dark grey collared shirt, his tie lilac purple.

Silas had trouble with his memory. He would often forget little things and get frustrated at himself. The doctor spoke calmly “I’m sorry Silas all we can do is wait. The brain is extraordinarily complex we don’t know what you will remember and what you won’t”. they ran so many tests, the police asked him so many questions he couldn’t answer.

“there was alcohol found in your system Silas”, the two police officers looked down on him laying there. “do you remember what you were doing?”. Nothing. He remembers his mother crying convulsively and the sound of the heart monitor around him, on that day he woke up.

Was it too soon to be dating again? he had his doubts. Each and every time he would say to himself. I need to move on.

“what do I talk about?” he asked his mum trying to distract himself more so than actually needing advice.

“talk about her, let her do all the talking, don’t mention the accident. Not on a first date...or jail”

She looked deep in thought when he turned to her.

“I’m not stupid, just a bit of brain damage” he laughed lighten the mood.

He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

“have fun”. His mother called to him.

He looked at her and grinned “that’s the plan”.

Silas has to keep sticky notes around the house now to remind him to do certain things, like set his alarm in the mornings. Take his medications at certain times of the day and check the expiring dates on things.

He had to practice writing every day. learn his ABC’S, his math and how to walk again all in jail. the whole experience was incredibly hard, but he got through it.

Some things he had difficulty re-learning. swimming was one, which was a deep loss as it was his whole life previously. He just couldn’t get the breathing and arm strokes right. When he got home, he realized he couldn’t drive his car... he would remember to go and start the engine sit in it and try to focus on his thoughts. It was his way to try and connect to his old self. He couldn’t remember his friends, his studies or any music he used to listen to. That person was gone. A stranger to him now.

He was the first to arrive to the restaurant, they chose a nice place in the city one that had a huge wine selection as Silas’s mum had mentioned his date liked red wine. He didn’t see her profile, so he didn’t know what she looked like. Sitting at the table he realized he should have taken more interest in the profile. nervous and feeling foolish he fiddled with his tie almost forgetting to breathe.

He looked around with a blank stare. A slim woman with dark brown hair and pale skin approached confidently, she wore a midi navy dress that hugged her body, over it was a lighter shade of blue blazer with buttons at the front she left the blazer open, it flowed as she walked, carrying a little black handbag under her shoulders. She is getting closer and closer looking at him, her face calm. Silas stood up and nodded at her before she was in talking distance.

“Hello, nice to meet you.” Silas spoke first, he needed to seem normal to her.

He noticed his leg started shaking a little as he stood for too long, he quickly sat down when she was about to approach the table.

“hey nice to meet you to, I’m Lucy” she ignored his eager movement to sit as she followed and sat across from him, taking off her blazer.

“Silas” he spoke short.

“how have you been?” Lucy asked, “I have been well thank you, how are you?”

“great, lets order some drinks, shall we?” grabbing the menu from the middle of the table “oh they have so many choices here, wow” she raised her eyebrows excited.

“I don’t really drink...” Silas stated.

“oh, come on just a glass, it’ll be special I promise”.

He wasn’t sure, he hadn’t had a drink since the accident. A flash back came to him. he saw himself drunk behind the wheel.

“are you okay?” Lucy asked, “you kind of just went somewhere else just then” she laughed awkwardly not sure what to make of it.

“no, I’m fine sorry, um ok one glass with dinner…” his body tensed up a little

“I will pick us something nice, you will like it…”

The waiter took their orders, Silas chose the first thing he saw, he was having trouble reading the menu… the words became so foreign to him. he pointed at something second from the top, and when the waiter asked any sides, he just said “chips” not really knowing what else to say.

“very well sir.”

Lucy laughed, “well that’s a weird combo, spicy curried mussel soup with a side of chips.”

Silas swallowed down hard as he awkwardly took a sip from his water.

Lucy ordered lemon chicken with asparagus and mash sweet potato with a side of roasted veggies.

“you’re not at all what I pictured” “ Is that good or bad??” “i dont know, just you look like a normal guy”. " yeah.. wait, there was a profile photo im certain of it, you didn't see it?"

Lucy turned red thinking what to say. “ it was a friend that set this up actually..” she looked away

"oh, im kind of glad, that photo was terrible" he laughed.

“Can you excuse me I will be right back.”

She looked a little flustered.

“yeah sure” Silas nodded. Lucy got up and walked to the lady’s toilets, it was at the far end of the restaurant.

She picked up her handbag and grabbed a little phone out, flipped it open and started calling a friend from her contacts.

“hey, yeah this is weird, he seems a little fucked up still… I’m trying not to get angry…” she started crying.

Her friend on the other side of the phone “its ok.. don’t cry. You can do this., just breathe. are you okay Candice?” she sobbed gently taking in small breaths “I told you Summer, I didn’t want to meet him. I can’t stop thinking about it”. Candice lent her back on the bathroom wall and slid herself down to the floor resting, she stretched her legs out in front of her. “you need to do this”. Summer was invasive when it came to her friends, she knew Candice didn’t want to go on this date, but she knew when she had accidently stumbled upon his profile one night and had seen the name that it was him, and this had to happen. He is the man who caused the accident. It was Summer who had set it all up. When she broke the news to Candice that she had found him, it was Summer who suggested to meet him for closure.

Candice lifted her dress and examined the deep dark scars on her legs they were a painful reminder of what had happened that night.

“is he what you expected?” Summer asked “what is he like?” she wiped her face and pulled her dress back down “No..i don’t know, he’s actually nice, a bit awkward so I think it’s from the crash… he couldn’t even read the menu properly…” she lifted herself up off the floor and went to the sink.. “wow... okay do you think he doesn’t remember?” “I’m not sure,. He got all weird when I ordered us both a glass of wine for dinner”.. “ that’s fucked up Candice..” “What!, I didn’t think.. honest.”

She opened up her wallet and looked down at the corner, there was a photo, it was her big brother. He had ruffled blond hair smiling cheekily, his bright blue eyes sparkled, you could tell he used to be a genuinely happy person. “do it for him.” Summer spoke abruptly. “I better go…” Candice replied. “bye” they both ended the call at the same time.

Bracing herself she quickly headed back out to the table.

The food and the wine had arrived already, sat in front of Silas. He sat quietly staring out at nothing.

Candice walked back quickly “sorry about that, my mum rang to check up on me” “that’s okay no problem, what did you tell her? that I’m boring but handsome”. He grinned jokingly. Candice started laughing “of course I did” grinning back.

“looks delicious, oh and this wine I haven’t tried this before, but Bright Cellars is supposed to be one of the best”. Picking up the glass “I love a good merlot”, taking a deep sniff, it reached her nostrils and she suddenly felt lighter and relaxed. “try at the same time” “yes ok” Silas was nervous but didn’t want to disappoint Lucy. He picked the glass up, now both raising their glasses “what should we toast to?” he asked “umm.. to new beginnings and second chances”... Silas’s eyebrow raised a little “that’s funny I was thinking along that to”. They both took a sip.it didn’t matter to Silas of the taste, that sense hadn’t yet returned to him. But Candice embraced It all, it was dry with bursts of herbs and black cherry flavours; She welcomed the soft but present tannin. “yum, that’s a new favourite”. Candice announced.

She placed it down in front of her. “there is something I need to say”. Silas propped up with curiosity.

“there is something you haven’t mentioned yet….” Silas confused “oh and what might that be?” “the car accident.” Silas froze “what? what are you ..t.tt.t talking about..?” He stuttered a little at the end of his sentence. “Silas, I know about the car accident you were in a few year ago. She paused.

Silas didn’t speak, unknowing what to say. He was frozen.

“I know because I was in that car crash to, you killed my brother.”