Going Home

 Part 2

Wondering why Josh wasn’t answering the call Grace turned her head and looked at the phone in his hand. Then turning further around she looked at Josh and realised something was wrong. He was looking straight ahead and there was a haunted expression on his face. Worried Grace moved to sit up and turned right around so she was facing him. As she did the phone finally stopped ringing and Grace watched as Josh looked down at it. He seemed to be a million miles away, so trying to bring his attention back to the room she said in soft tone “Josh.”

But getting no reaction she tried again, her voice more firm this time “Josh.”

Josh looked at her and the pain on his face nearly broke her heart. Concerned about what that meant she asked “Josh what is it? Who was that calling?”

But Josh still didn’t answer. He couldn’t talk about this yet, not even to Grace. He needed to be alone to think. So standing up he looked down at her and said in a flat voice “I’m going out for a while.”

Grace was scared. She didn’t understand why he wouldn’t talk to her. She’d never seen him like this. He’d never been particularly communicative, but this was different. In the past while he wouldn’t talk to anyone else he’d always opened up to her. Now though, he seemed so distant. Touching his arm she tried again to reach him “Josh what’s going on?”

But Josh needed to get out of there now. He knew shutting her out was going to hurt her but if he stayed he may hurt her more, so shrugging off her hand he said in a gruff tone “leave it Grace, I’ll see you later.” And picking up his keys he walked out the front door.