Posted by Civilian Rafael Torres (Resident) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Rafael Torres (Resident) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Great! I’ll drop you off at your place, you get cleaned up, and I’ll come back and pick you up. What kind of food do you like?” Karilan said as he put tolls away, cleaned up, and organized the work space for their next session.

Karilan

Raf stepped out of his coveralls and set the aside to be cleaned before he put away his stripped as well. “Umm, I don’t know. I’m game for anything, really.” And that was the truth, even if it was more complicated than that. Food was food, except… it wasn’t. He eyed Karilan. “I do prefer simpler stuff though. You know, the home cooked kind of thing. Even if it’s not the stuff I grew up with, there’s a bit of nostalgia with it.”

~Rafael Torres

Karilan nodded. “Noted. Now let’s go.” and he led the way to slider. They rode to Rafael apartment in silence, and when they pulled up and Torres stepped out, Massat said “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.” and the door closed and pulled away.

Karilan Massat

Raf took a quick shower and changed into something similar to what he had been wearing earlier with black chinos, a white t-shirt, and a dark green button down shirt with a subtle white stripe that was left open. He appeared downstairs seeming far less apprehensive than he had the entire day thus far.

~Rafael Torres

The slider arrived and the door opened. Massat sat inside in jeans and a nice blouse with a subtle floral pattern. As Torres sat down, she said “So simple, home cooked fare. Done.” and the slaider began to move. Karilan regarded him for a long moment and then said “So tell me where your head is at right now.”

Karilan

Outside of rehab and therapy, Raf wasn’t used to being open, to being vulnerable. That sort of crap could get you killed. But that was his old life, and he was having to remind himself that if he truly wanted things to change in a positive way, he would need to start with his own frame of mind. “Wary, but hopeful,” he said, turning his gaze on this every morphing person. “It’s hard for me to trust strangers. It used to be dangerous. Still could be. But when you’re out of options and you want something different, well, sometimes you need to take the risk, right?”

~Rafael Torres

Karilan shrugged as she looked out the window. “Strangers with candy is a cautionary tale in many cultures.” she said quietly before turning to look at him directly. “But those offers tend to be couched in terms of you get what you want with no conditions. You do have conditions.” She looked back out the window and then took a deep breath. “It is hard to trust when you have had not reason to. It is even harder to do so when you have no basis for offering that trust.” She looked back at him. “I know of what I speak. But I also know that the greatest return one can get is from that act of trusting without cause.” She regarded him for a moment and then said “I am glad you made that choice. I think it will be one of the best choices you have made.”

Karilan