I Cannot Communicate

“I just want to help, Gayle,” he mumbled, his eyes brimming with tears. “Why won’t you let me help? I…”

 

I can still picture how brightly the sun shone at that moment, almost as though it was a mockery of me and what I had done. I remained silent, my gaze wandering everywhere but on him. “I’m sorry,” I attempted to say, but not a word drifted past my mouth. Our friends murmured sweet utterances laced in saccharine, but it only fell to deaf ears as I stepped away from the event that had just transpired. There were far too many people; I had to get away. Moreover, he rejected my offers of solace, understandably so.