Everyday is silent and grey

FRANKIE: Do you think I should talk to Tori?

HEATHER: Of course you should.

FRANKIE: You wouldn't be mad?

HEATHER: Why would I be mad? She'll be mad if you don't tell her what happened to this guy who was sick with COVID. The father of her baby.

Frankie studied the message on the phone for almost a minute. He sighed. He didn't want to be the barrier of bad news.

He'd thought about calling days ago, but knew it was best to go in person. If she wasn't there, he would call. 

FRANKIE: What if her boyfriend won't even let me talk to her? (he pressed in the words to Heather)

HEATHER: Then you talk to both of them.

It sounded so simple yet just thinking of the conversation was exhausting.

He texted back to thank Heather for being there for him during all of the turmoil. Maybe when all this was over they'd get together.

 He knocked on Tori and Dylan's door. He heard her footsteps. He knew it was Tori. He hadn't forgotten. Then the door opened, and for the first time, it hit him that this pregnancy was real. It looked as if a monster was manifesting inside her. He couldn't take his eyes off her stomach. Of course, maybe that's why she tried to slam the door but he wedged his arm in.

"Wait," he said. "I just need to talk. I promise I won't stay long."

Her jaws swelled with anger. She said nothing. It was as if she were waiting for an exorcism and he would not do. 

Here he was wanting to ask how she was, was she feeling OK, but instead he pushed his long hair out of his face.

"Has..has Megan said anything to you about Melvin?" He kept staring at her plump face. It felt as if everything was swelled about her. She was not Hope who was graceful as some delicate bird about to lay a large egg. 

Tori shook her head no.

"Melvin passed away back in April," Frankie thought he heard himself say. He showed her some records he'd taken pictures of on his phone as proof.

She was silent, but she staggard to take a seat on the sofa. 

"I don't know why his friend didn't tell any of you." Frankie went on to say.

Tori said nothing. 

"Are you going to be OK?" He reached for her swelled hand, but she pulled it away. She wouldn't even look at him.

"I'm sorry," Frankie knew it didn't mean much. "None of this is your fault."

He texted Megan as well as Caitlin. Someone needed to be here for Tori and he knew it wasn't him.