Page 6 of We're At It Again

My impulsivity led me to reckless decisions, with dire consequences. My dad sighed and placed the cloth on the rickety counter.

“Look, you have been through a lot, but people will stop giving you the benefit of the doubt.”

I rolled my eyes with a groan.

“Please, not another lecture.”

“It’s not a lecture.” He said and raised his hands in the air, declaring surrender. “It’s advice.”

I leaned against the beat-up vehicle that was our latest project and rubbed my eyes until I saw stars.

“I miss her too, you know.”

My jaw clenched. I shut my eyes. One, two, three–inhale and exhale.

“I have some homework.” I replied, before hurrying inside the house.

Grief was an odd emotion. It came in the tiniest waves, so casual you barely feel it. Waves would pick up, wash over you, and bring a hurricane. It gave you time to catch your breath until it consumed you once again, returning until you were drowning in it. Grief is ruthless, but patient. It had no deadline. Each person’s stages vary, yet we all face the same fate. All outcomes were harsh. Loving someone comes with the greatest consequence. You open your heart to the most unbearable pain. Every time you lose someone you love; you lose a part of yourself. Some claim pain fades, but I disagree. I believe you carry the pain with you forever, as it plagues your thoughts. Losing someone takes your mind on a different course. I found it tragically beautiful how one person could have such an influence on your emotional well-being.

Feeling the weight of fatigue settle over me like a heavy blanket, I trudged to my room. I kicked off my shoes and collapsed on my bed. The soft sheets and mattress offered a welcome respite from the demanding day. My eyes closed, attempting to let sleep wash over me. But, as I felt myself on the brink of sleep, my phone buzzed with a notification.

Groaning in annoyance, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. I glanced at the screen. Stacy. I debated whether to respond or ignore it, but the lure of sleep was impossible to resist. With a resigned sigh, I swiped to dismiss the notification and dropped the phone beside me.

Closing my eyes once more, I shifted further into the mattress. I placed my hands on my abdomen and focused on the rhythm of my breathing. Minutes faded into the outside world. I succumbed to sleep’s embrace.

?

5

LUNA

AS CHEER PRACTICE ENDED, I let out a sigh of relief. Every muscle in my body ached with exhaustion. I wiped the sweat from my brow and stretched, grateful for the chance to rest. My gaze wandered across the field, and I locked eyes with Austin. It had been a few days since we’d spoken, and our tension was thick with unresolved conflict. However, as he approached me with a sheepish smile, I felt a glimmer of hope.

“Hey,” he said, his hazel eyes meeting mine with a mix of apology and longing. “I’m sorry for being a jerk.”

My heart softened at his words, as my anger melted away in the face of his sincerity.

“It’s okay,” I replied, my voice gentle. “I forgive you.”

We shared a quiet moment. The tension between us eased as we embraced. He pressed a tender kiss to my lips, a silent promise of reconciliation. But his teammates interrupted our romantic moment, calling for him to start practice. With a regretful smile, he gave me one last kiss before turning to join them.

I felt a pang of disappointment at the abrupt end to our reunion. But before I could dwell on it, a voice called out from the bleachers.

“You both look so cute together.” I picked up on the condescending tone. “It’s what we all aspire to have.”

I rolled my eyes at the intruding peace. I could never have one moment without Hudson being there to kill the mood.

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”

I folded my arms across my chest and exhaled through my nostrils.

“I’m avoiding Stacy.”

He leaned his head back and squinted against the harsh sun rays.

“Then why don’t you go home?”

“I have detention.”

---