“We shouldn’t talk about this here,” I say, realizing that my time with her is coming to an end. Because I see him approaching from afar, and not just him.
She nods, pressing her lips together as her gaze follows mine, forcing her to turn away from me.
Robert and Christopher are marching toward us in wide strides, both of them with an intense expression on their face. Christopher is wearing the same navy colored gown she is wearing, and just like her, he’s holding his diploma rolled up in his hand, looking visibly upset about the fact that she took the first chance to get away and talk to me as soon as it presented itself.
They come to a halt in front of me, wedging her between the two of them as if they were trying to protect her. And I’m pretty sure they both think that’s what they’re doing.
“Mr. Bowlan. Didn’t think you’d be here today,” Robert says, being awkwardly formal.
“He just dropped by to congratulate me,” she interferes, casting her father a warning look from the side. “He’s just being nice.”
“And congrats to you, too,” I add, nodding in Christopher’s direction. “Big day for you guys.”
Christopher reciprocates my nod. “Thanks.”
He has always been better at hiding his disdain toward me, and I know why that is. He knows that I’m important to her, and you never win a woman’s heart by hurting the ones she loves. He has never been as hostile toward me as Robert has, even though his dislike is no less strong.
However, his rather peaceful attitude might change rather sooner than later.
“Shall we?” he asks, turning toward her. “The others are waiting.”
“Yes, you should be going and join your friends,” Robert adds, casting me a dark look from the side.
Her eyes go back and forth between them, before locking onto mine again. An apologetic smile spreads across her face, and as always, it’s spiced with the allure of secrecy.
“Thank you for coming, Jayson,” she says. “It means a lot to me.”
Robert and Christopher can’t stop themselves from exchanging an exasperated look. I try to ignore it, as I always do, but I can’t help my fury from hissing deep inside. Why would they not let her have this? Just another person to love her, to protect her, to guide her, to show her that she’s not alone in this world.
It’s bad enough that her mother can’t be here for any of this. That loss left a void, running deep through the core of Petal’s soul, a cruelty that is part of her more than anything else.
But they don’t know.
And how could they?
They aren’t the ones who stared into her abyss.
I am.