Page 38 of One Last Wish

––––––––

ALORA: I’M GOING BACKto work tomorrow.

––––––––

DARCE: DO YOU THINKthat’s wise? Malcolm gave you two days to rest.

––––––––

ALORA: I NEED TO FINISHgetting everything ready for the midnight release party. It’s only a few days away.

––––––––

DARCE: OF COURSE, THAT’Sall you're worried about.

––––––––

ALORA: I’M FINE. Ihave black outs all the time. It’s no big deal.

––––––––

DARCE: I’LL MEET YOUoutside your apartment in the morning and walk with you to work.

––––––––

ALORA: YOU DO LIVEon this side of the river, then?

––––––––

DARCE: I ALREADY TOLDyou that...

––––––––

ALORA: NO, YOU DIDN’T!

––––––––

DARCE: GET SOME SLEEP, Alora.

––––––––

ALORA: YOU’RE THE ONEthat messaged me at THREE IN THE MORNING!!

––––––––

IWAITED, BUT GOT NOresponse. Ugh! That man made my blood boil!

––––––––

DARCE WAS LEANING AGAINSTthe wall as I walked out of my apartment. Wrapping my coat tighter around me, I fastened the last few buttons. “You are giving me whiplash,” I breathed, putting my black woolly hat on. “You’re as bad as those male, moody, fictional characters that never show who they are until the second act.”

“Can you not compare me to a fictional character, Alora? I’m very muchreal.”

“Oh, trust me, I'm more than aware of that.”

“Can we try and go one day without arguing?” Darce let out a large sigh. “You’re not the only one exhausted by all this.” I gave him a look of astonishment, but Darce continued. “I’m attracted to you, I’m not going to deny that anymore. Please understand, though, that for reasons that are myown, I will not act on my impulses, okay? All I can offer you is friendship, or as close to that as we can manage in your state.” The turmoil on his face as he spoke made me think he was as confused as I was. Darce had admitted that he was attracted to me. I should have pressed the matter, begged him to act on those impulses, but one look into his pained eyes, and my will power dropped. If friendship was all he could offer, I’d take that to keep him in my life.

“I’m not sure if I can be your friend, but I’ll try and be as close to it as I can without blacking out.”

---