Page 3 of Where the Stars Heal

The door swings open forcefully, and Hunter screams,“Halle, you better get your ass out of that car. I have shit to do!”

My hands go straight to my ears and I shrink back at how close he is to me, triggering almost. That feeling of fear comes rearing back, the unwanted anxiety starting to creep back in.

“Fucking hell, Hunter, look before you scream.”

I go to step around him, but he throws his arm around my shoulders, gives me a squeeze, and starts dragging me inside.

I pause, looking back at his front door. “Hey Hunter, why’s your door red? Likereallyred?”

He looks sideways at me and one side of his mouth tips up. Hunter looks like me if I weren’t so faded, so skinny and jaded. He has the short dark hair, cropped around the sides but a little long on top, and it’s messy like he just rolled out of bed. The high cheekbones and eyes are like mine, too. Blue, but so pale they’re almost gray in some light, with a crooked nose—unlike my straight one. I wonder if that’s from one too many bar fights since he owns the bar here in Sunlit Cove.

That’s where we are: Sunlit Cove. Home to stunning rock pools, creeks and waterfalls, where parks and the main street come alive in the summer. Everyone loves to come here. They swim in the freshwater, hang out at the waterfalls, throw barbecues in the parks during the day, and at night, they party. Hunter says it makes everyone feel young again, and reminds them of their childhood. Can’t say it’ll have that effect on me. My childhood was a giant mess. Hunter’s confident stance and easy smile have always drawnpeople in. It’s why I loved having him around when we were kids. Everything seemed brighter with him there.

He chuckles when he realizes I’m being serious about the door and says, “Oh, that’s a story for another day, lil sis. Let’s go out the back; there’re people I want you to meet.”

My anxiety, which I tried to tamp down before, comes rushing back, and I stop so suddenly that Hunter almost trips over.

“Hunter, you didn’t tell me people would be here. I can’t.” My heart starts racing and my eyes ping around frantically. “You can’t…” I deflate on the spot, my shoulders slumping.

“I’m not dressed right. I’m tired from a long drive. Can’t you just show me to my room? I’ll meet everyone tomorrow, I promise.”

He must take pity on me and how broken I look, how sad and nervous I must sound.

“Yeah, sis, no problem. Let me go grab your bags from the car. Your room is down that hall, first door on your left,” he says, pointing behind me.

Spinning around so quickly, I don’t even take in my surroundings. I beeline for the first door on the left. I need to breathe. My heart is racing faster, and I can hear my pulse in my ears. I need out.

Slamming the door closed and dropping my bag to the floor, I clutch my water bottle to my chest, close my eyes, and take the first deep breath I’ve been able to take since I pulled into Sunlit Cove.I can do this. I can turn my life around. I may be mad at Hunter, hold resentment, but I know deep down, he’s here to help me now. He’s still my older brother. I’ll do this for him, for Mom.

I take a look around. My room is small, but cozy. There’s a double bed in the center with two bedside tables on eitherside, and a double door closet on the far left wall. There isn’t much room to walk around, but I’ll make do. It’s a place to sleep, to forget. Taking a step forward, I hear a knock on the door. I turn around to open it, but Hunter pushes through with my two bags.

“Is this all you got, Halle?” he asks as he throws the bags onto my bed.

Looking over all my belongings, I nod. “Yeah, Hunter, it’s not like Mom had a lot and I had even less.” I know I sound bitter. We were broke, poor, but he’s been here living it up while I was left with nothing.

Hunter stares at me for a long moment, his jaw ticks and opens slightly, like he wants to say something about the whole situation. Sighing, he points out to the hallway. “The bathroom is straight across the hall there.”

He steps out and motions for me to follow. I peek around to the left as he points to the door next to the bathroom. “That’s the spare room. I have friends that are always crashing on random nights, so don’t be surprised if you hear other people around, okay?”

Looking over my shoulder at him, I roll my eyes. I know I freaked out before about meeting everyone, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely scared. I’m just too anxious for people right now.

He smiles at me and holds his hands up. “Well, okay, lil sis. Are you sure you don’t want to come out back? It’s only five and we don’t have to head to the bar for another hour.”

Oh my god, can he not take a hint?

“I really just want to be left alone, Hunter. I’m gonna go shower and pass out for the night. Don’t worry about me.” I say this with what I hope is a reassuring smile so he doesn’t push the situation.

“Alright then. Towels are on the shelf in the bathroom. Iwon’t be back until early hours of the morning. I’m on the closing shift and will probably sleep in till late morning.” He smiles big at me and continues jokingly. “Your big bro needs his beauty sleep, after all.” He moves to close the door, and it clicks softly.

“Beauty sleep my ass, Hunter,” I whisper.

He yells back, “I heard that!”

The silence I feel now he’s gone is welcoming. I run over to the bag I dropped when I first entered and open it. With shaky hands, I rummage through it.

Come on, come on, where are they?

My hand closes over the small orange bottle and I pull it out of my bag. I told myself I would stop taking these when I got here, but one more night won’t hurt… Will it?

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