Page 103 of Beneath the Blue Moon
“I miss you,” he says, his voice wrought with pain.“I die alittle more each day that I have to endure without you.”
Fuck.He just turned on the water works.I pull my hand awayfrom his and swipe at my tears.
“Stop it, Ethan.Just stop it.You need to move on andforget about me.We’re too different.It would have never worked.”
“What are you talking about?I love you!You said you loveme.”
“Just because two people love each other doesn’t mean theyshould be together.”
“That’sexactlywhat it means!Casey… I can’t livewithout you.”
Oh, dear God, my heart.I can’t take this.
“Youhaveto.You deserve better.”
“There’s no one better than you.”
“Yes, there is.You’ll see it now that I’m not in the way.”
“I don’t want anyone else!”
“Well…” I prepare myself to tell the biggest lie of my life.“I don’t want you.”
That wasn’t even close to sounding believable.Anger returnsto his eyes and he pushes to his feet.
“That’s bullshit.You know it, and so do I.Somethinghappened at that barbecue, and I won’t rest until I find out what.”
“You should concentrate your energy on more important things.”
“Like what?”
“Like… Shae.”
His brows furrow in bewilderment.
“What the hell does she have to do with this?”
Apparently, she’s what you need.“I just think thatsomeone like her would be more suited to your needs.”
“You’re all I need, Casey.You and only you.”
With that proclamation, he places his hat on his head andstomps down the steps.When he disappears around the corner, I allow my tearsto flow freely.If this is all for the best, why do I feel like a herd of wildhorses just stomped all over my chest?
“Moonbeam?”
“Daddy!”
He sits next to me and wraps his arms around me tightly.
“What happened?”
“I hurt him, Daddy.I didn’t mean to, I swear.”
“It’s all going to be okay.”
No.It’s not.It will never be okay.In time, he’ll move on,and I’ll still be miserable without him.His mother was right; I was beingselfish.His happiness is what matters so I need to push him in the rightdirection, no matter how much it kills me.
***Casey***
