Page 97 of Beneath the Blue Moon
“Me neither, but it’s best if you just give her some time tocool off.Call her in a couple days.”
“Days?”he exclaims.
Footsteps stomp in my direction but are halted by Clara’svoice.
“Don’t.Listen to her father, Ethan.”
“This isn’t over, Casey!”he shouts down the hall.“Trust me,I’ll be back.”
His voice hammers in my head.What have I done?After thedoor closes behind him, I crawl back into bed and cry into my pillow.
You’re wrong, Ethan.Itisover… and so is mylife.
***Ethan/Sheriff***
I pace beneath her bedroom window, whining, hoping she’llhear me.It’s been a week, and she still won’t talk to me.Every time I comehere, her father turns me away, and she doesn’t answer my calls.If she won’ttalk to Ethan, maybe she’ll talk to Sheriff.Her light comes on, and she peeksout from behind the curtain before opening the window and giving me a weaksmile.I bite back an angry growl at the sight of her red, puffy eyes, and thetears glistening on her cheeks.
“Sheriff.I’ll be right out.”
I head to the back of the house where I know she’ll be, pacingimpatiently until the back door opens.She steps out, wearing only a T-shirtand underwear, and I have to will myself not to leap on her.Sniffling, shesits on the top step, reaching for me.
“Hey, handsome.”
I hurriedly make my way up the steps, laying my head in herlap.This past week has been absolute hell without her.I don’t know how, but Ihave to get her back.
“Where have you been, boy?”She gasps when our eyes meet.Fresh tears pool in hers, spilling onto her cheeks.“Your eyes… They look justlike….”
I don’t know what to do.Seeing her this way is devastating.I whine, feeling more incompetent than I ever have.
“Oh, Sheriff… I love him so much,” she cries, throwing herarms around my neck.
Then why did you leave me?Come back to me, Casey.I wantto yell at her, but it comes out as a whimper.
“But it’s for the best.I… I have to learn… to… live… withouthim.”Her shoulders shake as she cries into my neck, forcing out her wordsbetween sobs.
Tell me!Tell me what happened!
She pulls away, wiping at her tears.“You must think I’m acrying fool.”
No, you’re hurt.I can make it go away.Just tell me whyyou left.
“It hurts so much.”
She breaks down again, covering her face with her hands.Thisis so frustrating!I want to change and demand she tell me what’s going on, butthat would only scare her away.
“I’m sorry, Sheriff… I can’t… I just….”
She jumps to her feet and races inside, locking the door.
Locking me out.
***Casey***
“You have to eat, dear.”
“I’m not hungry,” I reply, my voice hoarse from continuouscrying.
Clara sighs, stroking my hair as I lie in bed, just as I’vedone since I left Ethan.No—since I wasforcedto leave him.My iPod hasbeen stuck on “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars.Before, I listened to itbecause of the association with the moon, but it holds a different significancefor me now.I haven’t even been to work.Thank God Rusty didn’t pry when I toldhim I was sick.It’s not entirely a lie; I’m emotionally ill.I stick my handunder my pillow and stroke Ethan’s shirt I’ve hidden there.His scent hasalmost faded from it, but it’s still a part of him, something tangible I canhold on to.Our picture from the fundraiser lies next to it.
