Page 115 of Ghost Note

His strength disappeared from my hands.

His tenderness fell from my cheek.

His footsteps took him away from me.

When the sound of his boots hitting the metal rungs grew farther and farther away, I hitched in a breath, the emotion making it stutter in my chest before I opened my eyes to see nothing but the sunrise.

Danny had gone again, taking my heart on a tour of the world to be by his side when I couldn’t be there to kiss him.

I was alone, trying to relearn how to breathe without his air filling my lungs.

“Goodbye, superstar.”

Thirty-Nine

Exhaustion helped me sleep, though sleep couldn’t hold me captive for too long. A few hours passed before I woke on top of my duvet, still wearing the same clothes as when I’d curled on top of it. There was a heavy, yet empty feeling resting in the pit of my stomach as I showered, washed my hair, dressed, and made my way into the kitchen to collect the shop keys.

This autopilot setting that I had defaulted to felt familiar, reminding me of the first time he exited my life stage left. It was easy to slip into the mindset of being broken-hearted, and I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t the same now.

Things were on my terms. Weren’t they?

Then how come your terms feel just as shit as his did?

That was one question I couldn’t dwell on for too long.

Midday had already arrived too soon, meaning I’d missed the morning trade, but it was better late than never for me to make my way to work. I had to keep myself occupied while there was a chance that he was still close by. If I didn’t, I’d end up running to him and pledging promises I didn’t know I could keep.

I scraped my hair up into a wet bun as I made my way to the front door, wearing blue jeans and a tight, white T-shirt, despite the summer heat. My blood was cold now, a permanent chill rolling over me as the realisation settled in that Danny Silver never could and never would stay.

But you could go.

Shaking that irritating inner voice away, I sucked in a deep breath and opened the door to a new day and life… only to come face to face with Gina.

Her arms were folded over her chest, her head tilted to one side, and her eyes were full of sympathy when she offered me a sad smile.

“If you’re thinking about going to work, Daisy, you can think again. Shop stays closed.”

“Worst business partner ever.”

“Sometimes a break is worth more than the hustle.”

I opened my mouth to speak, and she raised a finger in warning.

Blowing all the air out of my inflated cheeks, I let my shoulders sag, and I offered her a pout.

Gina held her arms out, and I stepped out of the house and into them, my chin resting weakly on her shoulder, while she ran her hands up and down my back. We stood there like that for a few minutes, her, pouring good energy into me and taking on my bad.

“How bad is this case of the sads?” she eventually asked.

“It’s pretty sucky.”

“I thought as much.”

More silence lingered, until I couldn’t keep that burning question in any longer. “Do you think he’s left yet?”

“I saw him leave half an hour ago.”

“So, he’s really gone…”

---