Page 6 of Dark Moon Secrets

It was as if Maria was inside my head. Great, now I was going batty. I’d dealt with death too much already, and my mind was going bonkers with the strain of everything.

A hand on my shoulder caused me to jump, and I spun around, expecting to see a ghostly form of Maria ordering me to get on with what she wanted me to do.

I sighed, glad to find Mia standing behind me, her facial expression full of concern. I couldn’t believe Maria was having such an influence on my life.

First, my parents and now her. I’d told destiny to get fucked, so why couldn’t I choose for myself what I did with my life? I was trying to show I was a responsible adult, owned my apartment, and had a job.

That should be enough, right? I wasn’t greedy or anything. Yet, it was like something inside me had changed instantly, and now I wasn’t so sure.

“You found it,” Mia exclaimed.

“Yeah.” I sighed heavily.

Maria had outlined everything that needed to be done by me. I just had to follow through for the sake of Maria’s wishes. While I didn’t want to do this, at the same time, I felt rather odd at the thought of not doing what was asked of me. As if reading the document had bound me to her or something odd like that, I was compelled to, even if I didn’t want to do it.

“What’s wrong?” asked Mia.

I handed her the document, giving her a moment to read it. I put things back into the drawer, slipping them into the bedside table.

I got up, wondering where I’d find the strength to do this when the memories of what I went through with my parents constantly pushed to the center of my mind for attention. I also didn’t want to live inland in the Blue Mountains, where the bookstore was located, for a year.

“This is a lot to take in,” said Mia diplomatically.

“It’s too much. I can’t run a store,” I grumbled.

I set a hand on my belly as it flip-flopped painfully.

Could I pay someone to run the store for me? The strange sensation gripped me again. A sort of force pushed at me as if trying to steer me out of here and to get on with what needed to be done.

I guess that was my answer, though when I took the papers back from Mia, I glanced and found the answer. There it was in a typed serif font that I wasn’t permitted to have an assistant. It was clear I needed to be in the shop.

Maria, why are you doing this to me?

Disappointment weighed on my shoulders when there was no answer.

“I’m sure she had her reasons,” Mia consoled.

“Fucked-up reasons.” I shook my head, clutching the documents to my chest.

I should shred them and destroy the evidence that they even existed. Then I’d be free.

You’ll never be free if you do.

Now, you answer me, I shot back before sending the thought rumbling harshly from my mind.

“You don’t look good,” Mia warned. “Come on… you need to go lay down.”

Mia’s voice sounded distant, and the entire incident caught up with me once again. I swayed, and she grabbed my arm to steady me.

Bile rose in my throat, and I swallowed hard, not allowing myself the embarrassment of vomiting here in Maria’s well-kept home.

It’s not her home anymore.

I didn’t like the bitterness of that thought in my mind. And it was going to be me who had to sell it. I would’ve left the place empty if Maria hadn’t stipulated specific times for me to organize things. Walking by her home every day and seeing someone else living here would be incredibly difficult.

“Did you even read the document?” I asked as Mia helped me back outside.

The cold air stung my face, sobering me up. I had to face the reality of what was going on around me.

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