I freeze on the spot near the door, and Leo crashes into me from behind, but I still stay frozen.He walks around me and follows my gaze to identify what – or rather who – I am looking at.He doesn’t need to ask me who it is.He knows everything about what happened between Luna and me.
‘Is that her?’he asks quietly.
I try to swallow, but my mouth feels dry.I just nod in response.I can’t fathom that she is here, only six feet apart and not countries away.I am sure that my imagination has finally turned into a hallucination because of how much I thought about her over these years, ever since she moved away.I tried to keep track of her.I knew she was in Germany, and her Dad told me about her training and mission, but that was it.He was hesitant at first because he wanted to respect Luna’s privacy, but he knew I still cared about her.He told me enough to satisfy me.But even that was a couple of years ago.Now, she stands before me, close enough to touch but still far away in her heart.With the way I hurt her, she won’t even want to see me.
She looks happy, though, laughing with her head back and surrounded by people whose company she enjoys.It is a stark difference from the Luna who had walls up with regard to making friends.Knowing that she is happy is enough for me, even if I don’t get to be part of her life anymore.It is killing me not to go over there and make her gaze fall on me for even a second.I would give a lot to have her fleeting attention.I smile and turn around towards the door to leave, but Leo grabs my elbow and stops me.
‘What are you doing, man?’
‘What do you want me to do, Leo?’
‘I know how much you want to go talk to her, to apologise.You need to at least try when she’s right here.I don’t want you to regret not doing it, Coop.’His words land like hail on my skin.He is right, I will regret not hearing her voice and not feeling her warmth radiate near me if I leave right now.
I walk towards her, a step at a time.My legs are suddenly heavy, as if gravity has doubled.I stand behind her, putting a foot of distance between us.I clear my throat and call out her name.She pauses mid-conversation, but a few seconds later, she continues.I debate turning around, but I will have to face the wrath of Leo if I do.I wipe the sweat off my palm on my trousers and gently tap her shoulder.
She goes rigid beneath my touch, and she turns around with the quickness of lightning.The expressions change rapidly on her face and finally land on pain.I mirror her expression, knowing that the reason behind her pain is me.Before I can say a word, her eyelids droop, and her body goes slack.She is going to faint.I close the gap between us and catch her around the waist as she fully falls to the ground.
21
Luna
Islowly gain consciousnessand blink my eyes rapidly; my vision is still blurry, and my head buzzes a little.I blink a few more times, and deep-blue eyes stare back at me.All I remember is the tender expression on Cooper’s face and my heart racing, before everything went black.
He is still holding me as I lie on his arms, on the ground.I quickly stand and put distance between us.My cheeks are warm, and I look at my dress to dust it – even though there isn’t much visible dirt on me.
I fidget nervously, not knowing what to do when Zara comes back from the bar holding a glass of cold water for me.
‘Oh, you are awake.Are you okay, Lu?’she asks, handing over the glass to me.She doesn’t say anything more, but the worry on her face, contrasting with her strong exterior, tells me enough.
‘I’m okay, thank you.’I take the glass from her hand and take a sip of it.
Cooper’s gaze on me doesn’t waver; he is silently watching my interaction with Zara.It sends butterflies in my stomach; he is looking at me like he used to years ago.But I quickly shake the feeling away.I cannot forget what he did.The way he threw away our relationship, trying tosave mefrom a mistake he thought I was making.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.’Cooper finally speaks.His hand lands on his shirt, and he pulls on the neckline.
‘It’s okay, I should be used to it by now,’ I say, recalling the first few interactions from when Cooper and I met.
