“Your dad,” she replied flatly, her gaze fixed on something far away.“He left.I told him everything, and he just left.”
“What?Did you have a fight?He'll cool off and come back soon,” I said, trying to make sense of her words.
“No, he won't.He took his things.He's not coming back.”
The closet stood open, half of its contents missing, and the drawers were ajar.The weight of realization crashed over me as I took in my surroundings:loss number two.
Chapter 12
Ifound myself lost in my diary, pouring out my thoughts nearly every day.It felt necessary to share my feelings, as my options for conversation were limited.It had been over two weeks since my dad left.I hadn't seen Marco at all—not on the streets and not even on the bus.Emily still avoided me, and while I had seen Jessica a few times at her house, our conversations about my parents and Marco remained surface-level.
My mom had been in bed for an entire week, and we hadn't exchanged a word.At the time, she was traveling to Rome again, returning home each night, but the atmosphere in the house remained strange—eerily quiet and devoid of life, filled with an unshakable emptiness.
I tried reaching out to my dad, but our call was brief; he mentioned needing time alone to figure things out.I missed him, but he assured me we would see each other sometime this week.
The next day marked a significant event: the school fashion show.Mom wouldn't be attending, nor would anyone else.Zane kept giving me these peculiar, intense looks, yet we hadn't spoken either.
I grabbed my purse and headed into town, unfazed by the cold.I plugged in my earphones and lost track of time.I needed a few supplies from the stationery store, but more importantly, I was longing to see a smile.
Upon arriving, I found the store bustling with people.I waited patiently for it to clear out, watching Elias as he moved swiftly behind the counter, always wearing a cheerful expression—until he finally noticed me, and we were alone.
I could see in Elias’s eyes that he was likely aware of what had happened with Marco and probably my dad too.
“How much do you know?”I inquired.
“Probably more than you do,” he chuckled.That was likely true; in a small town, news travels fast.I couldn't count how many times I'd heard rumors about myself.Sometimes I found myself curious to hear more, just to discover how the stories unfolded.I wished to live in a place where no one cared, where gossip didn't thrive.
After collecting what I needed, I paid for my items.As Elias handed me my change, he unexpectedly took my hand.
“If you need to talk, I'm here,” he said, his eyes filled with pity—something I wished I didn't have to see.
“I'm okay; I suppose it's just life,” I replied.
“I saw your dad earlier; he came to the store across the street to buy cigarettes,” Elias mentioned.I was taken aback—he had never smoked before.It was painful to imagine how hurt he must have been.
“Oh…” was all I could muster.I didn't want to delve into that conversation, so he did what he always did: wrapped me in a comforting hug.
“Everything will turn out fine,” Elias murmured softly into my ear.
“When will that be?”I questioned, as if his words held the key to my worries.He pulled back slightly and replied, “Life is like a roller coaster; after every drop, there's a rise ahead.”His wisdom never failed to impress me.
“It feels like this descent is never-ending,” I admitted, a hint of anguish in my voice.
“Then just think of the long climb that follows,” he said, his smile radiating warmth and comfort.I wrapped my arms around him in another embrace before making my way home.
I was nearly halfway when a car pulled up beside me.
“Luna, hey!Need a lift?”Andrea called out, his smile brightening as he rolled down the window.
“Oh, hi!I'm fine; I'm almost there,” I replied politely.
“Come on, it's freezing out here, and it's getting dark,” he insisted.He was right; the chill in the air was biting, and knowing he would keep pressing, I decided to hop in.
The car was brand new, still carrying that fresh leather aroma.Andrea was dressed in a blue striped shirt, tailored black pants, and polished shoes—definitely more formal than usual.
“So… I'm really sorry to hear about your dad,” he said carefully.Of course, he was aware.“Your mom mentioned it to me,” he added.Fantastic.Just what I needed—my mom spreading our family's troubles around like gossip.But given that Andrea had been her business partner for years, perhaps she considered him a good friend.
“It's alright; things will work themselves out soon,” I replied, trying to channel the optimism I had absorbed from Elias.
