“Who told you?”he asked suddenly.
“Well, we're friends.It's not hard to figure out,” I replied, shaking my head, not in anger, but in acceptance.
“I'm sorry,” he said, hiding his face in his hands.
“Don't be.I'm honestly glad it's Emily,” I reassured him.
“And you're okay with that?”He looked at me, surprised.
“Of course.This is life.Just because we're not together doesn't mean I want you to stop dating,” I said, and we both chuckled.
“I'm really relieved to hear that because I didn't know how to tell you,” he said more comfortably.
“I love you and always will.You were my first boyfriend, my first love, and you'll always hold a special place in my heart,” I told him, watching his eyes light up.
“And I'll always love you too, but I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be hanging out together.”As he said that, I realized he might be here to distance himself from me.My mouth opened, searching for the right words.“Please try to understand,” he added.
“I don't know what to say,” I replied sharply.
“Just say you understand.It's only for a few months, and then we'll all be in different cities.It'll be easier,” Marco said, taking my hands, but I pulled away.
“Alright then.If that's what you want.What should I say to Emily?”I asked.
“Don't worry about it,” his response made it clear that this was Emily’s plan from the start.It seemed like things hadn't turned out the way I hoped.
Chapter 17
The front door slammed shut with such force that it jolted me awake, leaving me disoriented.Confusion clouded my mind as I took in the darkness; it was still the dead of night.The sound of heavy footsteps echoed throughout the house, and I instinctively knew it wasn't my mother.
My heart raced as I sat frozen on my bed, paralyzed by fear.I strained to listen, wondering if I should hide or scream.I heard hurried movements from the kitchen to the living room, as if someone was searching for something.Then I heard footsteps approaching the stairs.
A sliver of light crept under my door, accompanied by a looming shadow.Someone was right outside, turning the doorknob.I felt like a character trapped in a horror film, utterly motionless.The door swung open, and a shadowy figure stepped inside.It was my father.
“Luna, I'm so sorry to wake you,” he said, his expression a mixture of grief and despair that I had never seen on him before.I was bewildered, wondering why he was there in the middle of the night and why he looked so utterly defeated.
“What's happening?”I asked, my voice shaking.He didn't answer; instead, he rushed toward his bedroom.I quickly climbed out of bed and followed him, my bare feet feeling the cold, damp floor beneath me.I wondered if it was snowing or raining outside, or why he would disturb my mother at this hour.
I approached the door, and I noted the silence—only my father's heavy footsteps broke the stillness.When I entered, I found the bed empty and undisturbed; my mother was missing.She hadn't come home that night.
My father wasn't rummaging for his belongings but was frantically searching through my mother's things.Confusion washed over me as I stood there, wide-eyed and trying to make sense of his frantic actions.
“Dad, what are you doing?”I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, unsure if he even heard me.“Dad!What's going on?”
He halted, his back turned to me, and lowered his head in silence.The room felt heavy with an unbearable stillness.Slowly, he turned to face me, his eyes red and swollen.He stared at me without uttering a word.I stepped closer, desperate for answers.
“Please, just tell me what's happening.You're scaring me,” I pleaded, standing just inches away, my feet cold and wet from the floor.
“I need to get some things for your mom,” he finally replied, his tone heavy, as if he were unburdening a weight.
“What do you mean?”I asked, bewildered and even more alarmed.He reached out, grasping my shoulders with his icy hands, sending shivers through me.
“Luna, your mom…” he began, but his voice faltered as he lowered his gaze, squeezing my shoulders tighter.I waited anxiously for him to continue, trying to anticipate his next words.
“Dad, where's Mom?What happened?”I pressed, the tension in the air almost suffocating.He met my gaze and said,
“She had an accident.They're transferring her to a different hospital.I need to gather her things.”He dropped his hands and rushed to the bathroom, gathering her belongings in a frenzy.
I felt rooted to the spot, heavy with dread and disbelief.I wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.He brushed past me, heading out of the room.I forced myself to turn and call after him.
