Page 14 of The Book of Legends
“Selene!” Micah's voice slices through the night in a desperate plea. I turn my head just as Micah barrels out of the house like it’s on fire. He stumbles on the grass, nearly eating the pavement as he scans the street. His chest rises and falls raggedly, panicked. His eyes search for me like he already knows he’s lost me.
When movement from Diane’s car catches his eye, he fists his hair on the top of his head when he spots me through the windshield.
“Selene, wait!”
“Drive,” I say, not caring that I’m leaving my car behind. I’ll get it later.
Diana doesn’t hesitate. “With pleasure.”
She turns the wheel and makes a U-turn to head in the opposite direction. The tires screech against the pavement, leaving Micah behind.
I glance in the side mirror. He’s standing in the middle of the road as a car's horn blares for him to get out of the way.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I already know who it is. The other living person that has my number is sitting next to me. I don’t answer and send his call to voicemail.
Diana spares me a glance. “What are you going to do?”
I don’t know if she means my aunt or Micah, but only one word fits. “Nothing.”
She slows down once we approach our street. “What do you mean, nothing?”
I exhale, my breath shaky. “My aunt is dead, and I can’t bring her back.” The words feel foreign on my tongue, like they don’t belong. If I don’t say them, maybe it’s not true and just a bad dream.
“And Micah?” she presses.
“Nothing is going to change what happened. I needed him, and it’s obvious he doesn’t care. Not about our friendship.”
Diana’s hands grip the wheel. “That’s true. But––”
“I’m not going to scream at him,” I swallow the lump in my throat, forcing my voice steady. “I’m not going to tell him he’s an asshole. He already knows. There is nothing to explain. Nothing to fix. It’s inexcusable what he did at the worst time of my life.” I press my fingers to my temple, trying to contain the pain inside. “And it hurts. God, it fucking hurts.”
Diana exhales slowly, her expression filled with something I don’t want to name. “I’m sorry, Selene.”
I shake my head. “Don’t be.”
This is my fault for trusting him. For loving him. For thinking he could be more than a selfish, cowardly bastard.
My phone vibrates again. I don’t even look at it. Instead, I turn to Diana. “Could you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“If Micah shows up, tell him to forget about me?”
She pinches her brows. “Forget about you?” She repeats like she’s trying to make sure she heard me right.
I nod, keeping my voice even. “Yeah. For him to forget I exist.”
I glance at our dorm building like it’s a prison as she pulls in.
“Sure, okay,” she says softly, but I can tell she isn’t entirely convinced.
He doesn’t deserve another chance. He’s spent so much time trying to forget about me. It’s time I return the favor.
Ibarely remember getting to my room. Barely remember shutting my door. I hug my pillow to my chest, lying on my side, staring at the bed. The moment I exhale, the floodgates burst open. A single sob escapes my throat, breaking the dam. I curl into a ball, like I’m holding on to the pain inside.
But it’s too much.
My lungs burn as I cry.
