Page 8 of The Book of Legends
She has a point. I never looked at the situation from her perspective. Maybe I am going out of my way for Micah, but it’s because he’s always been there before, and I have no one else. He’s been the one constant in my life besides my aunt.
My aunt once said that when we’ve been around someone for so long, we overlook their flaws because we accept them for who they are, failing to see how bad they can become.
“So, what are we going to do today?” I ask my aunt, settling beside her on the porch.
She’s in her wheelchair, catching the late afternoon breeze. The sky is a bright, endless blue, and the warm air carries the scent of fresh-cut grass and wildflowers.
“Nothing,” she says, tilting her face toward the sun. “I want to hear what you’re planning to do this weekend.”
I hesitate. “I was invited to a party.”
Her lips twitch. “Micah?”
“Well, yeah, but I told him I wasn’t going to go. Then Diana said she was going, so…”
Her aquamarine eyes gleam with amusement. “You’re making friends.”
“Sort of,” I mumble. “I guess so.”
“If she wants you to go, it sounds like she wants to get to know you.”
“We’re roommates.”
“Even more so.” She gives me a pointed look. “I want you to go and have fun. I don’t want you to visit me.”
My chest tightens. “When is it?”
“Friday, but I’ll still come by. And if I have time, I’ll go.”
“Nonsense,” she says, waving me off. “I want you to go. I want you to have fun.”
“Aunt Nan, I have plenty of time to have fun. You’re more important than some party.”
She sighs. “I’m a dying old lady, Selene. Nothing is going to change that.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. “I’m going to miss you,” I whisper, my throat tightening. “And I can’t bear to think about when that day comes, Nan. It’s not the same. You’re everything to me.”
“I know,” she says softly. “But if you want to make me happy, I need you to be happy.”
I force a smile. “I am happy.”
There’s nothing happy about watching her die. Every time the thought of her death crosses my mind, it’s like a wound that won’t stop bleeding. What I mean is, I’m happy when I’m with her.
She gives me a knowing look. “You don’t smile enough,” she murmurs. “And I don’t like it.”
I plaster on a grin. “I’m smiling now. See?”
Her brow lifts in amusement.
“What?” I press. “I’m smiling.”
“Nice try, Selene. But I know when my girl is happy. Like the night Micah asked you to prom.” Her expression turns thoughtful. “But then two days later, you were moping around like your cat died.”
I scoff. “We don’t have a cat, Nan.”
“Exactly.” I open my mouth to argue, but she continues. “I didn’t want to bring it up, but I know it has to do with Micah.”
I stiffen. Because she’s right. It had everything to do with Micah and everything to do with what I allowed to happen.
