Page 22 of Crystal Iris
“Only a fool wouldn’t see it, Iris. You don’t love him. I’m not sure if you ever did.”
“You should leave.”
“Perhaps this has been your plan all along, waiting for Aaron to make the big bucks. You were smart to push me away then; Aaron is worth a lot more now.”
“I… I signed the prenup, Maria. I’m not after his money. But I don’t care if that’s what you think.” I start to move toward the door, my hand almost reaching the doorknob when Aaron opens it from the other side.
“Mom?”
His presence startles her.
“I was…”
“She was just asking me about my wedding dress.”
She looks at me, surprised.
“Oh, good,” Aaron says, sitting on the couch.
His mom leaves immediately, looking confused by my choice of words.
I take a seat and tell Aaronthe truth. He asks if I want to leave. I can’t move; I just sit there, still dripping wet. It’s one thing to wonder if his parents still feel the same way about me, but it’s another to hear the confirmation.
“Iris, come here.” He hugs me, and my prism responds to my feelings, lighting up between us.
“What the fuck?” he says, backing away.
I realize Aaron hasn’t seen my necklace act abnormally yet. I’m used to it by now.
“Yeah, it does that when it gets wet and... and when I’m feeling vulnerable.”
“I didn’t... know. Akira mentioned something about evil. I thought she was just being... Akira.”
“You don’t have to be afraid of it. It’s only a light.”
He lifts his index finger and starts to move closer to me. The light goes out before he reaches it.
“Why didn’t you tell me before? About your necklace? I thought we told each other everything.” He’s hugging me again.
“I’m sorry.” That’s all I can say without crying.What the hell am I doing?
Eight
“To be an artist is to believe in life.” – Henry Moore
After the third time she asks, I start to wonder myself if it’s a good idea.
“I have to know,” I tell Akira as I search for a candle.
“This is nuts. How? I just can’t believe he’s real.”
“He was standing next to me, in a tuxedo. I don’t even know why he was at the party.” I open a recently packed box, searching for the gift I bought myself in Salem.
“Do you know his last name?” Akira’s dressed unusually casually in jeans and a gray hoodie. Her colorful hair is tied up in a ponytail.
“I don’t.”
“And you think you’ll be able to… see him again if you do this?”
