Moonshine(57)

Once Moon left, Gerry came and got me from the lunchroom to let me know that I had another visitor. Someone that I never expected to see had come to see me.

“What are you doing here, Melody?” I asked her. She looked like a hot mess, so I guess it was fair to say that she looked normal.

“I need to talk to you. Can we go outside or something? It’s important.” I don’t know what she would need to talk to me about, but she did come all of this way so I guess I would hear her out. We walked out onto the patio and sat facing each other on the picnic table. “What is this about?”

“I wanted to come and talk to you a long time ago, but I didn’t. I had my reasons, and I promise you they were shitty ones.” She fidgeted. It was like whatever she had to say was on the tip of her tongue.

“Would you just say it already? Whatever it is, just tell me.” I said a little forceful. I was trying not to bite her head off which would have been easy to do.

She looked down into her lap. “I was there, Shine. That day in the locker room, I was there.”

“YOU WHAT!!!” I screamed at her as I stood up from the table. “You have to be fucking kidding me right now. When I screamed for help and laid there as that bastard beat the hell out of me, you were there, the whole time. Why didn’t you help me?” Oh damn I could have yanked her off that seat by the head of her hair. “Answer me, damn it!”

She stood up. She was crying now, but it was no use. “I’m sorry Shine. I didn’t help because of Ryker. I was so pissed off at you that day, because he turned me down. He was in love with you and I knew it. When I heard you screaming in the locker room, I left. I just walked out and left you there with him. I felt like at the time you deserved what was coming to you.”

“You are a cold hearted bitch.” I pointed my finger in her face. “I can’t believe you just left me there. Do you know how much pain I went through? Do you know that he took things from me that I will never get back? I could not stand you Melody. We have never been friends, but by God I would not have let you lay there if you were screaming for help. I would have helped you.”

She was a sobbing mess at this point. “I know and I am sorry. I didn’t know who it was that was hurting you until I heard about the wreck. I put it all together. I never said anything because when you pushed everyone away you pushed Moon too. I thought that you not wanting him would make him think twice about giving me a chance.”

“You did all of this just so you could get in Moon’s pants?” I just shook my head. “I guess once a whore always a whore, right?” I backed up away from her, because I was afraid of what I might do and frankly the sight of her was making me sick. “What made you decide to tell me this now?”

“When I found out that you tried to commit suicide, I felt guilty. I thought maybe if I told you earlier that it wouldn’t have happened.”

“So that’s it. You felt guilty. What if I had succeeded and actually died. Then what, would have just gone on about your normal life without saying a word?”

“I’m sorry, Shine. I really am.”

“Good for you. You can leave now, because I have nothing more to say to you.” I turned my back to her. “You know what?” I spoke into the air.

“What?”

“He still loves me, so was it worth it?”

I didn’t wait for her to answer; I just walked off towards the sunset. I had to get as much distance between us as possible. Inside I was trying to find any excuse I could to blame her for everything, but I couldn’t. All I could come up with is that she was a horrible person and that she would have to live with herself. It’s a pity I couldn’t place all the blame on her, but I couldn’t. After a long walk and lots self-evaluation I decided that I still couldn’t stand her, I would probably never forgive her, and I know that I would never forget. It was time to move on.





30



Shine

The knocks on my bedroom door woke me up. I assumed it was because I had just slept too late but when my eyes fully opened I realized that it was still dark outside. I made sure that I was fully covered before I opened the door.

“This better be good.” I swung open the door and Mrs. Gerry was standing there in her robe crying. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Gerry?” I asked. I had never seen her like this before.

She walked in the room with me and motioned towards the bed. “Let’s sit down right here, okay?” She sat down first and patted the bed next to her.

“You’re scaring me, what’s going on?”

“Shine honey, I don’t know how to tell you this. It’s Bradley. Something has happened.”