Chapter 95: Chapter 95

KRISTEN

Moths are beautiful insects.

I smiled as I watched them play around the street lamp, each one fighting to perch on the surface.

I had left June with Edith in the kitchen. A great surprise how they weren't tearing at each other's throats. Well, I can confirm that June has grown a lot more these past weeks.

That is what pain does...

It delivers you into the cold hands of trauma, letting her print her trademarked symbol all over; then the pain comes back at you with a force that leaves you breathless, struggling to survive, struggling to breathe and carry out your daily tasks...

After coming out—if you ever do—it would feel like you had scaled depressing years of understanding over Forty-three courses on the study of life.

And just when you think you are finally gaining experience, you realize that you are yet to finish all the courses...

It's a good thing Edith is downstairs to keep June company. I was already feeling choked, hence the need for me to rush upstairs to take fresh air.

The air helped.

Standing before my window, I was gifted the view of almost half the street.

Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into more minutes, but I didn't move from the window.

My eyes were trained on the stars. A full moon slayed the night, flashing her beauty like a fairy at a ball.

As I stood at the window, I could feel the cool glass under my hand. The view was breathtaking, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. It would be right to say that I felt very small in the grandeur of the night sky. At the same time, I could place the connection to the universe. The breeze was nothing but soothing.

I took deep breaths, basking in the scents of the night air.

The sound of chirping crickets made me smile. The flowers around the house seemed to sway to their chirps.

I stretched my arm out, rolling my fingers in the air, trying to feel more of the breeze that was gently trying to caress my skin.

I've been trying to distract myself and it's been working. Every day, I wake up, keep myself busy throughout the day, and go to bed at night to avoid staying up late and thinking of the pit life had thrown me into.

Rephrase that, 'the pit life was throwing me into.'

"I'm fucked." I didn't know when I thought out loud. Saying it made it look more real, 'cause I'm truly fucked. Yes, I know I still have money to comfortably take care of myself and June, but how long would I be able to do that?

You can't take cookies out of a jar and expect it to refill itself. Just the same way I would become empty when my account balance became an emergency because my company was hardly bringing anything in.

I didn't expect my shareholders to bail on me so fast. I mean, I expected it, but not so fast. And I definitely was not expecting some of my workers to resign.

Anyway, that last part was to my advantage. I would be able to save more since about six heads were off my payroll.

Mark, who was up here with me has gone home. He left after a call he had with his elder brother. So, I stayed up here for a short while before I decided to go over to the kitchen, to look for June.

Strangely, the house was too quiet. I was expecting to hear their voices, but I heard no sound.

When I got to the sitting room and didn't hear anything from the kitchen, a frown settled on my face.

Between breaths, I realized that someone could have broken in and—

With a gasp I turned to the door, on alarm, my heart beating erratically against my chest. It was an instinctive reaction, one that pushed me to check if the lock was in place.

"June!" I ran to the kitchen and pushed the knob with a strength I didn't know myself to possess.

"Ouch!"

"June?" I gently opened the door to see June standing some feet away from me, rubbing her knuckles. "June!" I enveloped her in a warm crushing hug, which she wasn't expecting.

That was the reason why she didn't respond at first. Slowly, her hands wrapped around my back. It was a wonder she didn't complain of being suffocated.

"Umm... Kristen?" she called out. "What's going on?"

"Is everything okay?" Edith asked from behind us.

I pulled back with an "Oh"

"I didn't know you were still here," I said after planting a soft kiss on June's cheek and letting her go.

"Just finished discussing with June some moments ago," Edith smiled. "Why did you run in like that?"

"I actually thought..." I couldn't voice it out. "You guys are fine, right?"

"You thought someone broke in and whisked the both of us into a waiting van," June chuckled. "That was your thought, wasn't it?"

That was exactly what I thought, but I couldn't say it. I didn't want to scare June.

"Wait, that was exactly what you thought?" she asked, surprised that she got it. She exchanged glances with Edith and the both of them laughed.

"We are fine," Edith said.

I smiled in relief. I don't know why I was feeling like the laughter was forced. Were they hiding something from me?

June's eyes held a little moisture. I don't know if was a result of the light.

"What were you ladies discussing?" I took a seat and rested on the kitchen island.

"Ladies things," June winked playfully. Her answer was too quick and forcefully jovial. I know I've always wanted her to go back to the former happy June, but this is not the way I want it. It's obvious that she is trying not to make me concerned hence the smiles and laughter.

She sat beside me.

"You don't want to know," Edith replied to my question. Her smile also looked a bit off. What had they discussed? "We don't share convos with males. It's a ladies thing."

"Y'all are something else," I rolled my eyes and the both of them chuckled. June's warm palm rested on my thigh. I exhaled in relief as it massaged my thigh, giving me a silent form of therapy. Edith and I soon switched to discussions of her childhood, leaving June the confidentiality to creep her hands up my thighs, caressing my pants.

The first thumb swipe made me clear my throat and adjust.

I think it's time for Edith to leave...