Running Away

He dumped the box into the boot of the car, a sound that made him flinch. There was a multitude of feelings that he could hardly begin to process- anger, anguish, grief, frustration. All one side of the same coin.

Eddie felt as if the whole day was unreal, as if he had been tricked and this was some horrible nightmare. But then he heard the shutting of a door and he peered over his shoulder, the sight of Melissa reminding him that this was a nightmare, but not one that he could wake from. She stood there, very real, very round, and looking very sorry for herself. And he had so many things that he wished to say to her but what was the point? There was nothing left to say. She knew. And so did he.

Melissa stood there a moment, watching him. Her wedged heel flicking back and forth against the stone, as if she were contemplating walking across to him. But the look in his face must have warned her against it. So, she continued to stand there, arms folded, resting neatly atop her belly.

Eddie closed the boot, turning his attention back to the car. If he were to stare at her any longer, he might just strangle her. It would cause him some satisfaction, but he supposed that wasn't worth a life-sentence in prison. Nor Rachel's disappointment.

Instead, he walked to the driver's side and climbed in, closing the door resolutely behind him. He hoped the noise resounded enough to cause her upset, though he did not check if it had.

His leaving felt wrong, shameful. Rachel had assured him that wasn't the case but she would have said that, regardless. Eddie was running away. That's all it was, though nobody seemed to blame him. He blamed himself enough as it was.

That morning, he had awoken with Rachel by his side, promising her a whole summer of holidays, of gifts, of every day starting and ending with them. And only them. But that wasn't meant to be. Both of them had known deep down that they would see Melissa again; yet, nobody had expected that.

It needn't matter. None of his promises would come to pass. He simply had to respect Rachel and her wishes, even if he could not respect her sister. Still, Eddie knew he would not forgive himself for a long time. He would simply have to live with the guilt.