Distanced

Part 8: In Which Max Spends Time Away

I wasn't wrong in what I said.

Not in the slightest.

She didn't even try to argue the point either.

So at the end of it all- I guess I always knew how she really felt about me.

It was always just unrequited love between us. Me loving her and her just doing her job with a bit extra on the side.

I told Brantley I was taking a paid sabbatical. I was expecting her to blow up and tell me now was not the time to be traipsing around God knows where- doing God knows what- when the Dam is constantly on fire.

But she didn't say that.

She didn't sound upset either.

She sounded... relieved.

Joyed.

Unconcerned.

So I'm taking that as the overall consensus about what people think about my leaving. Maybe I should just not come back all. They wouldn't care or miss me.

So, Luna and I will be making the most out of what we got.

I have it all planned out.

My mom and dad have been bugging me for Luna time- so I called her earlier and asked if we could visit for a good while. They haven't seen Luna since she was a few months old- and it isn't fair that Georgia's parent has her for months on end and they didn't- we we're headed upstate to stay with them. At first my Mom thought I was tricking her.

She thought I was joking about wanting to stay a few months- but when I kept telling her over and over that it was just five months and not anything more than that- she got the hint that I was serious.

Her excitement grew quickly and from that moment on- she kept telling me to just pack and get there- pack and get there.

So that's what I'm doing now.

Packing and getting there.

She lives about an half an hour away in Fairview so the drive won't be bad. I know it's not far away, but it's a better distance than say...I don't know Erie Pennsylvania where my Aunt Rachel lives.

I can't say Fairview was the best place growing up- kind of plain and boring- but beautiful in its features. Entertainment isn't very high unfortunately, but then again- what would I do by myself anyway? Besides, if I want fun- I'll do what I did as a kid and just travel south a bit to Poughkeepsie.

***

"Max, you have to do something. You can't just sit around the house all summer studying." My mother bugs me once more.

I'm headed off to college in the fall and I want a head start. I want to be the best doctor this country can offer! I want to help people- all kinds, all backgrounds and religions- all ages. I have too so they don't lose the people they care about. So they aren't lost and suffering.

Luna would want it that way.

"Mom, I get you think most boys my age need to be out doing stuff to keep out of trouble: but what am I doing that's wrong? I'm being a good boy- reading..." Since Luna died, I've become a shut in. Back when I was eight and had her still- we had adventures everyday.

We'd take walks and go climb trees: hangout with friends for hours on end until our mom had to call their mothers' to tell us to come home.

After she died, I stopped hanging out with friends.

I stopped taking walks and climbing trees.

Mom didn't have to call me home because I never left.