The next day, it was Saturday when Luna woke up. Her hair crackled when she got up and stretched. When she looked in the mirror, it was standing up all around her, making her look like she was underwater. She laughed a bit. The clock read eight thirty-two, so it was still early, but she heard her Dad downstairs cooking.
She got dressed and went downstairs to find the smell of omelets and pancakes. She went to the fridge and got some orange juice.
“Mornin’ Luna.” Dad yawned. He was in a robe with sweats and a t-shirt, his hair messy.
“Morning Dad.” she said. “Do you want milk or orange juice to drink.”
“I’ll have milk. How do you think our guest is?”
Luna shrugged. “I think he’s doing okay. He’ll probably be asleep for a while, I think.”
Dad nodded. “Yeah, it’s still early.”
She drank her orange juice.
“You’re getting better at the violin.” he said, trying to fill in the silence.
“I hope so. I’ve been practicing.” she said, smiling.
“Did you need the music sheet for the piece you played last night?”
Luna shook her head. “Nah, I memorized that one.”
“Pretty piece of music.” he said.
“Thanks. I’m going to go down to the beach.”
“Okay. Try not to fall into the ocean this time.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself.” she said, taking an apple out with her.
Once she was out, a cool breeze lifted the hair out of her face and she breathed in. No one was on the beach yet. Luna kicked off her flip-flops and walked along the sand. It reminded her of her dream last night, so she almost expected to see poppies sprout beneath her feet. But they didn’t grow here, not in the sand, either, and her mother wasn’t here.
Luna took a bite out of the red apple. She looked at her hand, still bruised. She was surprised Dad didn’t notice it when Luna went out. She took another bite out of the apple. She lifted her shirt a bit, to look at her ribs to find a faint bruise. It probably happened when Chisa jabbed her in the side, playfully.
Finishing the apple, she buried it in the sand. After a while of looking at the sea, Luna went to a damp patch of sand and dug her heel in. Then, she spun around, making a round hole in the sand. After that, she took her toe, and drew a sun, the center the hole she made with her heel.
Luna watched as the ocean washed away her sun, her feet sinking in the sand. She watched an airplane in the sky for a while, then decided to go back.
When she went in the door, Simon was at the table eating pancakes. He didn’t notice her come in, so Luna snuck up behind him and, lightly, smacked his head. Even though she did it lightly, he still coughed in surprise.
“What was that for?” he asked, incredible.
“There was a mosquito, so I saved your life.”
“How?”
“You could have gotten malaria and died!” she said, as if it were common sense.
Simon sighed and Luna grinned.
“Your back, Luna.” Dad said, coming into the kitchen. “And Simon’s up.”
“I see that.” she said, amused and was rewarded with a glare that would’ve scared a hungry crocodile.
YOU ARE READING
Heavenly Refuge
Roman d'amourShe's told she would die. A disease that takes away every breath. What would you do if you were in her shoes? Luna Moon, a girl who's fate is to die by cancer's hands, is lost. She doesn't know where to turn. Until a strange guy saves her from drown...
