I, Devil (a love story)

Chapter Sixteen: Meresin

I first had to acclimate. Everything was too bright, too sharp, even the musty trailer hallway from Noah's bedroom to the livingroom. The house was unusually dark and quiet. There wasn't even the cacophonous noise of barking from the neglected dogs. Where were they? Where was Noah's father and little sister? Since I had been gone for two weeks, I felt I had missed something. It left Noah's mind confused, because I felt that he knew where they were-- somewhere in his mind. He just wasn't immediately accessing it and left us feeling disorientated. It felt like we had slept for over a year and were just now waking up to a new reality.

Noah looked outside the front window. His father's car was still in front of the trailer, ruling out his job. Noah's body kept nagging that it was hungry. So as I attempted to unpack his mind to find out what I was missing, Noah began to make himself some breakfast. I did not care to input my opinion on food, so I allowed him to make himself a sugary breakfast of pancakes and eggs.

The smell of food caused a stirring in Noah's trailer. Jodi, Noah's younger sister, emerged from her room. She seemed in good spirits. She looked different than I expected based on her energy, not that I truly had expectations on how humans appeared. Her energy was large and dusky pink with layers of blue. She was a wise, smart child. She wasn't usually in good spirits, but today she was.

"Are you making enough for me?" she asked, climbing onto a bar stool to join Noah in the kitchen.

"I can," Noah answered as he added more batter.

"Do you remember what today is?" Jodi asked. "are you going to miss me?"

I felt like I knew the answer, but I truly did not. I could feel a pulling sadness in Noah. Yes, he was going to miss her-- wherever she was going. Noah's mind had a box of answers that I did not have all access to use.

"What?" Noah blurted out in the wave of confusion. I could feel that Noah felt the inner conflict. Part of him knew what she was referring to, part of him (me) did not. It just resulted him appearing muddled in front of others.

"Aunt Katherine is picking me up," she reminded him with some annoyance. "it is today." She looked away, as if hurt that he forgot.

"Well, yeah, I am going to miss you," said Noah genuinely. I could feel that he was truly pained. There was a sense of abandonment and loss. I still was unsure what they were referencing. I attempted to force Noah to ask without appearing too glib. "How long will you be gone?"

Jodi looked surprised. Noah set a plate of pancakes down in front of her.

"For forever, Noah," said Jodi solemnly. "I mean I am sure I'll be back to visit. You said you'd be fine," said Jodi as she locked eyes with Noah. I could feel that she seemed concerned that Noah didn't remember she was moving across states with the intention of never returning. She seemed to wonder if something was wrong with him. Then, she opened her mouth for too large of a bite.

"Yeah I am pretty sure I will-- I'll just miss you a whole lot. Are you happy about it?" Noah wondered, keeping the conversation afloat. Jodi nodded her head with exaggeration.

"Yeah! Happy that dad is gone! Sad I'll be missing you. I love aunt Katherine's house. I love the ocean. I just wish you could move with me. We will be taking Sapphire," Jodi said, referencing an old white cat owned by the both of them. "I hope you don't mind," she went on.

"I don't," said Noah. "Just glad you're taking care of her."

"Have you ever been to Maryland before? To aunt Katherine's?" asked Jodi.

"Yeah, once, when I was little," answered Noah. I could feel him pull the information from the trove in his mind. He recalled a memory of himself at Jodi's age, visiting a huge white house that hugged the ocean shoreline. It was a pleasant memory of a beautiful house and a kindly older relative. As Noah retrieved the memory, I could feel his mixed emotions about their father. I had the impression that law enforcement was involved. It happened during my two week absence. I could not glean the specifics of what occurred-- but that Noah's father was removed and as consequence, his younger sister must go live with a close relative.