Sentiment of a Witness

𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚋𝚢𝚎...

The sun streamed through the slit in the curtains covering my windows, bathing my room in its soft morning glow. I rolled over and pulled my covers over my head, not ready to get up yet. I lay there for a few more minutes, tempted to go back to sleep, but knowing that I probably shouldn't – I was starting school at Graysmark today, and being late wouldn't help the anxiousness I already felt, nor would it be a good first impression.

I heard a soft knock on my door followed by an equally soft voice. "Jack, are you up? I have breakfast here for you."

I tried to answer, but the only noise I was apparently capable of making that morning was an unintelligible groan.

The door opened, and my guess is that Martha was standing there with a tray of breakfast. She placed the tray down on my bedside table, pulling the covers out of my clutches a tad. She told me that Jupiter was coming down to talk to me before leaving with a wish of good luck for my first day.

As Martha left, I pulled the covers back over my head, only for them to be taken right off me moments later. I squinted up at the sheet-thief, finding a grinning ginger standing above me, holding a bundle of sheets that rightfully belonged to my bed.

"Gooooood morning, schoolboy!"

I groaned as I attempted to grab my sheets back from him.

"Tsk, tsk. You've gotta get up, or you'll be late, Jackie – no more sleeping-in for you!"

"Except for weekends," I muttered, sitting up and blinking myself awake.

"Except for weekends," Jupiter repeated, showing his agreement.

I reached behind the tray of food Martha had placed on my bedside table to grab my eyepatch, pulling it over my head and over my left eye, successfully obscuring my vision. I hated waking up in the morning to a hazy cloud of colour; it made me dizzy and nauseous.

I picked up a piece of toast and began nibbling at it, trying to ignore the sick feeling inside me, like I was going to throw up whatever I ate. I'd only gotten through half the piece of toasts before I decided enough was enough, putting it back on the plate.

Jupiter smiled sympathetically, "too nervous to eat?"

I nodded my head, worried that if I opened my mouth, the only thing that would come out would be stomach-juiced toast.

"At least try to drink something, okay?" he nodded towards the glass of water and cup of tea on the tray. "I'll take the tray back to the kitchen and leave you to get ready, shall I?"

I smiled, nodding my head again as he picked up the two cups and placed them on the table surface before picking up the tray and leaving.

"I'm proud of you, Jack."

That sneaky little-

With a sigh, I swung my legs off the bed and forced my legs to walk to the bathroom to get ready.

I was tying my shoes when it really hit me. I was leaving the Deucalion. Leaving Jupiter. Leaving the safety that I had felt for the past three years. All the what-ifs were becoming suddenly overwhelming... couldn't I just... not leave the hotel? Just stay here forever?

No. That was absurd.

I tried to think of all the cool things that could happen if I went, though admittedly, I never thought any of them would ever happen, but I was once again proven wrong. With people such as those I have in my life, literally anything was – and still is – possible.

After finishing tying my shoes, I stood up and walked over to the full-length mirror on the other side of my room. I looked at my reflection. I had come so far since my life started going downhill. I ran a hand through my hair before subconsciously moving it to check that my patch was still over my eye.

Knock, knock.

"Jack, are you ready?"

I took a deep breath and looked at the mirror one final time before calling back, "yeah."

Well, ready as I could be – I never got the chance in my life to 'be ready' for anything. Things just happened, and I would go along with them.

I opened the door to find Jupiter standing there, rubbing his eyes.

"Are you... crying?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Jupiter fanned his hands at his face.

He was totally crying.

"I haven't even left yet, Uncle Jove," I said softly, trying to frown but ultimately smiling instead.

He sighed, "I know... I just... I'm gonna miss you. A lot."

He stepped forwards and enveloped me in a hug that can only ever be associated with Jupiter.

"I'm gonna miss you too," I whispered, wrapping my own arms around him.

A few moments passed before Jupiter spoke up again, "right, let's take your stuff down, shall we?"

He walked over to where my bags were sitting at the foot of my bed and picked up the two full of clothes and schoolbooks, leaving me to carry my cello.

We made our way down to the lobby to say goodbye to the others before heading off. Although I knew I would be returning to the Deucalion within a month or two, I was still sad to leave. The Deucalion was the first place that had felt like home in a long while. I had found myself a new family where I was welcomed, and quite frankly, I didn't want to leave; I wasn't ready to leave.

I wasn't ready to face whatever life had in store for me next.

Written: 28 November - 4 December, 2021

Published: 4 December, 2021

Annnnd here it is, folks! the last chapter of Sentiment of a Witness! I hope you enjoyed this story and that you stay tuned for its sequel, Sentiment of a Witness: I Ain't Ever Seen Two Pretty Best Friends. Thank you all so much for reading, I love seeing your comments and votes! Stay safe and have a good Christmas break! 

EXTRA NOTE: I was also wondering if anyone would like to see a short book of missing/deleted/extra chapters from the Sentiment of a Witness series? I had sooo many ideas that I wasn't able to include and kind of want to write them anyway.