No Surrender | Eddie Munson

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Live

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: LIVE

EVERMORE  — TAYLOR SWIFT

I rewind the tape but all it does is pause
On the very moment all was lost
Sending signals
To be double crossed

——————

It doesn't get easier.

I don't know why I thought it would.

I throw myself into my new role, determined to be the best parent I can possibly be, but as soon as Eleven leaves the cabin to be with Mike and her friends, I find myself sitting at the table and waiting for my purpose to return. This cabin is not a welcome place anymore. I have nothing to do, no hobbies to seek shelter in.

To be honest, I'm forgetting who I am.

The first week passes.

His beer is still in the fridge. Childhood photos hang on the walls. I don't have the heart to clear it all away just yet.

I woke early again. The screams still ring in my ears. Sitting at the table, I stare blankly out of the window. My plate remains untouched.

"Beth?"

This time, I hear Eleven's voice but nothing shifts my focus.

"Beth," she says, waving a hand in front of my face.

"What?"

My response comes out harsher than intended. She frowns, her shoulders sinking, and returns to her breakfast. "Sorry."

I wince and rub my bleary eyes. "No, I'm sorry. What is it?"

"The Byers are moving in a few months. Did you know?"

"No."

She hesitates. "Mike is upset but he is busy today. What should I do?"

"You're asking like I know a thing about relationships," I scoff. Quickly regretting it, I add, "B-But maybe you can see him tomorrow. You tried him on the walkie?"

The girl shakes her head. We return to the usual silence.

It's odd that I already think of it as the 'usual'. It won't be for long, though, not with the funeral coming up. Most aspects are being managed by the police department but it only serves to make me feel even more useless.

There is a knock on the door. I don't react. My body remains still and heavy.

Another knock. The secret one, this time.

It takes a moment for me to work up the energy to approach, motioning for Eleven to return to her room. The first thing I see when I open the door is a large bag, practically overflowing with junk food. I know who it is before he can even peek around.

A grin is plastered across Eddie's face. "Bet you thought I'd forget."

I stay frozen, shocked. We haven't seen each other since the night Hopper died and yet here he is, like that never happened.

"Well? You gonna make me stand out here all day?"

Forcing myself to focus, I awkwardly step aside to let him through. His ripped jeans and jackets have been replaced by pyjama pants and a Black Sabbath t-shirt he usually wears in bed, the dark curls that normally frame his face have been scraped back into a high ponytail. He still doesn't offer an explanation as he strides confidently into the cabin and starts to unload the bag onto the coffee table.