MO GRÁ | Derek Morgan

chapter twenty nine

┌── •✧• ──┐ 
London
october 20, 2002

I squinted at the clock on the nightstand., it was far too early for me to be awake. Rolling over, I stretched, but the thought of Killian never coming home kept me tossing and turning for hours. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I sat there for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts.

I finally pulled myself up and shuffled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. After brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower, I dressed in my favorite black jeans and a soft gray hoodie. Throwing my hair into a messy bun, I grabbed my keys and stepped outside.

As I drove to his club, a knot of dread settled in my stomach. It was just a few blocks away. I seen its neon sign flickering as I parked. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. What if he was here? What if he wasn't? My heart raced as I stepped out of the car and made my way to the entrance, pushing the door open.

The dim light inside the club cast shadows, revealing a mostly empty room. The music echoed softly in the background, muted and ghostly without a crowd. I scanned the space, searching for any sign of him, but my heart sank a little as I realized he wasn't there.

I walked over to the bar, where one of his friends, Jason, was nursing a drink. He looked up as I approached, shaking his head as if he already knew what I was going to say. "Hey, Leah," he greeted me. "What's up?"

"Have you seen Killian?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "I haven't heard from him all night."

Jason sighed, his brow furrowing slightly. "No, I haven't seen him all night."

"Really?" I pushed. "You're like his best friend—"

"I said I haven't heard from him," Jason interrupted, his voice rising before he calmed himself. He studied me for a moment. "You want a drink? It might help you relax a bit."

I shook my head, declining his offer. "No, thanks. I just... I think I'm going to head home."

Disappointment settled in my chest as I turned away from the bar. A wave of exhaustion washed over me. The thought of returning to an empty house was unappealing, but the idea of waiting around felt even worse.

When I finally pulled into my driveway, I switched off the car and sat there for a moment, staring at the front door. Inside, the quiet was deafening. I dropped my keys on the counter and wandered into the living room, sunlight streaming through the windows and illuminating the dust motes floating in the air. I felt like a ghost in my own home.

I made my way to the bedroom and opened the drawer of my nightstand, my fingers brushing against the small bottle of sleeping pills. They had been a last resort, but today, they felt like the only solution. I unscrewed the cap and poured a few into my palm, staring at them for a moment.

I knew I shouldn't rely on them, but I needed to sleep. I dry swallowed the pills, feeling them stick in my throat as I lay back on the bed.

< 𝑀𝑜 𝒢𝓇𝒶 >

I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I looked out my bedroom window as the rain began to pour. My heart sank as I remembered I had left the convertible's top down. I ran outside, and by the time I reached the car, water had already begun pooling inside. The latch must be broken, it wouldn't come up no matter how hard I pulled. I yanked and tugged, but it was completely jammed. Just then, I heard a car pull up beside me, but I didn't glance over until I heard the door slam. Relief washed over me as I spotted Killian approaching.